What is it and Why it matters?

According to the SEL Alliance for MA,

SEL is the process through which children and adults acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.

Effective SEL 

Processes necessarily involve aligning relationships, instruction, structures, and systems in ways that are culturally responsive, developmentally appropriate, coherent, and beneficial for all. 

Effective social-emotional learning (SEL) is a transformative and evidence-based educational process that teaches children, from pre-k through 12th grade, the mental skills that will significantly reduce emotional stresses that lead to violence and addiction, improve problem-solving skills, enhance empathy, raise academic test scores and increase resiliency.

The competencies attained by effective social-emotional learning programming include:

• recognizing and managing our emotions;

• developing caring and concern for others;

• establishing positive relationships;

• making responsible decisions; and

• handling challenging situations constructively and ethically.​

The most beneficial SEL programs are:

• sequential and developmentally appropriate instruction in SEL skills;

• implemented in a coordinated manner, school-wide, from preschool through high school;

• reinforced in the classroom, during out-of-school activities, and at home;

• giving teachers ongoing professional development in SEL;

• uniting families and schools to work together to promote children’s social, emotional, and academic success.

* From Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Alliance for Massachusetts (SAM)