Social Emotional Learning

Image of a cartoon brain & heart surrounded by fire. Heart is holding a flame-thrower. Brain asks, "Don't you think this was overkill for a harmless spider?" Heart replies, "It was icky."
Image of a cartoon brain & heart holding hands with the word "Balance" written above them.

What is SEL?

SEL stands for social emotional learning. SEL is defined as "the process through which children and adults understand and. manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions." However, I think the easiest way to describe SEL is that it is the process of creating a strong connection between your brain & your heart. In any given situation, you need the right balance of critical thinking & emotional awareness to be able to come up with the best response. SEL lessons are a chance for students to learn about and apply these critical skills.

If you're a student, click here to find useful tools for school & to improve your SEL skills.

The Root of Success

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs demonstrates the importance of taking care of lower level needs before we are able to reach higher levels of growth. We all want our children & students to be successful. However, it is important to remember that success starts with a child's basic needs being met. If a child is hungry or feels unsafe, they are going to have a harder time focusing on complex tasks such as learning & maintaining positive relationships. Once a child's basic needs are met, they are able to to move up Maslow's Hierarchy to achieve academic, creative, and social goals and become the best version of their self. SEL supports your student(s) along this journey.

Together we can help all students (and families) be successful. If you would like more ideas on how to support your student(s) or family, please visit my Resources page for basic need resources. Additional resources can be found on my Parent & Guardian Resources page.




Image of Maslow's Hierarchy: A pyramid labeling the needs of humans from most basic levels to highest level of achievement. The levels from bottom to top are: Safety Needs, Belongingness & Love Needs, Esteem Needs, & Self-Actualization.
Click on the picture to learn more about each category in Maslow's Hierarchy.

What Skills?

SEL includes 5 core competencies : self-management, self-awareness, responsible decision-making, relationship skills, & social awareness. You can click on each core competency mentioned for more information on what specific skills fall under the category, as well as ways you can help your student(s) grow in these areas.


Though SEL skills are often considered "soft skills," they are essential for success. In fact, studies have shown that kids who participate in SEL:


  • Do better academically than those who do not

  • Have improved attitudes & behaviors at & toward school

  • Have stronger relationships

  • Are more likely to earn a college degree and be fully employed by age 25

Additionally, the National Association of Colleges & Employers' top 4 desired skills all fall under SEL's 5 Core Competencies. The top desired skills are:


  • Ability to work in team structure (Relationship Skills)

  • Ability to make decisions & solve problems (Responsible Decision-Making)

  • Ability to communicate verbally with people inside and outside the organization (Social Awareness)

  • Ability to plan, organize, & prioritize work (Self-Management)


5 Core Competencies

Image of a multi-colored circle chart with 1 category title written in each section: Self-Management, Self-Awareness, Responsible Decision-Making, Social Awareness, and Relationship Skills.
Click on the picture to learn more about SEL & the research behind implementing it in schools.

Yellow box with black text reading: "Happiness is such an incredible advantage in our life. When the human brain is positive, our intelligence rises, we stop diverting resources to think about anxiety."

More Info On SEL