What is SEL?
What is Social and Emotional Learning?
Social and emotional learning (SEL) is the process of how children and adults learn, acquire, and apply skills like understanding and managing emotions, setting and working toward positive goals, problem solving, empathy, cooperation, establishing and maintaining positive relationships, and healthy and responsible decisions
Why is SEL Essential for Students?
Research shows that SEL not only improves achievement by an average of 11 percentile points, but it also increases prosocial behaviors (such as kindness, sharing, and empathy), improves student attitudes toward school, and reduces depression and stress among students (Durlak et al., 2011). Learn more at:
https://www.edutopia.org/blog/why-sel-essential-for-students-weissberg-durlak-domitrovich-gullotta
The 5 Core Competencies of SEL
Self Awareness
The ability to know your strengths and limitations, with a well-grounded sense of confidence, optimism, and a “growth mindset."
Self-Management
The ability to effectively manage stress, control impulses, and motivate yourself to set and achieve goals.
Social Awareness
The ability to understand the perspectives of others and empathize with them, including those from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
Relationship Skills
The ability to communicate clearly, listen well, cooperate with others, resist inappropriate social pressure, negotiate conflict constructively, and seek and offer help when needed.
Responsible Decision Making
The ability to make constructive choices about personal behavior and social interactions based on ethical standards, safety, and social norms.