Department of Social Emotional Learning (SEL)
What is social and emotional learning (SEL)?
Think of a young person in your life. What skills will they need to achieve their hopes and dreams?
Chances are, you just named social and emotional skills – like staying motivated, communicating effectively, practicing curiosity, and working with others to solve problems. Social and emotional learning, or SEL, helps develop the skills we need for life.
Social-emotional learning is the process of developing social and emotional skills like managing difficult emotions, making responsible decisions, handling stress, setting goals, and building healthy relationships.
According to the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (www.casel.org), SEL is the process through which children and adults acquire the knowledge, attitudes, and skills they need to recognize and manage their emotions, demonstrate caring and concern for others, establish positive relationships, make responsible decisions, and handle challenging situations constructively.
Why Implement SEL in Schools?
• Relationships provide a foundation for learning
• Emotions affect how and what we learn
• Social and emotional skills can be taught
• SEL has positive impact on academic performance, health, relationships, and citizenship
• SEL skills and attitudes are demanded by employers
• SEL has shown to effectively reduce at risk behaviors
• Early interventions for students
• If not now…when?
Impact of Trauma Inside School
