Giving Compass' Take:

· Kate Stringer at The 74 explains what social-emotional learning is, how schools are applying it, and the benefits that it has had on youth development and student outcome. 

· How are schools measuring the impact of social-emotional learning on their students? What SEL tools are available for teachers to use?

· Read more about social-emotional learning and the future of education. 

What is SEL?

Social-emotional learning, commonly referred to by its acronym, SEL, is a method of promoting holistic child development by teaching students skills such as self-regulation, persistence, empathy, self-awareness, and mindfulness.

Why are schools teaching social-emotional learning?

Social-emotional learning has practical benefits for the classroom by teaching students to regulate their emotions, pay attention, and work well with their peers. But it does a lot more than that: SEL has been shown to boost students’ test scores and grades, promote on-time graduation and college enrollment, increase students’ financial earnings as adults, and support their mental and physical well-being.

What specific skills should students learn?

SEL researchers and leaders agree on three areas:

  • Cognitive — Executive-function skills that help students manage themselves by regulating their own behavior, paying attention, remembering lessons, and organizing tasks.
  • Social — Skills that help students get along with others by teaching compassion, collaboration, communication, listening, conflict resolution, and social cue recognition.
  • Emotional — Skills that help students manage feelings like anger, frustration, and sadness, and teach them to recognize these emotions in others.

Read the full article about social-emotional learning by Kate Stringer at The 74.