Why is SEL Important?
Research shows that SEL not only improves achievement by an average of 11 percentile points but also increases prosocial behaviors (such as kindness, sharing, and empathy), improves student attitudes toward school, and reduces depression and stress among students (Yang & Bear, 2018).
What is Social-Emotional Learning?
Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) is an educational 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.
SEL is a classroom strategy and a life skill. It helps an individual's ability to interact positively with others and to face challenges effectively.
Understanding Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)
SEL's Impact on Engagement and Motivation
Boosting Engagement Through SEL
SEL strategies help create a safe, supportive learning environment where students feel comfortable to take academic risks, ask questions, and engage in meaningful discussions.
Activities like group projects, peer-to-peer teaching, and community service integrate SEL and academic learning, making lessons more engaging and relevant to students lives.
Enhancing Motivation with SEL
SEL helps students develop a growth mindset, where they see challenges as opportunities to grow rather than insurmountable obstacles.
Recognizing and celebrating effort and progress, rather than just achievement, fosters intrinsic motivation in students. They learn to value learning for its own sake, not just for grades or rewards.
Implementing SEL at Home and School
For Educators:
Integrate SEL in daily lessons: Use collaborative activities, reflective writing, and discussions about characters motivations and feelings in stories.
Model SEL skills: Show empathy, active listening, and positive communication in your interactions with students.
For Families:
Encourage open communication: Discuss your childs feelings about school, friends, and activities. Listen actively and empathetically.
Reinforce SEL at home: Practice skills like problem-solving, emotion management, and goal-setting in everyday family life.
For additional reading:
1. Yang, C. and Bear, G.G. (2018). "Multilevel associations between school-wide social-emotional learning approach and student engagement across elementary, middle, and high schools." School Psychology Review, 47(1), 45-61.
2. Jackson, C. K. (2019). The full measure of a teacher: Using value-added to assess effects on student behavior. Education Next, 19(1), 6268.
3. Jones, V. & Jones, L. (2016). Comprehensive classroom management: Creating communities of support and solving problems (11th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
