While the term social and emotional learning is relatively new for a lot of us in the West, the concept is far from new.
In fact, some aspects related to SEL can be traced to ancient Greece, where Socrates believed learning didn’t just happen from reading, but from active dialogue, and where Plato argued that learning has an emotional foundation and proposed a curriculum that would teach students holistically—not just in the arts, math, science, and physical education, but also in character and morality.
And a century before the Greek period of enlightenment, master teachers in India discouraged students from taking things at face value. And indigenous peoples across the globe have embraced education-as-life philosophies that are similar to today's SEL practices for longer than can be documented.
So, aspects of SEL have been part of learning systems in many world cultures for a long time. However, it's only in recent decades that SEL has gained traction in mainstream education. So, why now?
In our new blog, we're answering the SEL questions that we keep seeing over and over again: "What is social and emotional learning?" "Why does SEL matter?" and "How can teachers implement SEL in their classrooms?"
Let's dive in.
What is social and emotional learning?
Social and emotional learning definition: Social & emotional learning (SEL) is the process of developing the self-awareness, self-control, and interpersonal skills that are vital for school, work, and life success.
What does social and emotional learning mean for students and teachers? Social and emotional learning isn’t just a feel-good activity. Nor is it a substitute for core academic subjects like math, science, or literacy.
SEL concepts add an extra dimension to education, giving students a framework to develop the soft skills that are critical for lifelong happiness, career achievement, and healthy relationships. SEL practices represent a shift in how we approach student development, and they should be an integral part of education and human development.
Why is SEL gaining attention and popularity so quickly? Implementing SEL into daily classroom instruction can make a huge difference for students and teachers. It teaches students skills to understand and manage their feelings. Doing this well can completely turn around classroom culture and engagement while driving student growth. SEL competencies empower students to accomplish many things, both in school and in life.
The fundamentals of social & emotional learning: 5 SEL competencies
Let's look at social & emotional learning in more detail, starting with the fundamentals of SEL.
The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) identifies five core competencies that form the backbone of SEL:
Self-awareness: This is the ability to recognize one's emotions and thoughts. It's about understanding how they operate in the world and impact others.
Self-management: Can your students regulate their emotions in different situations? This is a must for stress management. It also helps them keep motivated during tough times.
Social awareness: This includes the ability to empathize with others. It's about understanding social cues.. That creates stronger peer connections.
Relationship skills: Do learners have the ability to maintain healthy relationships with others? This skill is all about clear communication and conflict resolution.
Responsible decision-making: This is the ability to make good choices about behavior and interactions. Better choices often lead to better outcomes.
Classroom benefits of social and emotional learning
What can you expect when you focus on social and emotional learning in classrooms? These are the top benefits that come with integrating SEL.
Improved academic performance
Research shows that SEL programs that align with the five core SEL competencies outlined above increased students' academic performance by 11 percentile points compared to students who did not participate.
Students with strong social-emotional skills manage stress better and demonstrate higher levels of "school functioning," evidence of which can be found in their grades, test scores, attendance, and homework completion. They often also approach learning with a more positive outlook.
Better mental health and well-being
While SEL practices do not replace mental health interventions for students who need them, SEL does help students decrease emotional distress, develop coping skills, enhance emotional identification, and improve their overall resiliency—all of which help reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety for students in the short term.
Social & emotional learning is important for students of all ages because it gives students tools to understand and manage emotions, the mental health benefits of which are endless.
Fewer behavioral issues
The social-emotional competence of students is an important component of effective bullying prevention. Empathetic children with good perspective-taking skills are less likely to be physically, verbally, or indirectly aggressive toward peers. When students can manage their emotions, there’s less conflict. So, schools implementing SEL programs see a decrease in disciplinary actions. In fact, research also shows that SEL students were 42% less likely to say they were involved in physical aggression.
In addition to a reduction in bullying and aggression, students participating in SEL report an increased sense of safety and support, better relationships with teachers, and stronger feelings of belonging and inclusiveness in schools.
SEL benefits that reach beyond the classroom: Preparing for life and work
Knowing how to incorporate social and emotional learning in the classroom can make a huge difference for students. But it’s just the first step. When done right, the benefits of SEL extend beyond the classroom. Here are some of the ways social & emotional learning instruction helps students succeed in the workplace and in life.
Developing critical workplace skills
Increasingly, employers are reducing their reliance on degree-based hiring and listing emotional intelligence and collaborative skills as key hiring "must-haves." Social & emotional learning instruction leads to the development of the soft skills employers are looking for, including empathy, emotion recognition and management, problem-solving, impulse control, communication, etc.
These SEL concepts turn into skills they can take with them into the workforce that give them an advantage in their careers.
Lifelong interpersonal abilities
SEL approaches develop skills that promote future readiness, with social and emotional skills that contribute to positive life outcomes up to 18 years later.
Children with strong social-emotional skills become adults with the tools to control strong emotions, express empathy, and communicate effectively—all of which lead to strong, positive relationships that are easy to maintain long-term.
How to incorporate social & emotional learning in the classroom: Practical SEL approaches for teachers
Now you know why SEL is important. But how can you bring SEL into your classroom? Here are some practical strategies.
Create a supportive classroom environment
First, you need to create a classroom environment where students feel safe, comfortable, and valued. To do this, set clear guidelines for respectful interactions, demonstrate clear appreciation for all students' unique backgrounds, and use differentiated instruction as often as possible to foster education equity. This creates the foundation for emotional growth and learning.
Build social-emotional vocabulary
As a teacher, parent, or aide, you can actively work with your students to help them learn age-appropriate vocabulary for the emotions they may be experiencing. Expand student vocabulary beyond mad, sad, and happy by introducing new, more descriptive words as appropriate. For example, you may teach a toddler what "frustrated" means by giving them an item that is difficult to open and then helping them to label what they're feeling as frustration. Older students may benefit from having access to a "feelings wheel" to help them identify the more complex emotions they may be experiencing.
Be an example
Educators should serve as models for SEL. By using emotional regulation and effective communication with students, you demonstrate social and emotional skills in action and allow students to learn from your example.
Daily check-ins
Start each day by checking in with each student. These emotion checks help students develop emotion recognition and management skills. The daily SEL checks can be verbal or visual. Two popular methods are to use the colors of a stoplight (green means they feel good, yellow is not so good, and red means they need a break or more attention) or an emoji chart where students point to how they feel. As a bonus, educators may also end the day with reflections. This makes it possible for students to recognize their progress.
Collaborative learning activities
Create opportunities for partner and group work to give students opportunities to flex their SEL muscles and develop their relationship skills. For example, students could work in groups during a math exercise and then switch to partner work with their vocabulary flash cards. Switch up the groups and partners to allow students to explore different dynamics.
Mindfulness practices
Introduce mindfulness exercises to help students manage stress and improve focus. This could mean showing gratitude for the resources you have or something more routine, like breathing exercises after recess.
Social & emotional learning hurdles: Overcoming challenges in implementing SEL
There are many benefits that come with SEL. But it also has challenges. Here are some of the common problems and how to overcome them.
Time constraints
Finding time to incorporate SEL into your classroom can be challenging. The easiest way to overcome this obstacle is to start with SEL approaches that you can integrate with what you're already doing. For example, encourage open and respectful communication when working on group projects or use character analysis discussions during literature classes as a chance to discuss varied emotions.
Teacher training and support
Effective SEL implementation requires training and ongoing support for educators. If you aren’t sure where to start, look for professional development opportunities available in your school or district. With the proper SEL training and support, incorporating social and emotional learning strategies into your classroom will feel like second nature.
Measuring SEL success
How do you know if your SEL efforts are working? Look for improvements in student attendance, behavior, and academic performance. Over time, you should be able to notice positive changes in your classroom environment and in individual students.
Embracing SEL: A cheat code for student development
FEV's high-impact tutoring programs integrate proven SEL practices on day 1 with each student. Our live 1:1 approach to instruction uses individualized instruction, consistent tutor-student matchups, and varied student engagement strategies to promote a positive learning experience that supports the academic growth of each learner. Plus, all of our tutors receive ongoing training on the most up-to-date SEL practices using the RULER framework.
If you're looking for a way to accelerate learning gains while simultaneously enabling students to develop self-awareness, relationship skills, responsible decision-making skills, and more, consider FEV Tutor.
By embracing SEL, we're not just giving students an education. We're equipping them with the skills they need to thrive in school, work, and life.
Do you want to learn more about how we can support your students' holistic growth? Reach out today for a quick, personalized demo.
