Social-emotional learning is becoming a regular part of a healthy school culture. According to the Education Week Research Center, almost 90% of school district leaders say they plan to invest in social-emotional learning products or have already done so. Social-emotional learning helps children of all ages and developmental abilities build critical skills that last a lifetime.
The term "social and emotional learning" rose from a Fetzer Institute meeting in 1994. Since then, researchers have found evidence that social-emotional learning enhances educational experiences, relationships and life in general. Now, educators realize there's a growing need to teach children social-emotional skills and foster the development of responsible 21st-century citizens.
If you're interested in bringing social-emotional learning to your school, organization or home, we hope to answer your questions. In this guide, we'll show you how social-emotional skills help children thrive in youth and adulthood, and how the curriculum is used to develop these skills.
Social-emotional learning, also known as SEL, is a process of developing critical interpersonal skills such as communication, empathy and responsible decision-making. Through an SEL program, children learn how to understand and manage their emotions, think positively, set goals and interact with others. SEL programs help individuals succeed in school, work and relationships.
SEL curriculums offer countless benefits to learners, teachers, parents and society as a whole. The benefits of SEL programs include the following.
The five core competencies of SEL are self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision-making. Here's why each one matters:
Traditionally, special education teachers would use SEL lessons weekly to teach a specific skill to a single student. Today, SEL is developing a growing role in whole-school education, communities and homes. For example, schools might use SEL lessons at a general education level to discuss topics like bullying or self-esteem. SEL is especially helpful in teaching young students important skills. Overall, here's who uses SEL and why:
Teachers and parents can teach SEL skills using a range of approaches. SEL approaches may include:
According to the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), an SEL approach typically incorporates four elements:
There are a lot of SEL teaching tools available, but the main materials used in schools are generally:
An SEL curriculum students can use through childhood and beyond, such as:
SEL is vital to the development of happy, healthy children. Social-emotional skills help children accomplish their goals, make and keep friends, and enjoy a life full of positivity and growth. If you're interested in implementing an SEL program in your classroom, school, organization or home, we're here to help at Everyday Speech.
Everyday Speech began with a passion for social-emotional learning and helping children connect with others. We offer a robust SEL curriculum designed to help children develop SEL skills and build upon those skills as they grow. Our video modeling lessons teach a range of social competencies and help students retain what they've learned. Our worksheets, activities and games reinforce the video content and give learners a chance to apply their newly learned skills. We've also designed our curriculum with teachers, speech-language pathologists and parents in mind and offer no-prep lesson plans to save you time and make teaching SEL as simple as possible. To learn more about our SEL curriculum, sign up for your free trial or request a quote today!