Foundations of SEL Recording

Summary

Dr. Toya Constant's presentation on Social Emotional Learning (SEL) defines it as a process developing self-awareness, self-control, and interpersonal skills crucial for success. SEL enhances academic, professional, and social benefits and is integral to education and human development. It involves a collaborative approach among schools, families, and communities, focusing on five core competencies: self-awareness, self-management, responsible decision-making, relationship skills, and social awareness. SEL aims to address educational inequities and promote a supportive environment for students' growth.

Takeaways

• 📚 **Definition of SEL**: Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is the development of self-awareness, self-control, and interpersonal skills essential for success in school, work, and life.
• 🌟 **Importance of SEL**: SEL helps individuals cope with daily challenges and enhances academic, professional, and social benefits.
• 👥 **SEL Framework**: Based on the CASEL model, SEL involves five core competencies - self-awareness, self-management, responsible decision-making, relationship skills, and social awareness.
• 🏫 **Key Settings for SEL**: SEL is practiced in classrooms, schools, families, and communities, creating a supportive environment for learning and development.
• 🔄 **Collaborative SEL**: Effective SEL requires collaboration across different settings to integrate learning and development areas.
• 📈 **Developmental SEL**: SEL is tailored to different developmental stages, ensuring age-appropriate practices and emotional expression.
• 📊 **Research on SEL**: SEL has been shown to improve academic performance, reduce emotional distress, and enhance social skills.
• 🌱 **SEL in Communities**: Community organizations, like Aces Institute, play a crucial role in extending SEL practices and creating supportive environments.
• 🌐 **Equity and SEL**: SEL practices aim to address inequities in education by fostering equitable learning environments and interrupting inequitable policies.
• 📚 **SEL and Academics**: SEL complements cognitive development, focusing on both emotional well-being and academic outcomes.

Q & A

What is Social Emotional Learning (SEL)?

Social Emotional Learning is the process of developing self-awareness, self-control, and interpersonal skills that are crucial for school, work, and life success. It involves acquiring and applying knowledge, skills, and attitudes to manage emotions, achieve goals, and establish supportive relationships.

How does SEL benefit students?

SEL helps students cope with everyday challenges, enhances academic performance, and improves social skills. It also contributes to a sense of safety, support, and belonging in schools.

What are the five core social and emotional competencies as per CASEL framework?

The five core competencies are self-awareness, self-management, responsible decision-making, relationship skills, and social awareness.

How does SEL address educational equity?

SEL advances educational equity by creating conditions for examining and interrupting inequitable policies and practices, fostering inclusive learning environments, and nurturing the interests and assets of all individuals.

What role do tutors play in SEL?

Tutors apply SEL principles in their practices, helping to foster self-awareness, encourage independent learning, and role-modeling effective strategies for students.

How does SEL integrate with cognitive development?

SEL is a combination of emotional intelligence and cognitive formation, aiming to support both the emotional well-being and academic outcomes of students.

What are the key settings where SEL is implemented?

SEL is implemented in key settings such as classrooms, schools, families and caregivers, and communities.

How does SEL impact academic performance?

Studies show that students engaged with SEL have higher grades, test scores, attendance, and homework completion. SEL interventions can increase academic performance by 11 percentile points.

What is the developmental perspective of SEL?

SEL considers how social and emotional competencies can be expressed and enhanced at different ages, from preschool through adulthood, tailoring the approach to the developmental stage of the learner.

How can community organizations support SEL?

Community organizations can support SEL by partnering with schools and families to extend the experience of SEL through out-of-school time experiences and by offering opportunities for relationship building and skill practice.

What is the significance of School, Family, Community Partnerships in SEL?

These partnerships are crucial for coordinating SEL practices and establishing equitable learning environments across various contexts, ensuring a supportive network for student development.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Social Emotional Learning (SEL)

Dr. Toya Constant introduces the concept of Social Emotional Learning (SEL), defining it as a process that develops self-awareness, self-control, and interpersonal skills essential for success in school, work, and life. SEL is integral to education and human development, aiming to help individuals manage emotions, achieve goals, and maintain relationships. The presentation emphasizes the importance of SEL in tutoring sessions with the ACES Institute and how it contributes to educational equity and excellence through partnerships.

05:02

🔄 The CASEL Framework for SEL

This section discusses the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) framework, which is central to SEL. It outlines five core competencies: self-awareness, self-management, responsible decision-making, relationship skills, and social awareness. These competencies are supported by four key settings: classrooms, schools, families and caregivers, and communities. The framework emphasizes collaboration across these settings to integrate SEL practices and create equitable learning environments.

10:14

🌱 Developmental Aspects of SEL

The script highlights the importance of considering developmental stages when applying SEL. It explains that SEL practices should be tailored to the age and developmental level of the learner, taking into account their social, emotional, and cognitive abilities. SEL is designed to be inclusive, addressing inequities based on race, ethnicity, class, gender, and other factors, and aiming to create more equitable learning conditions.

15:15

📈 Research and Benefits of SEL

This part of the script presents research findings on the benefits of SEL. It states that SEL leads to improved academic performance, as students who participate in SEL have higher grades, test scores, attendance, and homework completion. SEL also enhances social and emotional skills, leading to increased student engagement. The positive academic impact of SEL is long-term, with studies showing a sustained improvement in academic performance even years after participation.

20:15

🌟 SEL in Communities and its Impact

The script emphasizes the role of community organizations in supporting SEL, particularly after-school programs. It discusses how such organizations can extend SEL experiences and create supportive environments for students. The ACES Institute, as a community partner, plays a crucial role in forming a network of adults to support student learning. The section also covers how community organizations can offer expertise in engaging young people and building culturally responsive curriculum.

25:16

🌐 SEL's Role in Advancing Equity and Excellence

The final part of the script focuses on how SEL can advance equity and excellence in education. It discusses the importance of authentic school, family, and community partnerships, fostering trusting relationships, and promoting rigorous curriculum and instruction. SEL is shown as a means to ensure all students have access to high-quality educational opportunities and to achieve excellence in both academic and social-emotional outcomes.

Keywords

💡Social Emotional Learning (SEL)

SEL is defined as the process of developing self-awareness, self-control, and interpersonal skills that are crucial for success in school, work, and life. It is integral to education and human development, involving the acquisition and application of knowledge, skills, and attitudes to manage emotions, establish relationships, and make responsible decisions. SEL is not just about academic outcomes but also about the emotional well-being of learners. It aims to advance educational equity and excellence through partnerships involving schools, families, and communities.

💡Self-awareness

Self-awareness is one of the five core social and emotional competencies in SEL. It refers to an individual's ability to recognize and understand their own emotions, strengths, weaknesses, and values. In the context of the video, self-awareness is crucial for students to manage their emotions and make informed decisions, which is exemplified by the script's emphasis on developing a healthy identity.

💡Self-management

Self-management is the ability to regulate one's emotions, thoughts, and behaviors effectively. It is highlighted in the script as a core competency that helps students handle stress, control impulses, and set personal goals. This skill is vital for academic performance and personal growth, as it enables students to engage positively with their learning environment.

💡Responsible decision-making

Responsible decision-making is the capacity to make choices that are thoughtful, consider the impact on others, and align with one's values and goals. The script mentions this competency as part of SEL, emphasizing that it helps students to navigate social complexities and achieve collective goals, which is essential for both personal success and contributing to the community.

💡Relationship skills

Relationship skills encompass the abilities to establish and maintain healthy relationships, communicate effectively, and work collaboratively with others. The video underscores the importance of these skills in SEL, as they are necessary for students to form supportive networks and engage in constructive teamwork, both of which are highlighted as key to fostering a positive learning environment.

💡Social awareness

Social awareness is the understanding of societal norms and the ability to take the perspective of others. It is portrayed in the script as a competency that enables empathy and the establishment of diverse and inclusive relationships. This skill is crucial for students to function effectively in diverse social settings and to contribute to a just and caring community.

💡Equity

Equity in the context of SEL refers to the fair treatment, access to resources, and opportunities for all students, regardless of their background. The script discusses how SEL can help address inequities by creating inclusive learning environments and empowering individuals to participate equally in educational settings. It is a key goal of SEL to ensure that all students have the chance to succeed.

💡Collaboration

Collaboration is a recurring theme in the script, emphasizing the importance of schools, families, and communities working together to support student learning. It is highlighted as a key setting where SEL is practiced and is crucial for establishing trusting relationships and creating a supportive environment for students to thrive.

💡Cognitive formation

Cognitive formation refers to the development of intellectual abilities and academic skills. The script mentions that SEL is a combination of emotional intelligence and cognitive formation, indicating that while SEL focuses on emotional and social skills, it also supports cognitive development and academic achievement.

💡CASEL Framework

CASEL, the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning, provides a framework for SEL that includes five core competencies and emphasizes the importance of collaboration across different settings. The script uses the CASEL framework to illustrate how SEL is implemented and the interrelated areas that support learning and development.

💡Developmental perspective

The developmental perspective in SEL acknowledges that emotional competencies can be expressed and enhanced differently at various ages and stages of life. The script explains that SEL practices should be tailored to the developmental levels of students, ensuring that they are age-appropriate and meet the unique needs of learners at different life stages.

Highlights

Social emotional learning (SEL) is defined as the process of developing self-awareness, self-control, and interpersonal skills vital for success.

SEL helps individuals cope with challenges and benefit academically, professionally, and socially.

The goal of SEL training is to apply its principles in tutoring sessions at the aces Institute.

SEL is integral to education and human development, involving emotional well-being alongside cognitive advancements.

SEL aims to establish equitable learning environments through school, family, and community partnerships.

The CASEL framework outlines five core social and emotional competencies: self-awareness, self-management, responsible decision-making, relationship skills, and social awareness.

Tutors can implement SEL practices in schools and community settings as part of School family Community Partnerships.

SEL is applied differently based on the developmental stage of the learner.

SEL standards, instruction, and assessment should be informed by the social, emotional, and cognitive levels of students.

SEL involves families and communities in shaping learning and development experiences.

SEL can help address inequities and empower individuals to contribute to thriving schools and communities.

Research shows that SEL yields positive outcomes for students, adults, and school communities.

SEL participants have higher levels of school functioning, including grades, test scores, attendance, and homework completion.

SEL interventions increase students' academic performance by 11 percentile points.

Long-term positive impacts of SEL on academics include a 13 percentile point increase in performance compared to non-participants.

SEL can cultivate protective factors against mental health risks and improve attitudes and behaviors.

Community organizations play a key role in extending SEL experiences through out-of-school time activities.

Tutors from the aces Institute are part of the community network that supports SEL.

SEL in communities thrives when supported by a network of adults working together.

Research shows that after-school programs focusing on SEL have a positive impact on youth.

SEL advances equity and excellence by supporting authentic partnerships and fostering trusting relationships.

SEL practices lead to improvements in school safety, mental health, civic learning, workforce preparation, and pandemic response.

Transcripts

hello

my name is Dr Toya constant and I'll be

presenting today foundations of social

emotional learning otherwise known as

SEL

to begin this presentation we'll start

off with the definition of what is

social emotional learning

as defined social emotional learning is

the process of developing the

self-awareness self-control and

interpersonal skills that are vital for

for school work and life success people

with strong social emotional skills are

better able to cope with everyday

challenges and benefit academically

professionally and socially and for the

purposes of training in foundations in

SEO

the hope is that you're able to apply

some of the tenets of SEL in your

tutoring sessions while working with the

aces Institute

what is sel continued well a more

in-depth description of SEL is now

provided

as stated SEL is an integral part of

education and human development

SEL is the process through which all

young people and adults acquire and

apply the knowledge skills and attitudes

to develop healthy identities manage

emotions and Achieve Personal and

Collective goals

fill and show empathy for others

establish and maintain supportive

relationships and make responsible and

caring decisions as you can see SEL is

not just based on cognitive advancements

as far as it concerns academic

outcomes but it also involves the

emotional well-being of our student

learners

SEL advances educational equity and

Excellence through authentic School

family Community Partnerships to

establish learning environments and

experiences that feature trusting and

collaborative relationships rigorous and

meaningful curriculum and instruction

and ongoing evaluation SEL can help

address various forms of inequity and

Empower young people and adults to

co-create thriving schools and

contribute to safe healthy and just

communities as provided Again by the

definition of SEL it is in some ways a

mashup between emotional intelligence

and cognitive

formation and so with that being said

you as a tutor have a great task of

being able to apply some of these SEL

tenants in your everyday practices

so SEL is based on the casel framework

cancel stands for the collaborative for

academic social and emotional learning

and when we think of collaborations

again these separate but equal entities

are working together so that the best

outcomes are achieved for each student

for this model at the center are the

five core social and emotional

competencies uh broad interrelated areas

that support Learning and Development

these include self-awareness

self-management

responsible decision making relationship

skills and social awareness

circling them are four key settings

where students live and grow these

settings include include classrooms

schools families and caregivers and

communities and where do you as a tutor

from Aces fit into these

environments well we can fall into

schools as well as as part of the

community

School family Community Partnerships

coordinate SEL practices and establish

Equitable learning environments across

all these contexts just to reiterate

this framework there is a collaboration

that happens across the environmental

settings that integrates the four

um I'm sorry that integrates the areas

that support Learning and Development

again these areas include self-awareness

self-management responsible decision

making relationship skills and social

awareness

so what are the core competencies and

key settings now I'll show you this

short clip that will reiterate some of

the tenets from the casel framework that

was just presented

moving on with the case of five

again IT addresses five Broad and

interrelated areas of competence and

highlights examples of for each

self-awareness self-management social

awareness relationship skills and

responsible decision making

a developmental perspective to sel

considers how the social and emotion

emotional competencies can be expressed

and enhanced at different ages from

preschool through adulthood this means

that at different developmental stages

of the student's life or the learner's

life SEL will be applied a little bit

differently and how they express emotion

and show empathy and their ability to

build relationships all these tenants

also will be contingent upon their

developmental stage in life

students social emotional and cognitive

developmental levels and age-appropriate

tasks and challenges should inform the

design of SEL standards instruction and

assessment so this really draws back to

some tenants from educational psychology

where we should as Educators meet the

students where they are and so again by

assessing where they are socially

emotionally cognitively and ensuring

that they are engaging in

age-appropriate tasks should also inform

the SEL standards that are used When

developing certain instruction and

assessments

students families schools and

communities are all part of the broader

systems that shape learning development

and experiences this is a very exciting

part of the theory or the framework of

SEL that the onus for the development of

this domain for students is just not on

Educators within the school system but

that it also includes the families and

the communities which includes our

tutors from the aces Institute within

this particular dynamic as mentioned

before in equities based on race

ethnicity class language gender identity

sexual orientation and other factors are

deeply ingrained in the vast majorities

of these systems and it impacts student

and adult social emotional and academic

learning

so

um kind of baked in into some of these

systems are some of these biases that uh

are related to race ethnicity class

language gender identity social

orientation uh and other factors and SEL

tries to

maintain an equal Level Playing Field

for students and so with the application

of the SEL tenants the hope is that

there's Equity or more equity in student

learning in certain environments while

SEL alone will not solve long-standing

and deep-seated inequities in the

education system it can create the

conditions needed for individuals and

schools to examine and interrupt

inequitable policies and practices

create more inclusive learning

environments and reveal and nurture the

interests and assets of all individuals

moving on now that we've discussed the

definition of social socio-emotional

learning as well as the framework in

which it's built upon now let's turn the

page and look at the research on SEL the

benefits of social emotional learning

SEL are well researched with evidence

demonstrating that an education that

promotes SEL yields positive outcomes

for students adults and school

communities

okay

on this slide are listed a number of the

benefits of SEO one of the benefits are

that students who participate in SEL at

school have higher levels of school

functioning as reflected by their grades

test scores attendance and homework

completion SEL also helps build social

and emotional skills that increase

student engagement and lead to improved

academic performance and other studies

find that students who are engaged with

their campus and their learning

environment also have improved outcomes

SEL interventions that address the five

core competencies increased students

academic performance by 11 percentile

points compared to students who do not

participate so this is based off of a

study that looked at this certain

academic outcomes of students who were

using SEL versus students who were not

the positive impact on academics last

long term years after students

participated in SEL their academic

performance was on an average of 13

percentile points higher than students

who didn't participate again this is

referring to a study that was conducted

on students post outcomes as far as

their academic performance they're after

SEO and here we see that students who

have SEL uh outperform students who did

not participate with SEL a 13 percentage

points higher

while SEL does not replace the need for

mental health interventions for students

who need it SEL can cultivate important

protective factors caring relationships

safe and supportive environments social

and emotional skills that buffer against

mental health risks

participation in SEL programs is linked

to decreased emotional distress more

positive attitudes about self and others

if you were externalizing behaviors and

discipline problems

lastly 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

um based on psychological tenets of

sense of belonging increased confidence

the ability to buffer against mental

health risk we begin to understand the

innumerable positive benefits of SEL and

that's why we are training our tutors to

be informed about the foundations of SEL

in the hopes that you're able to apply

the tenets of SEL in your everyday

practices

now we're going to turn to a short clip

about the impact of SEO

now that we've discussed the impact of

SEL we're going to turn the training

over to looking at SEL in communities

students Thrive when they're supported

by a network of adults working together

to create a supportive environment

Community organizations have a key role

to play in this effort partnering with

partnering with schools and families to

extend the experience of SEL through

opportunities for trusting relationships

with adults and enriching out of school

time experiences and this is truly where

Aces Institute tutors come in because

you are a part of the community you're

coming from a community organization I.E

the University of Houston and so

therefore you play the role of forming

that network of adults that are going to

help create this supportive environment

for the student learner

many organizations already incorporate

SEL as a part of their focus on Youth

and Family Services after school and

summer programs youth leadership

initiatives mental and behavioral health

or Community Sports and arts these types

of Community Partners not only offer

opportunities for students to strengthen

and practice SEL they often bring

expertise on engaging and motivating

young people relationship building and

culturally responsive practices so again

as a tutor this is what you bring to the

table you bring your expertise

you're going to act as a motivator for

young people you'll be a role model as

far as what it needs to build trusting

relationships and then you'll also be

able to form curriculum that's

culturally responsive to the student

students learning needs when Community

organizations and schools come together

they create shared goals and language

that help maximize high quality and

authentic opportunities for students to

engage in SEL whether in the classroom

at home or in community students hear a

common message about SEL and have

opportunities to to develop healthy

relationships share their feelings and

perspectives and pursue goals and

interests again just to reiterate the

main focus of SEL is to combine the

social emotional learning to cognitive

development while in an academic

environment so this will entail again

helping to fall Foster and develop

healthy relationships sharing feelings

about students progress and their

outcomes or how they feel about

completing tasks so that they become

more self-aware encouraging students to

become independent Learners and um you

know teaching them and role modeling for

them the best practices in order to seek

out an answer and so all of these things

combined really lend itself to an SEL

curriculum or SEL

informed practice again one that leads

to Great outcomes for student student

learners

so what have we learned communities are

an important setting for SEL in research

and research shows that after school

programs focused on developing students

SEL skills have a positive impact on

youth self-confidence attitude attitudes

towards School behaviors and academic

grades additional research suggests that

Partnerships between schools and

Community organizations including OST

programs that have shared resources and

goals for Student Success and well-being

can support positive Youth Development

again this is where Aces comes in as a

community organization organization that

has formed a partnership with a number

of these institutions so that we can

support positive Youth Development

within the community students are more

likely to build new competencies when

they experience similar instructional

approaches across settings and have

multiple opportunities to practice the

same skills and use in common language

to refer to SEO Concepts both inside and

outside school settings may help promote

students development again we want to

make sure that there's collaboration

across different organizational entities

that are helping to support the student

and by using this common framework

between the community organizations

schools and parents and Educators this

also may help to promote the development

of students

being able to apply SEL tenants in their

everyday lives

so the last part of the training will

highlight the ways in which SEL advances

equity and Excellence as mentioned in

the previous slide while SEL practices

cannot totally rid inequitable practices

from the educational system it it can

provide an alternative way to explore

ways in which Equity can be exercised so

number one supporting authentic School

family Community Partnerships where

young people families Educators and

Community Partners work together to plan

Implement and continuously improve

strategies and programs to best serve

all students in their local context

again we want to make sure that not only

are these entities collaborating with

one another but that this collaboration

is authentic and it is in the best

interest of that student learner

fostering trusting and collaborative

collaborative relationships where

Educators can attune to and appreciate

students developmental needs and unique

streaks strengths develop deeper

awareness of students cultures

backgrounds and learning differences and

create classroom environments that are

inclusive for all Learners SEL helps

young people and adults learn and

practice empathy perspective taking and

active listening to build deeper

connections with one another so again a

way to advance equity and Excellence is

to foster a trusting and collaborative

relationship to where not just the tutor

is teaching the the student but that the

student is also engaged in a reciprocal

uh Community collaboration with that

tutor

um you know bringing awareness about

their cultural background their learning

strategies uh their their

um their strengths and so that not only

does the tutor gain a deeper

understanding of where the student is

but that the student also has a deeper

acknowledgment

and self-awareness of who they are

promoting rigorous and meaningful

curriculum and instruction that sets

high standards and expectations for all

students and actively engages them in

developing academic social emotional

skills to achieve their goals and

contribute to their communities

evidence-based SEL programs and

approaches help ensure all students have

consistent opportunities to learn and

practice developmentally appropriate

skills that help them Thrive so again

with the promotion of rigorous

curriculum and instruction and setting

high standards and expectation for all

students while applying the tenets of

SEL again helps to contribute to ensure

that all students have that consistent

opportunity so again the regularly based

regularly scheduled opportunity to

practice developmentally appropriate

skills

and lastly applying ongoing evaluation

of policies practices and outcomes to

ensure all students are treated fairly

have access to supportive learning

environments engage high quality

educational opportunities and programs

and Achieve excellence in academic

socially emotional outcomes SEL

implementation grounded in research and

is grounded in research and continues

Improvement helps Drive efforts toward

Equitable and optimal outcomes so as

with any plan or any intervention or any

application of tenants from a certain

framework there has to be ongoing

evaluation of the policies the practices

and outcomes again this comes from

having the foundation of having a

trusting and collaborative relationship

utilizing meaningful curriculum and

instruction and seeking to have

authentic School family Community

Partnerships so all these things combine

lead to Equitable and optimal outcomes

for students who are engaged with SEL

curriculum

so lastly how does SEL support your

priorities well SEO practices lead to

Improvement in certain areas that have

been researched such as school safety

Mental Health

Civic learning Workforce preparation and

has provided a positive way in which we

could respond to the covid-19 pandemic

with that that concludes the training on

the foundations of SEL

as a reminder social emotional learning

can help students have an equitable

collaborative

positive way of learning certain

developmentally appropriate content and

you as a tutor can be a supportive

Network so students can reach optimal

and Equitable outcomes