Social-Emotional Learning: What Is SEL and Why SEL Matters

Committee for Children

1 Aug 201602:54

Summary

TLDRSocial-emotional learning (SEL) is vital for developing essential life skills alongside academic knowledge. It equips students with the ability to manage emotions, empathize with others, solve problems peacefully, and make responsible decisions. SEL not only enhances academic performance but also fosters positive behaviors, leading to better outcomes in education and employment. With SEL, students are more likely to graduate, secure jobs, and enjoy richer social lives, highlighting its importance in shaping successful and well-rounded individuals.

Takeaways

📚 Social-emotional learning (SEL) is the process of learning social and emotional skills, which is as crucial as academic subjects like reading or math.
🌱 SEL is most effective when it begins early in life and continues through high school, emphasizing the importance of early childhood development.
🧠 Students learn to manage their own emotions and behaviors, which is critical for personal growth and interpersonal relationships.
💖 SEL helps students develop empathy and care for others, fostering a sense of community and understanding among peers.
🤔 It aids in recognizing and understanding one's own emotions, which is essential for dealing with strong feelings and impulsive actions.
👀 Students are taught to identify others' emotions and perspectives, promoting compassion and inclusivity regardless of background.
🤝 SEL encourages peaceful problem-solving and assertive communication, enhancing interpersonal relationships and cooperation in the classroom.
🚀 Responsible decision-making is a key component of SEL, preparing students for better outcomes in their lives and future careers.
📈 Research indicates that students who participate in SEL perform better academically and exhibit improved attitudes and behaviors.
🎓 SEL contributes to higher educational attainment, with students who are socially and emotionally competent more likely to earn a college degree and graduate from high school.
👫 Social-emotional competence also leads to having more friends, which can help students feel more connected to school and reduce the likelihood of bullying.

Q & A

What is social-emotional learning (SEL)?
-Social-emotional learning is the process of acquiring social and emotional skills, which is considered as important as learning academic subjects like reading or math.
Why is it important to start SEL early and continue through high school?
-Starting SEL early and continuing it through high school ensures that students develop essential skills progressively, which are crucial for success in various aspects of life.
What are some of the social-emotional skills students learn through SEL?
-Students learn to manage their emotions and behaviors, show empathy and care for others, solve problems effectively, make responsible decisions, and maintain healthy relationships.
How does SEL help students deal with strong emotions and impulsive behaviors?
-SEL teaches students to recognize and be aware of their emotions, which enables them to pause, take a breath, and think before reacting impulsively.
What is the significance of recognizing others' emotions and perspectives in SEL?
-Recognizing others' emotions and perspectives helps students empathize and show compassion, fostering understanding and inclusivity regardless of individual differences.
How does SEL contribute to students' success in the classroom and beyond?
-SEL equips students with skills to communicate assertively, solve problems peacefully, and get along with others, which are crucial for classroom cooperation and life success.
What are the academic benefits of participating in SEL programs?
-Students who participate in SEL programs tend to perform better academically, have improved attitudes and behaviors, and engage in delinquent or disruptive behaviors less frequently.
How does SEL impact students' likelihood of earning a college degree and graduating from high school?
-In the United States, students with strong social-emotional competence are twice as likely to earn a college degree and nearly 50% more likely to graduate from high school by age 25.
What is the relationship between SEL and students' social connections?
-Socially and emotionally competent students tend to have more friends, which increases their sense of connection to school, improves their academic performance, and reduces the likelihood of being bullied or left out.
What is the overarching goal of SEL for students' overall success in life?
-The overarching goal of SEL is to provide students with the skills necessary to succeed in every facet of school and life, including managing emotions, building relationships, and making responsible decisions.
What does the research indicate about the effectiveness of SEL in students' lives?
-Research shows that social-emotional learning makes a significant difference in students' lives, improving their academic performance, attitudes, behaviors, and social connections.

Outlines

00:00

🧡 Social-Emotional Learning (SEL): Foundation for Success

The script introduces Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) as a critical component of education, equating it in importance to traditional subjects like reading and math. It emphasizes the development of social and emotional skills from an early age through high school, highlighting their necessity for success in various life domains. The paragraph explains that SEL enables students to manage emotions, exhibit empathy, solve problems, make decisions responsibly, and maintain healthy relationships. It also touches on the benefits of recognizing and understanding one's own emotions and those of others, fostering a peaceful and assertive communication style. The script concludes by citing research that shows students engaged in SEL achieve better academically, exhibit improved behaviors, and are less likely to engage in delinquent activities. Additionally, it points out the social benefits, such as having more friends and feeling connected to school, which can lead to a reduced risk of bullying.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡SEL

SEL stands for Social-Emotional Learning, which is the central theme of the video. It is defined as the process of acquiring social and emotional skills that are crucial for personal development and success in various aspects of life. The video emphasizes that SEL is as important as academic subjects like reading and math, and it should begin early and continue through high school.

💡Emotions

Emotions are a significant aspect of SEL. In the video, it is mentioned that students learn to manage their own emotions and behaviors. This involves recognizing and being aware of their feelings, which helps them deal with strong emotions and impulsive behaviors, as illustrated by the script's example of stopping, taking a breath, and thinking before acting.

💡Empathy

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others, which is a key social-emotional skill discussed in the video. It is highlighted as an important aspect of SEL that allows students to show care and concern for others, regardless of their background, and is crucial for building healthy relationships.

💡Problem Solving

Problem solving is presented in the video as an essential skill within SEL. It refers to the ability to effectively address and resolve issues in a peaceful manner. The script mentions that students learn to communicate assertively about their needs or wants, which aids in resolving conflicts and getting along with peers and adults.

💡Decision Making

Decision making is the process of making choices and is a critical skill within the realm of SEL. The video script points out that students learn to make responsible decisions about their lives and future, which can lead to better outcomes, such as improved academic performance and reduced delinquent behavior.

💡Healthy Relationships

Healthy relationships are a goal of SEL, as mentioned in the video. They are built on the foundation of social-emotional skills such as empathy, effective communication, and problem-solving. The script illustrates this by discussing how these skills help students get along with others and receive the help they need from adults.

💡Academic Performance

Academic performance is linked to SEL in the video, with research showing that students who participate in SEL programs tend to do better academically. This is because the skills learned through SEL, such as self-regulation and empathy, can enhance focus, cooperation, and overall engagement in learning.

💡Attitudes and Behaviors

The video discusses how SEL can improve students' attitudes and behaviors. It suggests that SEL participants exhibit improved attitudes towards learning and school, and their behaviors become more positive and less disruptive, contributing to a better school environment.

💡Delinquent Behavior

Delinquent behavior refers to actions that violate societal norms or laws, and the video script indicates that SEL can reduce such behaviors. By learning self-regulation and empathy, students are less likely to engage in disruptive or delinquent activities.

💡College Degree

The script highlights the long-term benefits of SEL, such as the increased likelihood of earning a college degree for students with strong social-emotional competence. This underscores the impact of SEL on future educational and career success.

💡Full-Time Job

Having a full-time job by age 25 is presented in the video as another long-term outcome of strong social-emotional competence developed through SEL. It exemplifies the practical benefits of SEL in terms of employment and financial stability.

💡Social and Emotional Competence

Social and emotional competence is the overarching goal of SEL, as described in the video. It encompasses a range of skills, including empathy, self-regulation, problem-solving, and decision-making, which are essential for success in school, work, and life. The video emphasizes that students who are socially and emotionally competent are more likely to have friends and feel connected to their school community.

Highlights

Social-emotional learning (SEL) is as important as learning reading or math.

SEL involves learning social and emotional skills, starting early and continuing through high school.

SEL skills are essential for success in school, work, and life.

SEL helps students manage their emotions and behaviors.

Students with SEL learn to have empathy and show care for others.

SEL teaches problem-solving and responsible decision-making.

Maintaining healthy relationships is a key aspect of SEL.

SEL helps students recognize and be aware of their emotions.

SEL teaches students to deal with strong emotions and impulsive behaviors.

SEL helps students identify others' emotions and perspectives.

SEL fosters empathy and compassion in students.

SEL is crucial for classroom and life success.

SEL teaches peaceful problem-solving and assertive communication.

SEL helps students get along with peers and receive help from adults.

SEL participants have better academic performance.

SEL improves students' attitudes and behaviors.

Students with SEL are less likely to act delinquent or disruptive.

SEL increases the likelihood of earning a college degree and graduating high school.

Socially and emotionally competent students are more likely to have a full-time job by age 25.

SEL contributes to having more friends and feeling connected to school.

SEL reduces the likelihood of being left out or bullied.

SEL equips students with skills to succeed in all aspects of life.