Social Emotional Learning

Social-emotional learning (SEL) is a framework that helps students develop skills to understand and manage their emotions, communicate effectively, and empathize with others. Implementing SEL in the classroom can improve academic growth and create a positive learning environment. Strategies like morning meetings and end-of-class reflections can be used to incorporate SEL activities. These activities help students recognize and manage their emotions, and promote positive mindsets towards growth and motivation. It is important for teachers to find SEL strategies that work best for their students. Hello, and thank you for listening to my discussion on social-emotional learning, why it's an important framework, and some basic strategies to implement SEL in your classroom. To begin, what is social-emotional learning, what does it add to a classroom, and why does it matter? SEL is a framework that enhances students' capacity to integrate cognition, effect, and behavior to deal effectively with daily tasks and challenges. In other words, SEL strategies give students tools to help them interpret their own emotions and also to better communicate and empathize with peers in and out of the classroom. If students' emotional learning improves, their academic growth will subsequently improve. The goal is for students to use these emotional skills to positively support and communicate with one another. Here's an example of what I mean. A student who is taught to be more self-aware is more able to understand their own strengths and weaknesses, and interpret their emotions based on their lived experiences. They will begin to realize how their feelings, thoughts, and actions are all related. A self-aware student will be more able to manage their own behavior as a result, as well as to better express themselves to peers, teachers, and parents. But how do you actually incorporate SEL into your classes? There are many strategies, but let's consider how teachers can use the Responsive Classroom Framework as it was designed as a set of classroom principles to help with both social skills and academic learning. We'll focus on bookending SEL activities at the beginning and end of a day or a lesson. At the beginning of the day, morning meetings can help establish predictability and a grounded space for students to feel safe in. One strategy used during this time is to use a mood meter, where students begin the day by evaluating their emotions on a chart. They then spend a few minutes on teacher-provided support strategies like deep breathing, journaling, reading, or closing their eyes to help them recognize that emotion they feel and better prepare for the day ahead. Similarly, at the end of class, students might reflect in groups by asking questions like, what did I learn today? Who did I help? What am I looking forward to for tomorrow? A discussion around these kinds of questions can help students frame their work and effort positively and shift their mindsets towards growth and motivation and away from frustration and self-criticism. There are countless ways to incorporate social-emotional learning into your classroom. Consider looking for SEL strategies that will work best for you and your students. Thank you for listening!