What is SEL?
Social and emotional learning (SEL) is the process through which children and adults understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. (CASEL, 2020)
History and CASEL
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In 1994, the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) was formed to prioritize social and emotional learning (SEL) in K-12 education. CASEL has been the frontrunner in promoting SEL practices in schools across the country by collaborating with other organizations, creating frameworks for implementation, and conducting evidence-based research and application. The SEL framework CASEL developed includes five competencies that are further divided into intrapersonal skills, interpersonal skills, and responsible decision-making skills:
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INTRAPERSONAL
SELF-AWARENESS: being able to recognize individual thoughts, emotions, and values as well as understanding how these factors affect behavior.
SELF-MANAGEMENT: being able to regulate individual emotions and behaviors; being able to set as well as achieve personal or educational goals.
INTERPERSONAL
SOCIAL AWARENESS: demonstrating empathy and the ability to take in the perspectives of people from diverse backgrounds
RELATIONSHIP SKILLS: the ability to establish and maintain healthy relationships with diverse individuals and groups
RESPONSIBLE DECISION-MAKING
RESPONSIBLE DECISION-MAKING: being able to make constructive choices in regards to personal behavior and social interactions
The SEL Framework in Elementary Education
In terms of elementary education, the SEL framework is still applicable and relevant. Extensive research indicates that SEL programs are effective in promoting prosocial behavior and academic achievement while reducing behavior problems and emotional distress in the classroom. A meta-analysis that included over 270,000 students concluded that there was an 11% gain on academic achievement for students who received SEL programs. This meta-analysis looked into 213 studies, in which 120 of the studies were specifically analyzed at the elementary level. The discussion also stated that the SEL interventions were successful in urban, suburban, and rural schools as well. Factors that greatly influenced positive student outcomes were that the programs were intentionally designed and well implemented. Especially at the elementary level, implementing the SEL framework is the foundation for student social and emotional development, which can be seen through promoting self-regulation and executive functioning.
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The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation at Penn State University summarized four common approaches that indicate effectiveness with elementary SEL implementation:
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Intentional and thorough lessons that teach students step-by-step instructions regarding the SEL competencies
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Classroom routines and general teaching practices that enable cooperative learning and positive relationships
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Integration of the SEL framework into the academic curriculum
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School-wide participation and leadership in promoting the SEL framework
The Impact of SEL
Footnotes
Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (2020). History. CASEL. https://casel.org/history/
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Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (2020). What is SEL?. CASEL. https://casel.org/what-is-sel/
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Durlak, J. A., Weissberg, R. P., Dymnicki, A. B., Taylor, R. D., & Schellinger, K. B. (2011). The impact of enhancing students’ social and emotional learning: A meta-analysis of school-based universal interventions. Child Development, 82(1), pp. 405-432.
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Social emotional learning in elementary school: Preparation for success (2017). Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
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