I believe it is vitally important for schools to address the emotional and social needs of their students as well as their academic needs. Thankfully, this is no longer the radical concept that it was when I began teaching in the late Nineties. In fact, it has received a good share of national attention during the last few years.
According to Zins & Elias (2006) “…social and emotional learning (SEL) is the capacity to recognize and manage emotions, solve problems effectively, and establish positive relationships with others, competencies that clearly are essential for all students.”
The Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) has done a remarkable job making the research into SEL very accessible. Their website is full of information that is as useful as it is fascinating.
CASEL outlines five interrelated behavioral, affective and cognitive competencies.
• Self-awareness
• Self-management
• Social awareness
• Relationship skills
• Responsible decision-making
I have been fortunate enough to work alongside some of the leaders in the field of SEL at the Nueva School—including Janice Toben, Nick Haisman, and Elizabeth McLeod.
Janice, Nick and Elizabeth now help facilitate the Institute for SEL with other SEL experts including, Rush Sabiston Frank. I would highly encourage you to attend an Institute for SEL (held annually in the San Francisco Bay Area).
SEL Resources
CASEL
Institute for SEL
Social and Emotional Learning Research Group
Social and Emotional Learning | Edutopia
The Toolbox Project