What is SEL?

Social-Emotional Learning is developing a child's self-awareness as it relates to their environment, others around them, personal management/responsibility, and communication. Students need to have a strong awareness of these components in order to tap into their own strengths and to help them develop a desire to learn and grow. Traditional education is based on the notion that learning is done through acquiring knowledge and gathering information, building upon that which they have previously learned. SEL addresses the whole child, not just the academic part. Students need SEL in order to learn across all content areas.

Social emotional learning is where children learn ways to help with their relationships and healthy development. This includes being aware of their decision making process, how to deal with relationships, in a healthy way and being able to self manage and have social awareness.

I believe that SEL is looking at the whole individual not just the academic aspects of a student. When you include SEL into the classroom/activities you are not only helping students to learning academic skills but also showing students how to handle various situations in a healthy positive manner.

I would define social emotional learning as teaching kids to incorporate themselves into their education.  A child must be in the right state of mind to learn and retain information.  Helping kids to learn the skills of social emotional learning helps with that.  

This is different than traditional learning, I think, because it incorporates more experiences for students.  It is not as much just answer questions from this text and memorize facts.  It is teaching kids how to be active members of their own education. 

SEL are developmental skills that help children/students succeed in school, social settings and in life. Building it in todays curriculum is important so that students can acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities. They will hopefully build up their self esteems and be able to manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals.

Social-Emotional Learning is the holistic development of young people focusing on the individual and personal competencies that are needed to be successful. It is important because it can help kids navigate the world more effectively.

Integrating SEL into the curriculum is different from traditional education because it is focused on the exchange of knowledge about the world and relationships. It is focused on how students understand themselves and others. It helps children to learn when SEL helps all kids access the content.

Social Emotional Learning is the holistic approach on educating a child. SEL is important because it focuses on the whole child and helps support all areas of a childs developement. This is a much different way to educate a child  than a traditional education. A traditional education does not take into account the whole of the child. SEL incorporates all areas of a childs developement; their self-awareness, responsibilities, and emotional growth. Social Emotional Learning relates to each specific child and helps them navigate within their own learning. 

It is important for students to learn SEL so that they can gather different ways to understand and relay their emotions.  Students can participate in SEL activities during brain breaks, before school while doing a "Feelings Check-In" when they walk into the classroom, and sharing with a friend or teacher in the classroom at the end of the day. SEL is important for teachers to better understand their students and to learn how to handle their emotions in the future. Teachers can have students use a feelings check-in during read alouds, art activities, and journal writing. Both students and teachers children can acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, establish and achieve positive goals, & feel and show empathy for others.

Social-Emotional Learning or SEL is the holistic development of young individuals. It is the overall basis that in order for students to be successful in learning educational content, they must first identify themselves and where they stand and how they come into the learning space. SEL is important because it allows teachers to build connections with students and create more authentic learning experiences. 

Incorporating SEL into the curriculum is different from traditional education in that it dives deeper into the practices of teaching and education as a whole--how are students learning, how are teachers teaching and why have they decided to teach in that way, and what does each student bring to the learning space. SEL creates equity and establishes learning environments which are meaningful.

Integrating SEL into a curriculum is different than traditional education because it goes beyond just academics.  SEL is woven throughout lessons and not taught in isolation.  Students will look within to examine their emotions which then drives their attention to learning.  With self awareness and a heart filled with purpose, they will only then be able to grow within the traditional curriculum.  Once equipped with good decision making skills and a sense of responsibility and purpose, they can find success in other areas.