Social emotional learning (SEL) is critical for children’s learning and development. While school schedules are packed with content, there are a variety of ways to integrate SEL skills across the day. SEL is the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions, show empathy, have supportive relationships, and make decisions.
Research has shown the critical importance of SEL (see one example), but given schools packed schedules, how can schools best incorporate these important life skills?
In First 10’s October Network Meeting, SEL expert Tori Todd shared different strategies educators can use to integrate SEL across the school day through explicit instruction, modeling, and academic content. She emphasized how the integration of social-emotional learning promotes high-quality learning environments in schools and classrooms, builds critical thinking skills, and strengthens students’ abilities to effectively contribute in their classrooms today and in their workplaces and communities tomorrow.
Todd also gave examples of how schools and districts can support educators’ social and emotional well-being, including professional development to strengthen teachers’ SEL skills, policies and practices that support adult SEL (ex: leave policies, break spaces), and clear modeling of strategies, with intention.
Working with Families to Support SEL
The Newton Lee First 10 Partnership, located in Virginia, followed Todd’s presentation by sharing examples of their own strategies for integrating SEL into their transition to kindergarten activities. Newton Lee had observed that in past years, the school’s one-night Kindergarten Orientation seemed to be overwhelming to families due to the amount of information shared. Kindergarten teachers also noticed gaps in critical social and emotional skills in their classrooms. This led them to rethink how they could better support the families and children in their community. The First 10 Partnership Team, in collaboration with school counselors, implemented a five-part “Success in School” series to support the transition into kindergarten. This series of play and learn sessions included activities to teach and reinforce SEL skills including emotional regulation and self-management. These sessions were designed to help families support their children’s development at home before they enter school.
These presentations and the ensuing discussion highlighted how schools and their community partners can work with families to support the development of children’s SEL skills both during the transition to kindergarten and after school entry by integrating SEL throughout the school day.