The Benefits of Social-Emotional Learning

A new "issue brief" from Penn State University (with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation) notes that elementary age students who participate in school based programs in Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) show:

• improvements in social behaviors 

• fewer conduct problems

• less emotional distress, and

• improved grades and test scores (11% gain)

What is Social-Emotional Learning? According to the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), an organization that works in the areas of research, practice, and policy make to help make evidence-based social-emotional learning a part of all students' education, SEL involves five core areas of competence:

1. Self-awareness -The ability to accurately recognize one’s feelings and thoughts and how they influence behavior.
2. Self-management - The ability to regulate one’s emotions, understanding, and behaviors to establish and achieve goals. 
3. Social awareness -  The ability to understand and empathize with others, to understand behavioral norms, and recognize resources and supports.
4. Relationship skills - The ability to establish and maintain healthy and rewarding relationships with a variety of individuals and groups. 
5. Responsible decision-making -  The ability to make constructive, ethical choices about personal behavior, social interactions, and school and to understand the consequences of various actions.

Learn more about how your family and your school can build on the research about SEL and help children reap the personal and academic benefits that SEL can provide. 

Thanks to @jeremykoren for letting us know about this new report.