What is social and emotional learning?

Social and emotional learning focuses on developing core skills like empathy, communication, and self-awareness and regulation to enhance personal and academic success. 

Why is social and emotional learning important?

SEL promotes educational equity and excellence by fostering genuine partnerships between schools, families, and communities. This approach aims to create learning environments and experiences that are built on trusting and collaborative relationships, a rigorous and meaningful curriculum, and continuous evaluation. SEL can help tackle different forms of inequity, empowering both young people and adults to actively participate in creating thriving schools and contribute to safe, healthy, and equitable communities (CASEL, 2022).

How can educators make a difference? 

Educators must have a foundational understanding of cognitive processes, as well as the emotional and social challenges faced by the year level they teach. This understanding enables educators to build warm, responsive relationships with children, helping them feel respected, comforted, and supported during stressful times (Slater, 2021).