>> What is Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) ?
SEL is a process for helping children and even adults develop the fundamental skills for life effectiveness. SEL teaches the skills we all need to handle ourselves, our relationships, and our work, effectively and ethically.
These skills include recognizing and managing our emotions, developing caring and concern for others, establishing positive relationships, making responsible decisions, and handling challenging situations constructively and ethically. They are the skills that allow children to calm themselves when angry, make friends, resolve conflicts respectfully, and make ethical and safe choices: Social and Emotional Learning Core Competencies
Many of the programs that teach SEL skills have now been rigorously evaluated and found to have positive impacts. According to reliable research, schools are a highly effective setting for teaching SEL skills.
SEL is also a framework for school improvement. Teaching SEL skills helps create and maintain safe, caring learning environments. The most beneficial SEL programs provide sequential and developmentally appropriate instruction in SEL skills. They are implemented in a coordinated manner, schoolwide, from preschool through high school. Lessons are reinforced in the classroom, during out-of-school activities, and at home. Educators receive ongoing professional development in SEL. And families and schools work together to promote children’s social, emotional, and academic success.
>> What is CASEL?
The Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning is an organization that works to advance the science and evidence-based practice of social and emotional learning (SEL). We write books, articles, and briefs that synthesize scientific advances in SEL and explain their implications for practice. Our priorities focus on the benefits of preschool through high school SEL programming; how SEL coordinates with other educational movements; research and training in implementation; assessment; school and district leadership development; educational policies; and communications.
The CASEL approach starts and ends with research to provide the scientific foundation for SEL and evidence of its impacts. Known for its outstanding scholarship, CASEL publishes major reviews of what works in SEL. In addition, CASEL works closely with educational leaders in the field to bridge science and practice, putting research and theory to the test in real-world settings.
After these methods and innovations have been fully tested and validated, CASEL acts as a leading communicator and disseminator of proven new approaches. Through books, articles, professional development workshops, trainings, and electronic media, CASEL reaches out to an international audience of educational leaders and decision makers.
CASEL is unique in education today. It is the only organization devoted to educational improvement and children’s healthy development that effectively bridges research and practice; addresses the essential pairing of the cognitive and affective components of learning; and uses scientifically rigorous work to affect public policy. CASEL does not market individual programs; we do encourage the use of programs that meet CASEL criteria for excellence (these “CASEL SELect” programs address the five major social and emotional competencies in an exemplary manner, have demonstrated evidence of effectiveness, and provide ongoing professional development).
For documentation on how Social and Emotional learning positively influences academics: Positive Outcomes
For a host of other information, please visit the CASEL website at: www.casel.org
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