Social Emotional Learning
Social Emotional
Learning instruction is an extremely important area of focus for elementary
education. As an Elementary School Principal, it is my belief that Social
Emotional Learning (SEL) instruction will have a significant impact on
students’ feelings of well being and these feelings will have a direct impact on
student learning/achievement in the elementary school setting. In fact, 20 years of research has shown that children need a strong
foundation of social-emotional competence to succeed in school. Successful schools ensure that all students develop their student’s
academic skills. Furthermore, successful schools need to focus on developing
students that have the skills necessary to function socially in our complex
society. SEL goes beyond the classroom to promote the emotional skills that are
needed to be successful in life.
Social Emotional
Learning is a conceptual framework for school and academic improvement that
addresses social and emotional skills essential for all students. The SEL
skills are designed to create attitudes, and behaviors that promote healthy
social relationships, personal well being, and academic achievement. Interest in SEL sparked in the mid-1990s with the
publication of Goleman’s Emotional Intelligence (1995). Goleman proposed
the idea that individuals are born with general emotional intelligence that
determines their potential for learning emotional competencies. Goleman
describes emotional competence as a learned capability based on emotional
intelligence that results in outstanding performance at work or school. He
believes our emotional intelligences determine our potential for learning the
practical skills that are based on its five elements of competency: self-
awareness, motivation, self-regulation, empathy, and adeptness in relationships.
It is important to note that Daniel Goleman is a co-founder of Collaborative
for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) that was established in
1994.
The Collaborative
for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) The Collaborative
Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning is a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit
organization whose mission is to establish social and emotional learning (SEL)
as an essential part of education. In an effort to promote children’s success
in school and life and to support the healthy development of all children,
CASEL has designed and implemented a social and learning program with five
teachable principles to help students acquire the skills and knowledge
necessary to be successful team members and problem solvers. CASEL defines Social Emotional Learning as
follows,
SEL is the process
of acquiring and effectively applying the knowledge, attitudes, and skills
necessary to recognize and manage emotions; developing caring and concern for
others; making responsible decisions; establishing positive relationships; and
handling challenging situations capably. Similar to the way students learn
academic skills, they learn, practice, and apply SEL skills by engaging in
positive activities in and out of the classroom.
Furthermore,
social and emotional learning is the capacity to
recognize and manage emotions, solve problems and establish positive
relationships with others, competencies that clearly are essential for all
students. As social and emotional factors play such an important role in
student mental health, behavior, and academic performance, schools must attend
to this aspect of the educational process for the benefit of all students. The
five teachable principles help students acquire the skills and the knowledge
necessary to be successful in learning environments. The five teachable
principles are: self-awareness, social awareness, self-management, relationship
building skills, and responsible decision-making.
As, I have written about previously, Open Circle is the
adopted Social Emotional Learning curriculum of the North Reading Elementary
Schools. Open Circle is a curriculum that is utilized to teach
these the skills described within the CASEL framework. Open Circle is a classroom-based primary prevention
program for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. The multiyear,
comprehensive program has two goals:
1.
Strengthen
students’ social and emotional skills related to self-awareness,
self-management, social awareness, and interpersonal relationships and
problem-solving.
2.
Foster safe, caring, and cooperative classroom
and school climates.
These skills
are linked to creating good friendships, higher level thinking, and academic
achievement.
Social Emotional
Learning instruction benefits our school community significantly through the
implementation of this wonderful program. As Open Circle celebrates it twenty-fifth anniversary it is exciting to note that Open
Circle was named a "CASEL Select Program," one of only 22 in the
country.