Social-Emotional Learning

How schools can help children learn to understand and manage their emotions, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions

See also: Life Skills

Vector of a professional dressed in a suit and tie and running in a hurry while multitasking with a laptop, a calendar, a briefcase, a clipboard, a cellphone, and a wrench in each of his six hands.
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Student Well-Being What’s Really Holding Schools Back From Implementing SEL?
Principals see their schools as places that promote students' social-emotional growth.
Arianna Prothero, April 16, 2024
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4 min read
Carrie White, a second-grade teacher, makes a heart with her hands for her student, Tyrell King-Harrell, left, during an SEL exercise at Yates Magnet Elementary School in Schenectady, N.Y., on March 28, 2024.
Carrie White, a 2nd grade teacher, makes a heart with her hands for her student, Tyrell King-Harrell, left, during an SEL exercise at Yates Magnet Elementary School in Schenectady, N.Y., on March 28, 2024.
Scott Rossi for Education Week
Student Well-Being What This School Used as the Main Ingredient for a Positive Climate
When systemic and fully integrated, the practice has the power to reduce bad behavior and boost teacher morale, experts say.
Libby Stanford, April 14, 2024
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10 min read
A middle school football team practices Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022, in Oklahoma City.
A middle school football team practices in Oklahoma City in 2022.
Sue Ogrocki/AP
Student Well-Being SEL Could Move Into School Sports. What That Might Look Like
Massachusetts is considering a bill to establish guidelines on how school athletics incorporate SEL.
Lauraine Langreo, April 12, 2024
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5 min read
Close up of elementary or middle school white girl using a mobile phone in the classroom.
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Student Well-Being Can SEL Help Students Curb Their Own Cellphone Use?
Experts say that a combination of SEL skills and better school policies would help curb student cellphone use.
Lauraine Langreo & Arianna Prothero, April 1, 2024
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7 min read
Student Well-Being Quiz Quiz Yourself: How Much Do You Know About The Impact of Emotional Literacy on School Culture?
Answer 7 questions about the impact of emotional literacy.
April 1, 2024
Custom illustration of a young female student in a meditative pose floating above a cell phone. She is surrounded by floating books and wide range of emotions reflected by different emojis. Digital / techie textures applied to the background.
Taylor Callery for Education Week
Special Report Technology & Student Wellness: How Tech, SEL, and Mental Health Are Now Linked
See how schools are trying to put student wellness front and center to help kids navigate a world in which social media and AI are all around them.
March 25, 2024
As part of a SEL lesson, 6th grade students at Swope Middle School in Reno, Nev., practice online safety measures.
As part of a social-emotional-learning lesson, 6th graders practice online safety measures at Swope Middle School in Reno, Nev., on March 19, 2024.
Emily Najera for Education Week
Student Well-Being From Our Research Center Social Media Is Hurting Social-Emotional Skills. How 4 School Districts Are Fighting Back
A majority of educators believe social media negatively impacts students’ social-emotional skills, an EdWeek Research Center survey found.
Lauraine Langreo, March 25, 2024
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7 min read
Custom illustration showing a young female student floating above a cell phone while in a protective bubble that looks like a split happy and sad emoji. Digital and techie textures applied to the background.
Taylor Callery for Education Week
Student Well-Being From Our Research Center Students Think Social Media Is Fine, But Teachers See a Mental Health Minefield
It's important for adults to recognize and understand teens’ perspectives in order to teach healthy social media habits.
Arianna Prothero, March 25, 2024
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8 min read
Little girl inside head of woman papercut vector illustration. Psychology, inner child, human individuality and memory of childhood healing concept
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Student Well-Being Opinion Nobody Wants to Look Stupid: Resources for Teaching About Executive Functions
Executive functioning is a learned skill, explains an educational therapist. Here’s how to teach it to your students—and yourself.
Lexi Peterson, March 1, 2024
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4 min read
Sixth-grade students collaborate in the classroom.
Sixth-grade students collaborate in the classroom.
Allison Shelley/The Verbatim Agency for EDUimages
Teaching Video Teachers, Try This: Address Student Behavior Issues With Somatic Check-Ins
Through somatic check-ins, educators and students can learn better emotional regulation, and in turn improve classroom management.
Sam Mallon, February 15, 2024
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3:55
Conceptual image in blue of paper dolls
Les Cunliffe/iStock/Getty
Student Well-Being Download 4 Steps to Combat Politicization and Win Buy-In for SEL (Download)
Teaching students social-emotional skills while navigating the politics of the times has become a difficult needle for schools to thread.
Arianna Prothero & Liz Yap, January 31, 2024
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1 min read
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Student Well-Being Opinion You Think Social-Emotional Learning Is a Bad Idea. Maybe This Will Change Your Mind
Why are some educators and parents opposed to SEL, when it's about making students stronger?
Peter DeWitt, December 13, 2023
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4 min read
Colored pencil illustration of first graders lined up outside of their class. At the front of the line, a little boy is dressed as king, at the end of the line a little girl comforts a crying friend.
Hannah Lock for Education Week
Student Well-Being Opinion Some Leaders Are Last: What I Teach My 1st Graders About Leadership
The earliest leadership experience many students have is being a line leader. But are they learning the right lessons?
Kendall Stallings, December 11, 2023
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4 min read
Woman finding her way to a happy smile icon in the middle of labyrinth like maze with school subject icons ghosted over a cloudy sky textured background.
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School & District Management 5 Mistakes Schools Make When Building SEL Programs
Experts weigh in on how to avoid parental and community backlash against social-emotional learning initiatives.
Arianna Prothero, November 27, 2023
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5 min read
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