What is Social Emotional Learning (SEL)?
SEL is a process for helping students and adults develop the fundamental social and
emotional skills for life success. SEL teaches the skills we all need to manage
ourselves, our relationships, and our work effectively. Examples of skills taught include
recognizing and managing emotions, empathy for others, establishing positive
relationships, and making responsible decisions.
Why teach SEL?
The Collaborative for Academic Social and Emotional Learning (2011) found that
evidence-based SEL programs strongly influence student academic and social success
by: 1) creating and supporting safe, caring, well-managed learning environments; and 2)
providing sequenced, developmentally appropriate, classroom-based instruction in
major areas of social and emotional competence. Results from a meta-analysis
conducted by Durlak, Weissberg, Dymincki, Taylor, and Schellinger in 2011, identified
the following academic and social benefits of teaching SEL:
Academic
 SEL programming contributed to
increased academic achievement by
11% while also preventing problem
behaviors.
 SEL variables exerted greater
influence on academic success than
any other variable on learning.
 SEL results in stronger attachment
to school which correlates with
higher attendance and graduation
rates, and higher grades and
standardized test scores.
Social
 SEL strengthens student attachment to
school and builds students’ social emotional
skill sets, which enhance engagement and
relationships.
 SEL increases intrinsic motivation to behave
in prosocial ways to decrease high risk
behaviors.
 SEL improves student attitudes toward self
and others while also strengthening
teacher-student relationships.
What are Social Emotional Learning Standards (SELS)?
The MMSD 4K-12 SELS describe the social emotional learning skills necessary for all
students to achieve life success. The SELS document contains the following three
power standards: emotional development, self-concept, and social competence. Each of
the three power standards includes skills that describe what students should know and
be able to do in grades 4K-5K, 1-3, 4-5, 6-8, 9-10, and 11-12. These SEL standards are
to be embedded into daily instructional practices.
Collaborative for Academic Social Emotional Learning. (2011). Retrieved February 2011 from
http://www.casel.org/home.php.
Durlak, J.A., Weissberg, R.P., Dymnicki, A.B., Taylor, R.D., & Schellinger, K.B. (2011). The impact of
enhancing students' social emotional learning: A meta-analyses of school-based universal
interventions. Child Development, 82(1), Retrieved from
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2010.01564.x/full