In this first of two posts, the concept of social and emotional learning is explained with some highlights of work in K-12 education on the topic.

SEL is an ancient concept with beginnings as old as ancient Greece. In one of his publications, Plato proposed a holistic offering of subjects such as reading, writing, math, science, and physical education balanced with the ‘soft’ skills like character, the arts, ethics, and moral judgment. “By maintaining a sound system of education and upbringing, you produce citizens of good character,” he explained.

Preparing young people to be productive, responsible, caring, and accountable are ancient goals that continue today. The big question now for modern school systems is: What’s the best way to do this? While this is a relatively recent and evolving focus of study and practice, it is the main question SEL tries to answer.

The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) defines social and emotional learning as “the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions.”

Research from the Aspen Institute asserts that "the success of young people in school and beyond is inextricably linked to social and emotional development.” Social-emotional learning has been shown to positively impact economic mobility and mental health outcomes. Developing these skills in our students is an important part of meeting the needs of the whole child. While it is generally accepted that SEL is beneficial for children, it is equally important for the adults in their lives (teachers, parents, administrators, coaches, counselors, etc.) to be equipped with evidence-based instruction, professional development, and resources to complement what the children are learning. 

In Each Child, Our Future, Ohio’s strategic plan for education, social-emotional learning is one of four equal learning domains supporting Ohio’s goal of preparing each student in Ohio for postsecondary life. Through a stakeholder-driven process, Ohio teachers, school counselors, and education personnel developed Ohio's Social and Emotional Learning Standards for grades kindergarten through 12 (K-12). The Ohio State Board of Education adopted the social-emotional learning standards in June 2019.

Resources for schools in Ohio and across the nation include:

The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL): https://casel.org/ 

Ohio Department of Education’s Social and Emotional Learning Resources: http://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Learning-in-Ohio/Social-and-Emotional-Learning/Collaborative-for-Academic-Social-and-Emotional

The Center for Social-Emotional Learning Cincinnati, http://www.csel-cincinnati.org/ 

In the Scale Strategic Solutions May 2021 blog, we will focus on SEL resources for educator and school staff self-care and professional development.