M A Y 3 , 2 0 1 3C C P A A M E R I C O R P S T E A M

E L E V 8 / S A F E P A S S A G E S

SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT

What is social and emotional learning, and why is it

important?

SOCIAL & EMOTIONAL LEARNING (SEL)

SEL is the continuous process through which people enhance their ability to integrate thinking, feeling, and behaving in order to achieve important life tasks

“Preparing children not only for college and career, but also for success in life and to serve as responsible, contributing citizens to our democracy, requires a holistic approach to education.” – Tony Smith, OUSD Superintendent (2011)

OUTCOMES OF SEL

OUTCOMES OF SEL

• Environmental factors influence the circuitry of the brain, especially during childhood and early adolescence

• SEL changes the brain’s capacity to regulate emotions and lowers levels of cortisol, a stress hormone

• Behavioral interventions are biological

Key brain areas:Orbital frontal cortex

Dorsolateral prefrontal cortexInsula

AmygdalaAngerior cingulate cortex

What skills are important to students’ social and emotional

development?

5 CORE COMPETENCIES

Self-Responsible

Decision Making

Self-Awareness

Self-Managemen

tSocial

Awareness

Relationship Skills

5 CORE COMPETENCIES

SELF-AWARENESS

Accurately addressing feelings, interests, values, and strengths; maintaining a well-grounded sense of confidence

• Identify emotions• Recognize strengths• Perceive self accurately• Have a sense of self-

confidence and self-efficacy

Self-Awareness

5 CORE COMPETENCIES

SELF-MANAGEMENT

Regulating emotions to handle stress, control impulses, and persevere in overcoming obstacles; setting personal and academic goals and monitoring progress toward them; expressing emotions appropriately

• Impulse control• Stress management• Self-discipline• Self-motivation• Goal setting• Organizational skills

Self-Awareness

Self-Management

5 CORE COMPETENCIES

SOCIAL AWARENESS

Being able to take the perspective of and empathize with others; recognizing and appreciating individual and group similarities and differences; recognizing and using family, school, and community resources

• Take others’ perspectives• Have empathy• Appreciate diversity• Respect others

Self-Awareness

Self-Management

Social Awareness

5 CORE COMPETENCIES

RELATIONSHIP SKILLS

Establishing and maintaining healthy and rewarding relationships based on cooperation; resisting inappropriate social pressure; preventing, managing, and resolving interpersonal conflict; seeking help when needed

• Communicate• Engage socially• Build relationships• Resolve conflicts• Work cooperatively• Help and seek help

Self-Awareness

Self-Management

Social Awareness

Relationship Skills

5 CORE COMPETENCIES

RESPONSIBLE DECISION MAKING

Making decisions based on consideration of ethics, safety concerns, appropriate social norms, respect for others, and likely consequences; applying decision-making skills to academic and social situations; contributing to the well-being of one’s community

• Identify problem• Analyze situation• Solve problem• Evaluate• Reflect• Consider ethical responsibility

Self-Awareness

Self-Management

Social Awareness

Relationship Skills

Self-Responsible

Decision Making

Which of these five areas are your students strongest? Which areas

require growth?

How have and can you promote growth at your school site? Share

specific examples and general ideas

What strategies and structures has your school site implemented to

encourage SEL?

PROMOTING SEL

TIPS FOR INSTRUCTORS• Integrate SEL skills into the

daily curriculum• Be a role model • Value and praise social and

emotional intelligence as highly as you do cognitive development

• Create visuals and a physical space for reflections of emotional competency

• Ask teachers, staff, and other members how they boost SEL

• Get involved with your school’s SEL initiatives

• Remember EARS

TIPS FOR STUDENTS• Be your own best friend, not

your worst critic• Use “self talk” to encourage

yourself• Be aware of what makes

you angry and upset and think about ways to deal with them

• Find opportunities to listen to, cooperate with, and collaborate with friends and peers

• Keep a journal• Take quite, alone time every

day

How did you learn these skills?

SEL is a continuous process. What are your areas of strength? In which areas

could you use some growth?

How can you use what you’ve learned about SEL, both today and this year, with you in your career and personal

life?

Self-awareness . Self-management . Social awareness . Relationship skills . Self-responsible

decision making

TO LEARN MORE…

• … about SELhttp://www.casel.orghttp://www.edutopia.org/social-emotional-learning-overview-videohttp://www.aboutourkids.org/articles/social_emotional_learning_what_it_how_can_we_use_it_help_our_children• … about OUSD’s efforts to promote SEL, seehttp://www.thrivingstudents.org/35/ousd-selected-join-national-collaborating-districts-initiative• … about related youth development programs & strategieshttp://www.ousd.k12.ca.us/restorativejusticehttp://www.ubhcisweb.org/sdm/http://www.character.orghttp://esrnational.org/professional-services/elementary-school/prevention/resolving-conflict-creatively-program-rccp/

REFERENCES

• Anchorage School District. (2005, Sept). Social and emotional learning: standards and benchmarks for the ASD. Retrieved from http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/SEL standards and benchmarks _anchorage school dist_.pdf

• Background on social and emotional learning (sel). (2007, Dec). CASEL Briefs, Retrieved from http://casel.org/wp-content/uploads/SELCASELbackground.pdf

• CASEL. (2013). Why it matters [Web]. Retrieved from http://casel.org/why-it-matters/• CASEL. (2013). Social and emotional learning standards [handout]. • Davidson, R. (2007). The heart-brain connection: the neuroscience of social,

emotional, and academic learning [Web]. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/richard-davidson-sel-brain-video

• Edutopia. (2013). Social and emotional learning. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/social-emotional-learning

• Johnson, K (2013). Personal interview at CCPA in Oakland, CA.• Oakland Unified School District. (2011, Dec 16). Ousd selected to join national

collaborating districts initiative. Retrieved from http://www.thrivingstudents.org/35/ousd-selected-join-national-collaborating-districts-initiative

• Stern, R. (2013). Social and emotional learning: what is it? how can we use it to help our children?. Retrieved from http://www.aboutourkids.org/articles/social_emotional_learning_what_it_how_can_we_use_it_help_our_children