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

Explainer

Social-Emotional Learning, Explained
What is social-emotional learning?
Diverse male and female characters are assembling cogwheels together at work. Concept of soft skills, work operations, and teamwork productivity. Business workflow as cogwheel mechanism.
Rudzhan Nagiev/iStock
College & Workforce Readiness The SEL Skills Google, Microsoft, and Other Top Companies Want Schools to Teach
Senior executives from U.S. companies put a high priority on so-called "soft skills."
Mark Lieberman, January 13, 2025
8 min read
Hands adjusting student's emotional gauges.
Anna Godeassi for Education Week
Student Well-Being Elementary Students Can’t Manage Their Emotions. What Schools Can Do to Help
Many teachers say kids' coping skills are not as good as they used to be.
Lauraine Langreo, January 13, 2025
6 min read
A teachers' s hand opens a student's independence.
Anna Godeassi for Education Week
Student Well-Being Are Today's Students Really Less Independent Than Previous Generations?
Experts say social-emotional learning strategies are available for teachers to help students become more independent.
Arianna Prothero, January 13, 2025
9 min read
Conceptual illustration of classroom conversations and fragmented education elements coming together to form a cohesive picture of a book of classroom knowledge.
Sonia Pulido for Education Week
Student Well-Being Opinion What Works in Social-Emotional Learning? Teachers Share Their Best Strategies
There’s a lot of SEL content out there. What actually works for teachers is another matter.
Larry Ferlazzo, December 30, 2024
9 min read
Illustration concept of a classroom; blackboard with empty space with textbooks and stationery inside classroom with flying paper airplanes
DigitalVision Vectors with Liz Yap/Education Week
Teaching Opinion How to Make the Most of Class Time Before a School Vacation: 4 Tips
Winter break is coming. An education researcher shares tips to maximize learning in your classroom and school.
Christina Cipriano, December 13, 2024
5 min read
Modern digital collage of caring leader surrounded by positivity. Social Emotional learning leadership.
Vanessa Solis/Education Week via Canva
School & District Management Opinion How Social-Emotional Learning Can Unify Your School Community: 7 Timely Tips
It’s a stressful political season. These SEL best practices can help school leaders weather the unpredictable transitions.
Maurice J. Elias, November 19, 2024
4 min read
Teaching Video Teachers, Try This: Teach Kindness Through Words and Actions
This 4th grade teacher creates lessons and projects around showing kindness.
Kaylee Domzalski, November 19, 2024
2:49
Image of positive movement when attending to a student's well-being is a component.
Dmitrii_Guzhanin/iStock/Getty and Laura Baker/Education Week
Student Well-Being SEL Has Become Politicized. Schools Are Embracing It Anyway
Eighty-three percent of principals report that their schools use an SEL curriculum or program.
Arianna Prothero, October 29, 2024
5 min read
Concept art, idea of brain and psychology, surreal painting, conceptual illustration. Distracted mind, emotional regulation.
Jorm Sangsorn/iStock
Teaching Opinion The Hidden Benefits of Distraction in the Classroom
Distraction can support healthy emotional regulation—but only when properly understood. Here’s what teachers need to know.
Eliya Ahmad & Zi Jia Ng, October 23, 2024
4 min read
The elephant in the classroom.
iStock/Getty Images
Teaching Opinion Struggling to Discuss the Election in Class? These 5 Steps Can Help
For many teachers, political anxiety is the elephant in the classroom. The science of emotional intelligence can offer clarity.
Marc A. Brackett & Robin S. Stern, October 18, 2024
5 min read
Teaching Opinion ‘People Can Only Hear When They’re Heard': Navigating Divisive Conversations
Mónica Guzmán offers advice to educators on teaching themselves and their students how to use curiosity to navigate divisive conversations.
Jaclyn Borowski & Elizabeth Rich, September 19, 2024
1 min read
Two head icons face off-Empathy-Emotional Intelligence-Icon
Shivendu Jauhari/iStock
Teaching Q&A How Teachers Can Build Civility as a Classroom Norm
Teachers can model how to deal with the discomfort that can accompany facing challenging ideas and texts.
Sarah D. Sparks, August 28, 2024
4 min read
Photograph of an educator holding a pen and clipboard while consulting with  teenage girl inside educational building in office. The teenage girl is not making eye contact while talking to the educator.
iStock/Getty
Student Well-Being From Our Research Center Kids Are Getting Worse at Making Eye Contact. Here's Why
Educators express serious concerns about the decline of this social skill.
Arianna Prothero, August 16, 2024
4 min read
Illustration concept of emotional intelligence, showing a woman balancing emotion control using her hand to balance smile and sad face icons.
iStock/Getty
Student Well-Being Q&A How to Address Parents' Concerns That SEL Goes Against Their Values
A Texas instructional coach shares insights she has learned from talking with hesitant parents.
Arianna Prothero, July 18, 2024
3 min read