What about Social Emotional Learning (SEL)

1. What about Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Katherine Utter Ginny Nyhus Intermediate District 287

2. What is SEL? SEL is the process of developing social and emotional skills in the context of safe, caring, well-managed, and engaging learning environments (CASEL, 2006).

3. Where does this stuff come from any way? • The Collaborative for Academic and Social Emotional Learning (CASEL), 2006 • Intermediate District 287 Social Emotional Learning Steering Committee, Curriculum and Leadership team • Anchorage School District/Illinois Standards for Social and Emotional Learning

4. Why Teach SEL? • Emotions affect how and what we learn • Schools are social places--relationships provide foundation for learning • Effective as classroom management strategy 2006, Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL)

5. Why Teach SEL? • Reduces barriers to learning • SEL skills can be taught • Demanded by employers • Has positive impact on academic performance • Required for positive citizenship 2006, Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL)

6. The Need for SEL • Reduces risk taking behavior by developing assets in students • Complies with NCLB mandates that schools be safe and drug free, prevent drop out, and implement evidence based prevention programs. 2006, Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL)

7. The Need for SEL • Develops skills that employers want: • Learning to learn skills • Listening and oral communication • Adaptability: creative thinking and problem solving • Personal management: self-esteem, goal-setting/self-motivation

8. The Need for SEL • Develops skills that employers want: • Group effectiveness: interpersonal skills, negotiation, teamwork • Organizational effectiveness and leadership • Competence in reading,writing and computation U.S Department of Labor (1999)

9. What Does the Research Say? • SEL leads to improvements in: • Attitudes: Motivation and Commitment • Behavior: Participation and Study Habits • Performance: Grades and Subject Mastery Zins, J., Weissberg, R., Wang, M., and Walberg, H. (Eds.) (2004). Building Academic Success on Social and Emotional Learning: What Does the Research Say? New York: teachers College Press

10. What Does the Research Say? • School Attitude • Stronger sense of community • Higher academic motivation and educational aspirations • Better understanding of consequences of behavior • Better ability to cope with school stressors • More positive attitudes toward school and learning Zins, J., Weissberg, R., Wang, M., and Walberg, H. (Eds.) (2004). Building Academic Success on Social and Emotional Learning: What Does the Research Say? New York: teachers College Press

11. What Does the Research Say? • School Behavior: • Participate in class more • Demonstrate more pro-social behavior • Have fewer absences and improved attendance • Show reductions in aggression and disruptions • Are on track to graduate and are less likely to drop out • Are more likely to work out their own way of learning Zins, J., Weissberg, R., Wang, M., and Walberg, H. (Eds.) (2004). Building Academic Success on Social and Emotional Learning: What Does the Research Say? New York: teachers College Press

12. What Does the Research Say? • School Performance: • Improved math, literacy, and social studies skills • Higher achievement test scores and/or grades and no decreases in standardized test scores • Improved learning-to-learn skills • Better problem-solving and planning ability • Use of higher-level reasoning strategies • Improvements in reading comprehension

13. The Ultimate Goal

14. What Does SEL Address? • Self Awareness: Knowing what we are feeling in the moment; having a realistic assessment of out own abilities; and a well-grounded sense of self confidence. 2006, Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), Anchorage School District Standards for SEL

15. What Does SEL Address? Examples of Self Awareness • Recognize/label emotions, distinguish intensity,understand physical responses & describe the situations that cause them • Aware of personal traits, “what I do well and what I can work on” • Personal responsibility--know and understand rules and consequences of actions, know and understand what things are within our control

16. What Does SEL Address? • Social Awareness: Sensing what others are feeling; being able to take their perspective; appreciating and interacting positively with diverse groups. 2006, Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), Anchorage School District Standards for SEL

17. What Does SEL Address? Examples of Social Awareness • How our behavior affects others • Listening skills • Sportsmanship • Identifying cues as to how others are feeling • Demonstrate caring • Understanding how culture impacts perspective

18. What Does SEL Address? • Self Management: Handling our emotions so that they facilitate rather than interfere with the task at hand; being conscientious and delaying gratification to pursue goals; persevering in the face of setbacks and frustration. 2006, Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), Anchorage School District Standards for SEL

19. What Does SEL Address? Examples of Self-Management • Identify & use calming strategies • Understand the difference between a truth & a lie; act with integrity • Use a problem-solving model • Demonstrate ability to set and achieve goals

20. What Does SEL Address? • Social Management: Handling emotions in relationships effectively; establishing and maintaining healthy and rewarding relationships based on cooperation; resisting inappropriate social pressure, negotiating solutions to conflict; and seeking help when needed. 2006, Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), Anchorage School District Standards for SEL

21. What Does SEL Address? Examples of Social Management • Give & receive compliments • Recognize difference between positive and negative relationships • Understand the benefits of boundaries in relationships • Conflict resolution skills

22. The How of SEL Within the school setting, SEL can best be accomplished through a layered approach of skills lessons, infusion into the curricula and classroom practices, and an environment of safety, respect, and caring which models SEL values. Anchorage District Social Emotional Learning Standards

23. The How of SEL • Skills lessons: • Stand alone curricula (i.e PATHS, Second Step, School-Connect, Wise Skills) • Lessons on social skills, character education, relaxation, conflict resolution, self-assessments, etc. • Teaching self-regulation through strategies such as the Incredible 5 point scale, How Does Your Engine Run?

24. The How of SEL • Infusion into the curricula and classroom practices (Generalization) • Anticipate the day/Reflect on the day • Standard practice for problem solving • Daily practice of relaxation • Routines • Daily goals setting • How conflict is managed in the classroom • Intentional integration in all core curriculum areas to teach skills

25. The How of SEL • Environment of safety, respect and caring which models SEL values • Responsive classroom • Ross Green • Nurtured Heart • Love and Logic • PBIS • Health Services • School/Family/Community Partnerships

26. The How of SEL What we know about Social Skills Training • Social Skills Training for students with disabilities needs to be more frequent and intense • Social Skills intervention must be linked to the student’s social skills deficits • The most effective social skills training strategies are a combination of modeling, coaching and reinforcements

27. What Are We Doing in 287 • Pilot Curricula including PATHS, Second Step, Mindfulness, Project M, Labyrinth • Character Education • Love and Logic • Ross Green Strategies • Social Learning Profiles

28. What Are We Doing in 287 • Restorative Practices • Teaching Relaxation Strategies • Social Stories • The Incredible 5 Point Scale • Service Learning • Experiential Education

29. What Are We Doing? Standards & Benchmarks Website www.district287.org

30. What Are You Doing?