2 Mar 2018
Spotlight

Social and Emotional Learning: Creating Supportive Learning Environments for All

Educators, parents, and leaders want youth to develop the necessary social, emotional, and academic competencies to be productive and engaged citizens. Recent research has demonstrated that when schools and districts focus on social and emotional learning (SEL), students’ academic achievement, prosocial behaviors, and positive attitudes improve, while their behavior problems and emotional distress decrease. In addition, focusing on social and emotional Image of middles school students and teacherdevelopment can help create safe, supportive, and equitable learning environments, both in school and in out-of-school settings. Strategies for promoting SEL can be embedded throughout instructional time.

SEL is not simply a strategy for youth. Educators can also learn to improve their social and emotional competencies. For example, educators who practice self-awareness and stress management can more effectively model and encourage these behaviors for students. In addition, educators who apply and reflect on their own SEL skills build a more welcoming environment for youth. 

Explore these selected resources, tools, and reports to discover our research and technical assistance on SEL practices. Together, these resources demonstrate how SEL can contribute to a well-rounded educational setting and improve the conditions for learning for both youth and educators.

Related Projects

Project

Digging Deeper into Social and Emotional Learning (SEL): Exploring the SEL Landscape

Social and emotional skills and competencies are essential for young people to succeed in school, work, and life. In the past decade, there has been an increasing number of studies, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and syntheses that focus on the key role that social and emotional learning (SEL) plays in the success and well-being of children and youth. AIR, supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, designed and executed two related activities to explore and describe SEL for practitioners and researchers.
Project

Social and Emotional Learning at Pasco County Schools

In the aftermath of the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, education leaders in Pasco County renewed their commitment to improve school safety and student mental health—which, according to research, can also improve academic learning. With guidance from AIR experts, a core team of district and school stakeholders examined research and existing efforts that provide students with the skills to engage in positive social interactions, master academic content, and become successful students.

Related Work

4 Oct 2016
Video

AIR Whiteboard: Keeping Social and Emotional Learning at the Center of Teaching and Learning

Have you ever wondered what social and emotional skills look like in practice? If so, watch this whiteboard animation that follows a student throughout her day and ways in which she applies her social and emotional skills.
Image of SEL coaching toolkit cover
30 Aug 2017
Toolkit

Social and Emotional Learning Coaching Toolkit

Teachers recognize the importance of student social and emotional skill development; however, they often feel as though they do not have the time to support social and emotional learning (SEL). The purpose of this toolkit is to support coaches and administrators as they observe practices that support the development of social and emotional skills in classrooms, and hold critical conversations that include SEL.
5 Dec 2016
Video

Webinar: Bringing Social and Emotional Learning to the Forefront — What Happens When Districts Prioritize SEL

What does social and emotional learning look like in practice? Specifically, what can district and school leaders do to promote it? In this 75-minute webinar, co-hosted by AIR, American Youth Policy Forum, the Collaborative for Academic Social and Emotional Learning, and the Washoe County School District, audiences heard from a panel of researchers and practitioners on ways in which districts and school leaders have implemented a coordinated and purposeful SEL effort.
13 Dec 2015
Toolkit

The In-School and Afterschool Social and Emotional Learning Connection: A Planning Tool

School-day and afterschool programs must work together to support young people as they develop. Although research shows that both in-school and afterschool staff find social and emotional learning important, the ways in which these different settings support young people vary. This tool is designed for afterschool and in-school staff first to reflect independently on their goals for social and emotional learning discuss how best to work collaboratively toward a common goal.
14 Sep 2015
Toolkit

Social and Emotional Learning Practices: A Self-Reflection Tool for Afterschool Staff

Both the formal and informal education communities are increasingly focused on fostering opportunities for social and emotional learning (SEL) and the link between SEL and youth outcomes. This self-reflection tool is designed to help afterschool program staff reflect upon their own social and emotional competencies and their ability to support young people's SEL through program practices.
Nick Yoder on Social Emotional Learning
24 Oct 2016
Video

Social and Emotional Learning Explained: How SEL Helps Students in College, Career, and Life

Social and emotional learning (SEL) develops people’s ability to make successful life choices, to achieve academically, and to be college and career ready. In this video, Nick Yoder explains how SEL can help students and what research says about its effectiveness.

Further Reading