Unit 1: What is SEL and Why is it Important?

Introduction

Warm up

Question: What words or phrases do you think of when you hear Social Emotional Learning (SEL)?

Jot them down on a post-it or in your notebook.

*Note the notebook sign next to your warm up. When you see this image, this means that you will be writing and reflecting in your notebook.

Objectives for Unit 1

At the end of Unit 1, students will be able to:

Define SEL and its key concepts including self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making
Identify and explain the importance of promoting SEL in the classroom and its effectiveness for both academic and social success in the classroom
Identify the benefits of integrating SEL into academic areas
Reflect on current practices in the classroom and identify areas for growth and implementation

Lesson 1: What is SEL?

Mini Lesson

The Early Beginnings of SEL

Though SEL may seem like a term from the 20^th century, you can trace the roots of SEL back to Ancient Greece. “When Plato wrote about education in The Republic, he proposed a holistic curriculum that requires a balance of training in physical education, the arts, math, science, character, and moral judgment” ("A Brief History of Social-Emotional Learning," 2022).

The implementation of CASEL

In 1994, CASEL (Collaborative to Advance Social and Emotional Learning) began to be the forefront of bringing SEL education to the masses. In 1997, 9 CASEL collaborators published a paper titled Promoting Social and Emotional Learning: Guidelines for Educators. This study became a defining work for the field of Social Emotional Learning. Within SEL, CASEL came up with 5 competencies that encompass the SEL framework.

To do

Watch the video below from CASEL about the 5 competencies that make up SEL.

Now that you have learned about CASEL 5 SEL competencies, take some time to reflect on these practices. Reflecting will allow you to guide your practices and see what areas you should focus on for yourself and your students. Click here to begin.

Next Steps