Strategies for Integrating SEL in the Classroom

Social-emotional learning (SEL) is the process of developing and applying the skills, attitudes, and values that help students succeed in school and life. SEL can enhance academic performance, improve attitudes and behaviors, reduce negative emotions, and foster positive relationships. SEL can also transform the inner lives of teachers and students, making them more resilient, compassionate, and engaged.

But how can teachers integrate SEL in their classrooms effectively? Here are some strategies that can help:

1. Use evidence-based programs that follow the SAFE principles

One way to integrate SEL in the classroom is to use evidence-based programs that have been proven to produce positive outcomes for students. These programs often follow the SAFE principles: they are sequenced, active, focused, and explicit. This means they provide connected and coordinated activities that foster skill development, employ active forms of learning that help students practice new skills, dedicate time and attention to developing personal and social skills, and target specific social-emotional skills.

Some examples of evidence-based SEL programs are:

Positive Action: A comprehensive program that teaches students positive actions for their body, mind, heart, and social interactions. It covers six units: self-concept, positive actions for your body and mind, managing yourself responsibly, getting along with others, being honest with yourself and others, and improving yourself continually.
Second Step: A program that teaches students skills for learning, empathy, emotion management, problem-solving, bullying prevention, and substance abuse prevention. It covers four units: skills for learning, empathy, emotion management, and problem-solving.
RULER: A program that teaches students how to recognize, understand, label, express, and regulate their emotions. It covers four tools: the mood meter, the meta-moment, the blueprint, and the charter.

To find more evidence-based SEL programs, you can check out the CASEL Guide to Effective Social and Emotional Learning Programs.

2. Create a supportive learning environment that fosters trust and respect

Another way to integrate SEL in the classroom is to create a supportive learning environment that fosters trust and respect among students and teachers. This can be done by:

Establishing clear norms and expectations: Teachers can co-create classroom rules with students that reflect their shared values and goals. They can also model and reinforce positive behaviors and provide constructive feedback.
Building positive relationships: Teachers can get to know their students as individuals and show interest in their lives. They can also encourage students to interact with each other in respectful and cooperative ways.
Promoting student voice and choice: Teachers can give students opportunities to express their opinions, preferences, and ideas. They can also involve students in decision-making processes and allow them to choose how they learn and demonstrate their learning.

3. Teach self-awareness skills that help students understand themselves

A student’s self-concept, or self-awareness, stands as a basic tenet of SEL in the classroom. A person’s self-concept relates to how they perceive themselves. Interactions with teachers, parents, and peers can shape a person’s self-concept.

To teach self-awareness skills that help students understand themselves better, teachers can:

Use self-assessments: Teachers can use surveys, quizzes, journals, or portfolios to help students reflect on their strengths, weaknesses, interests, values, goals, and emotions.
Use feedback: Teachers can provide specific, timely, and actionable feedback to help students recognize their progress and areas for improvement.
Use mindfulness practices: Teachers can use breathing exercises, meditation, yoga, or other mindfulness practices to help students focus on the present moment and become more aware of their thoughts and feelings.

4. Teach self-management skills that help students regulate their emotions and behaviors

Self-management skills are essential for students to cope with stress, challenges, and setbacks. To teach self-management skills that help students regulate their emotions and behaviors, teachers can:

Use emotion regulation strategies: Teachers can teach students how to identify, label, express, and cope with different emotions. They can also teach them how to use tools such as the mood meter or the meta-moment from the RULER program.
Use goal-setting strategies: Teachers can teach students how to set SMART (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and timely) goals and track their progress. They can also teach them how to use tools such as the blueprint from the RULER program.
Use problem-solving strategies: Teachers can teach students how to define a problem, generate possible solutions, evaluate the pros and cons of each solution, choose and implement the best solution, and reflect on the outcome. They can also teach them how to use tools such as the Second Step problem-solving steps.

5. Teach social awareness skills that help students empathize with others

Social awareness skills are crucial for students to understand and appreciate diverse perspectives, cultures, and backgrounds. To teach social awareness skills that help students empathize with others, teachers can:

Use perspective-taking activities: Teachers can use role-playing, simulations, stories, or discussions to help students imagine how others feel, think, and act in different situations.
Use diversity and inclusion activities: Teachers can use books, videos, guest speakers, or field trips to expose students to different cultures, traditions, languages, and lifestyles. They can also encourage students to celebrate their own and others’ identities and backgrounds.
Use service-learning activities: Teachers can use projects, campaigns, or events that involve students in addressing real-world issues or needs in their community or beyond. They can also help students reflect on how their actions impact others and themselves.

6. Teach relationship skills that help students communicate and collaborate with others

Relationship skills are vital for students to establish and maintain positive and healthy connections with others. To teach relationship skills that help students communicate and collaborate with others, teachers can:

Use communication skills activities: Teachers can use games, exercises, or scenarios to help students practice listening, speaking, writing, and nonverbal communication skills. They can also teach them how to use tools such as the I-message or the active listening technique.
Use conflict resolution skills activities: Teachers can use role-playing, simulations, stories, or discussions to help students practice resolving conflicts peacefully and respectfully. They can also teach them how to use tools such as the Second Step calm-down steps or the RULER charter.
Use teamwork skills activities: Teachers can use cooperative learning strategies, such as jigsaw, think-pair-share, or project-based learning, to help students work together effectively and interdependently. They can also teach them how to use tools such as the group roles or the group norms.

7. Teach responsible decision-making skills that help students make ethical and constructive choices

Responsible decision-making skills are important for students to consider the consequences of their actions for themselves and others. To teach responsible decision-making skills that help students make ethical and constructive choices, teachers can:

Use ethical dilemmas: Teachers can use stories, cases, or scenarios that present students with moral or ethical dilemmas that require them to weigh different values, principles, or perspectives. They can also facilitate discussions that explore the implications of different choices.
Use critical thinking skills: Teachers can use questions, prompts, or tasks that challenge students to analyze, evaluate, synthesize, or apply information from various sources and viewpoints. They can also teach them how to use tools such as the Socratic method or the Six Thinking Hats.
Use social norms: Teachers can use data, examples, or testimonials that show students what most people think or do in certain situations. They can also teach them how to use tools such as the social proof or the bystander effect.

Conclusion

Integrating SEL in the classroom is not only beneficial for students’ academic and personal success but also for teachers’ well-being and effectiveness. By using evidence-based programs and strategies that cover the five core competencies of SEL (self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making), teachers can create a positive and supportive learning environment that fosters trust, respect, empathy, collaboration, and ethical and constructive choices.