George Lucas Educational Foundation
Edutopia

Social and Emotional Learning

Find and share resources for creating a healthy school culture by helping students develop skills to manage their emotions, resolve conflicts, and make responsible decisions.

  • Tips to Create a Warmer, More Engaging Online Classroom

    Your emotional state influences how well students learn. Here are tips to incorporate a restorative approach to your online teaching.
    Annie O'Shaughnessy

  • 3 Ways to Support Students’ Emotional Well-Being During the Pandemic

    These research-backed strategies can help students feel connected during a time of physical isolation.
    Christine Pitts

  • Designing a Meaningful Graduation Ritual in Quarantine

    In-person high school commencement ceremonies are canceled—but seniors can still mark the transition in a meaningful way.
    Betty Ray

  • A Teacher Appreciation Week for the Ages

    When schools abruptly closed due to Covid-19, teachers figured out how to make remote learning work. This week, as the nation expresses its gratitude, we recap the emotional journey.

  • Educators Say Good Morning to Students—Via Video

    This round-up of teachers reaching out to their distant students makes it more clear than ever that relationships are always at the heart of teaching.

  • 7 Ways to Maintain Relationships During Your School Closure

    Suddenly, you’re not in the same physical space as your students. We asked teachers to share strategies for maintaining relationships—both peer-to-peer and student-teacher—when everything’s gone remote.
    Sarah Gonser

  • Learning to Measure the Size of a Problem

    When elementary students compare the relative importance of a range of problems, they learn to take charge of their reactions.

  • Making Students Feel Safe

    A trauma-informed approach ensures that students feel safe, supported, and nurtured—to improve their chances of academic success. 

  • A De-escalation Exercise for Upset Students

    A simple technique that takes just a few minutes can help an agitated student regain the state of mind needed for learning.
    Daniel Vollrath

  • The Power of Relationships in Schools

    Research shows that students who feel safe and supported by adults at school are better able to learn.

  • When Students Are Traumatized, Teachers Are Too

    Trauma in students’ lives takes an emotional and physical toll on teachers as well. Experts weigh in on the best ways to cope.
    Emelina Minero

  • 60-Second Strategy: Pom-Pom Jar

    Explicitly teaching and celebrating kindness is a simple yet powerful way to build a positive classroom culture.

  • A Daily Support System for Students

    Students who need extra social and emotional support have a quick check-in with an adult at the start and end of each day.

  • 8 Proactive Classroom Management Tips

    New teachers—and experienced ones too—can find ideas here on how to stop disruptive behavior before it begins.
    Youki Terada

  • Time to Play: More State Laws Require Recess

    Unstructured playtime is making a comeback in schools as frustrated teachers, parents, and advocacy groups demand legislative action.
    Brittany Shammas