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.

New Teachers
Incorporating SEL as a New Teacher
For young teachers, their age can be both an obstacle and an advantage when teaching social and emotional learning.
Social and Emotional Learning
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.
Classroom Management
Building a Belonging Classroom
In order to learn, students need to feel safe, cared for, and emotionally connected to their teachers and each other.
School Climate
The Power of Relationships in Schools
Research shows that students who feel safe and supported by adults at school are better able to learn.
Mental Health
Making Students Feel Safe
A trauma-informed approach ensures that students feel safe, supported, and nurtured—to improve their chances of academic success.
Response to Intervention
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.
Teacher Wellness
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.
Social and Emotional Learning
Bringing a Dog to School
A veteran teacher and administrator makes the case for having a therapy dog in elementary school.
Social and Emotional Learning
10 Powerful Community-Building Ideas
Strategies for ensuring that students in every grade feel like they’re part of the classroom community.
Classroom Management
60-Second Strategy: Appreciation, Apology, Aha!
A quick, low-key way to build community in your classroom on a daily basis.
The Research Is In
Welcoming Students With a Smile
Greeting each student at the door with a positive message brings benefits for both students and teacher.
The Research Is In
Understanding a Teacher’s Long-Term Impact
Fostering skills like self-regulation does more to improve students’ long-term outcomes than helping them raise their test scores.
Brain-Based Learning
Bringing the Science of Learning Into Classrooms
Years of research prompt a group of scientists to ask whether we should rethink the way we do school.
Mental Health
60-Second Strategy: Snowball Toss
A quick, fun classroom activity fosters open dialogue while releasing pent-up energy.
Social and Emotional Learning
The Power of Being Seen
How well do you know your students? In a Nevada school, a simple strategy pushes teachers to look beyond the lessons.