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.

Overview

What is Social and Emotional Learning?

When students work together on project teams, they learn to collaborate, communicate, and resolve conflicts. Cooperative learning and character development supports the social and emotional development of students and prepares them for success in the modern workplace. Watch an introduction video.

History

A Short History

Teaching the soft skills, traditionally associated with conflict resolution and character education, has evolved from being considered "wishy-washy" to being an integral part of educating the whole child. See how a movement takes off.

Experts

What Experts Say

National and local experts discuss how educating the whole child by including social and emotional skills with academics is critical for success in school and in life. See what the experts say.

Research

SEL Research Review

Numerous research reports show that social and emotional learning (SEL) can have a positive impact on students' academic performance. Edutopia's SEL research review explores those reports and helps make sense of the results. Dig deeper.

Why

Why Champion SEL?

Helping students develop a sense of self will ultimately help them to better manage their emotions, communicate, and resolve conflicts nonviolently. See how to help students build character.

DiscussExpand

Teaching Your Students How to Have a Conversation

Last comment 1 week 4 days ago

22 8,278 212,276 views

Teaching Personal/Social Management Skills in Physical Education

Last comment 5 days 9 hours ago

11 156 10,963 views

7 Tips for Better Classroom Management

Last comment 5 days 3 hours ago

72 9,490 343,946 views

Teachers: Summer Reading to Cultivate Your Emotional Resilience

Fri, 06/16/2017 - 06:00

2 233 3,102 views

13 Common Sayings to Avoid

Tue, 08/11/2015 - 06:00

76 3,659 923,741 views

Oracy in the Classroom: Strategies for Effective Talk

Thu, 09/15/2016 - 12:00

40 1,400 62,538 views

WatchExpand

Social and Emotional Learning Videos See More Videos

Screenshot of a page from How Do We Measure SEL?

Guide: How Do We Measure SEL?

Download this guide to assess and improve descriptions of social-emotional skills and character development within student report cards.

2 6,478 views

Photo of students standing in front of lockers

Self-Assessment Questions for Social & Emotional Development

Download a list of self-reflection questions to help you support student self-assessment of social and emotional learning.

1 11,710 views

Self-Assessment Rubric for Social & Emotional Development

Download a rubric template to help you support student self-assessment of social and emotional learning.

2 8,720 views

Goals Worksheet for Social & Emotional Development

Download a list with examples of daily goals and big goals to help you guide student goal-setting for social and emotional learning and development.

2 2,741 views

Handbook: Stress-Reduction Activities for Students

Download a handbook from Glenview Elementary School in Oakland, California, with nine practical and fun classroom activities that promote stress-management skills for students.

1 7,225 views

screenshot of report cover: The Economic Value of SEL

Study: Social and Emotional Learning Yields Major Economic Benefits

There's ample research showing the academic benefits of social and emotional learning, but a new study provides an even stronger reason to implement SEL in schools.

1 2,242 views

Browse

Woman on the beach reading and lounging in a hammock.

Article

Teachers: Summer Reading to Cultivate Your Emotional Resilience

Immerse yourself in these books to renew yourself for the coming school year.

2 233 3,102 views

photograph of a teacher and students smiling

Article

Supporting Kids Through Times of Change

Ten ways to help children cope with tough transitions in school—whether you’re their teacher or their parent.

1 457 1,907 views

Middle school aged male student sitting with back to a wall holding an open book over his head and face.

Article

A Solution for Student Disengagement

Tap students’ leadership potential to help them form strong bonds with each other and with their school.

894 8,287 views

A young girl takes a quick break in class, lying on a rug with her eyes closed.

Article

Entering the Quiet Zone

Giving students a dedicated spot in the classroom to collect themselves helps them learn to manage their emotions—a valuable life skill.

10 1,519 1,940 views

Several high school students stand around an anatomy torso, one pointing to the throat area.

Article

Integrating Social and Emotional Competencies Into Academic Content

Collaboration, problem solving, and social awareness are as necessary as literacy and math.

1,016 5,443 views

Two smiling girls stare into each other’s eyes in class.

Article

Concentrating on Concentration

Help your students increase their ability to concentrate with these exercises and discussion prompts.

8 339 5,507 views

Article

Tech Buddies: Building Technology Skills Through Peer Teaching

See the learning on both sides when fifth graders teach computer skills to first graders.

5 163 469 views

Pages

photo of a teacher presenting to a classroom

Article

13 Common Sayings to Avoid

Teachers should avoid the reflexive language of anger or frustration. Here's a list of these sayings, framed as opportunities to constructively address difficult student behavior.

76 3,659 923,741 views

Article

7 Tips for Better Classroom Management

Tyler Hester, teacher and professional development coach, offers seven compelling tips - and one amazing video - about the roots of better classroom management.

72 9,490 343,946 views

Boy sitting in class, eyes closed, nose wrinkled, sticking his tongue out

Article

Sometimes Misbehavior Is Not What It Seems

Misbehaving students might like you too much or be physically attracted. Maybe they want attention or want you to prove yourself. Be sensitive to underlying reasons.

27 2,556 311,809 views

Close up of three metal folding chairs with table

Article

Classroom Management: The Intervention Two-Step

Edutopia blogger Rick Curwin examines what happens when a student acts up in class, and illustrates how dealing with it is a two-step process - stabilize the situation ASAP, and intervene at a later, calmer moment.

79 25,119 271,439 views

Article

SMART Goal Setting With Your Students

SMART goals are specific, measurable, action-oriented, rigorous, and tracked. Help your students develop them through a series of ongoing peer interviews.

31 458 269,845 views

A young girl is sitting in class, looking straight ahead with a playing card in her hand and a green sheet of paper on her desk. Other students in the classroom are sitting with green sheets of paper and playing cards about.

Article

Golden Rules for Engaging Students in Learning Activities

Six key rules for student engagement include making it meaningful, fostering efficacy, autonomy support, collaborative learning, establishing positive teacher-student relationships, and mastery orientations.

18 3,111 263,471 views

article

Core Strategies for Innovation and Reform in Learning

See an overview of Edutopia's core strategies, including project-based learning, social-emotional learning, comprehensive assessment, technology integration, integrated studies and teacher development.

10 279 218,505 views

Search form

Social and Emotional Learning

DiscussExpand

WatchExpand

ResourcesExpand

Browse

Pages

Pages