The Untapped Power of Social-Emotional Learning

What Is Social Emotional Learning?

Social-emotional learning (SEL) programs teach skills ranging from emotional regulation to social awareness and problem-solving. For students from preschool through high school, SEL teachings aim to improve academic performance, encourage positive behaviors, and strengthen a sense of belonging.

And the approach works. A meta-analysis of hundreds of studies involving more than a half-million students globally found that students in SEL programs demonstrated measurable gains in social and emotional skills and behaviors, including self-esteem, mindset, perseverance, and optimism.¹

The analysis also found that benefits to children significantly outweighed the costs, and this was consistent across socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.

[Get This Free SEL Programs Comparison Chart]

SEL Training Is Inadequate

In a survey, ADDitude asked educators whether they were familiar with SEL. Of the nearly 400 respondents, 70% said yes. When asked how they learned about its goals and approaches, 69% said they sought this information independently. About 45% said their school offered training, but many teachers said the training was inconsistent or inadequate. And satisfaction?

• 27% were satisfied or very satisfied with their school’s SEL training and approach
• 29% were not satisfied

“We had a very brief meeting at the start of the year, maybe for an hour,” one respondent said, echoing other teachers’ responses to ADDitude.

Another said, “We had some professional development meetings, but there was a distinct lack of follow-through.”

What are the biggest hurdles to implementing SEL programs or curricula in the classroom? Here’s what teachers said:

• Time constraints: 65%
• Inadequate training: 44%
• Lack of resources or funding: 41%
• Lack of clear guidelines or expectations for SEL implementation: 38%
• Difficulty assessing and tracking student progress: 32%
• Demands related to test preparation and/or curriculum goals: 26%
• Poor student engagement: 22%
• Poor parent cooperation: 17%

[Read: How to Be Your Child’s Social Emotional Learning Coach]

The Value of SEL in Education

Teachers also shared how SEL programs have become part of the classroom experience.

• “Noticing how I’m feeling deeply impacts the tone of my classroom. When I stop to breathe, I can stay in my executive brain and make healthier decisions and responses.”
• “As a school psychologist, I have worked to educate teachers and administrators on the value of implementing an SEL program. When fully embedded in the curriculum, it improves students’ self-awareness, self-regulation, and social awareness. This, in turn, impacts positively on social relationships and supports a more positive overall community as well. SEL instruction is a game changer.”
• “I’ve learned how to identify and manage emotions, and how to resolve conflict.”
• “Leading with compassion and curiosity has been the most effective strategy. This includes teaching students to be compassionate and curious with themselves.”
• “Scaffolding and differentiating learning to help students overcome anxiety and access the curriculum makes a big difference in their ability to engage with peers in the classroom. Being able to engage on their intellectual level helps our gifted students make friends and feel welcomed in the classroom.”

Social Emotional Learning: Next Steps

• Free Download: SEL Program Comparison Tool
• Read: The Social Executive Function Skills That Elude Kids with ADHD
• Read: Build Your Child’s Social Skills in 7 Steps

Carole Fleck is Editor-in-Chief at ADDitude magazine.

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