What is Social Emotional Learning (SEL)?
Social and emotional learning (SEL) is the process through which children and adults acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. (Casel)
Social and emotional learning (SEL) enhances students’ capacity to integrate skills, attitudes, and behaviours to deal effectively and ethically with daily tasks and challenges. This framework promotes intrapersonal, interpersonal, and cognitive competence. There are five core competencies that M.F. McHugh teachers work to address in their classrooms.
Five Core Competencies:
Self-awareness
Self-management
Social Awareness
Relationship Skills
Responsible Decision-Making
How do we promote SEL in our classrooms? (#thisishowwesel)
Social-emotional learning is a process for learning life skills, including how to deal with oneself, others and relationships, and work in an effective manner. SEL is incorporated into our classrooms, in a variety of ways, depending on the setting, level of instruction, and the needs of the student. It is essential as a way of teaching for students to really understand how to action the skills in a variety of situations and form positive habits. At M.F. McHugh, much of our focus is on, but not limited to:
- Mindfulness
- Relationship building
- Challenging thinking patterns and behaviours
- Empathy
- Gratitude and giving
- Demonstrating persistence and determination
- Healthy partnerships
- Developing community
- Promoting engagement
