social & emotional learning - InFORMING
Professional Development > Learning Paths > School Mental Health Readiness
The positive impact of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is substantiated by extensive research, demonstrating that an educational framework emphasizing SEL results in favorable outcomes for students, educators, and the wider school community. Numerous independent studies across diverse disciplines confirm that SEL leads to advantageous outcomes in areas such as social and emotional skills, academic achievement, psychological well-being, positive health behaviors, school environment and safety, and long-term life outcomes (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning).
Prioritizing the SEL requirements of educational institutions is crucial for cultivating environments where all students can flourish. The following resources are recommended for schools and districts embarking on the SEL Pillar. Those exploring SEL implementation may find themselves contemplating initial steps. These resources focus on SEL Instruction and Modeling, which are fundamental components of school or district-wide SEL implementation.
Schools or districts are prepared for the “informing” phase of the Social and Emotional Learning Pillar when they have begun SEL implementation, have organized an SEL team to lead the work, and are ready to dive deeper. The informing phase is often characterized by a deeper understanding of SEL integration; utilizing student, family and community voice; and expanding the overall definition of Social and Emotional Learning to include both adults and students.
- 30 minutes
This course provides simple strategies can increase students’ sense of safety and belonging. The information in this course can be applied to afterschool and out-of-school environments as well.
Safe and supportive school communities foster students’ social, emotional, and academic needs. Educators want actionable strategies and practices to ensure that all students can access equitable learning environments. Creating Safe, Equitable, Engaging Schools is a book from American Institutes of Research that is available online. It helps school leaders make sense of the various evidence-based resources and frameworks designed to support the whole child. Addressing critical topics like restorative practices, cultural responsiveness, social and emotional learning, and family engagement, this volume offers insights on how leaders can leverage school-based teams to assess student needs and select appropriate interventions.
- extended reading
“Transformative SEL” is a form of SEL implementation where young people and adults build strong, respectful, and lasting relationships to engage in co-learning. It facilitates critical examination of individual and contextual factors that contribute to inequities and collaborative solutions that lead to personal, community, and societal well-being. Through tSEL, students and adults develop social and emotional skills needed for school and community engagement, with a focus on rights and responsibilities for creating learning environments that are caring and just.
- 60 mins
- Fostering Belonging, Transforming Schools: The Impact of Restorative Practices (Research report)
This study from the Learning Policy Institute is unique in its focus on the effects of practices rather than programs, the range of student outcomes it examines, and its scale. It examines the effects of restorative practices on academic, disciplinary, behavioral, and health outcomes by combining data regarding the practices in place in 485 middle schools with detailed school attendance and student outcome data for approximately 2 million middle school students. It tracks student exposure to these practices over time and analyzes how exposure to restorative practices affects outcomes at the individual and school levels, controlling for student and school characteristics. Read the research findings such as how exposure to restorative practices improved students’ academic achievement and reduced suspension rates and duration.
- 60 mins