QUICK LINKS

STAFF RESOURCES

Responsiveclassroom.org - A research and evidence-based approach to elementary education that leads to greater teacher effectiveness, higher student achievement, and improved school climate. 

The American Educational Research Association - The American Educational Research Association (AERA), a national research society, strives to advance knowledge about education, to encourage scholarly inquiry related to education, and to promote the use of research to improve education and serve the public good. 

Edutopia- The George Lucas Educational Foundation is dedicated to improving the K-12 learning process by documenting, disseminating, and advocating innovative, replicable, and evidence-based strategies that prepare students to thrive in their future education, careers, and adult lives.

Zones of Regulation- The Zones is a systematic, cognitive behavioral approach used to teach self-regulation by categorizing all the different ways we feel and states of alertness we experience into four concrete colored zones. The Zones framework provides strategies to teach students to become more aware of and independent in controlling their emotions and impulses, manage their sensory needs, and improve their ability to problem solve conflicts. 

Second Step SEL Second Step is a program rooted in social-emotional learning (SEL) that helps transform schools into supportive, successful learning environments uniquely equipped to encourage children to thrive. Second Step’s holistic approach helps create a more empathetic society by providing education professionals, families, and the larger community with tools to enable them to take an active role in the social-emotional growth and safety of today’s children. 

WHAT IS SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING (SEL)?

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) involves the ways in which adults and children develop knowledge, skills, and practices in five distinct areas:

1.  SELF-AWARENESS

2.  SOCIAL AWARENESS

3.  SELF-MANAGEMENT

4.  RELATIONSHIP SKILLS

5.  RESPONSIBLE DECISION-MAKING

BENEFITS OF SEL

SEL provides a strong foundation for students to not only excel academically, but to be more flexible socially, allowing them to better accept critiques from their peers and learn from others.

SEL classrooms generate less emotional distress in the classroom. This is a direct result of students empathizing with each others' feelings and learning strong listening skills.

The safe learning environment naturally results in higher test scores and better grades.

High-quality SEL programs positively contribute to school success, social development, crime prevention, and economic performance by developing strong self-awareness in students which, in turn, feeds their drive to succeed.