The second in a series of briefs on literacy and social and emotional learning (SEL) focuses on children’s early literacy development.
While the 2024 NAEP scores inspire hope in states that are making academic gains in reading, they also create concern about the widening achievement gap among 4th and 8th grade low-income students. We must do more to bolster student achievement through a comprehensive approach to literacy development. Research shows a strong relationship between SEL and literacy outcomes, demonstrating that it is imperative to build on foundational reading skills with the integration of SEL to enhance student literacy.
This brief discusses how to support the development of elementary-aged children’s ability to read competently, explaining the crucial role that SEL plays in supporting the literacy development of children in the early childhood and elementary years (grades PreK through 5). It offers:
- An overview of how children in this age group learn to read, as well as the skills and processes that form the context of learning to read
- The background and history of SEL, including its benefits for children’s general and academic development and specifically their literacy development
- Policy recommendations to strengthen literacy development and instruction at the district and state levels
Citation:
Ward, A.E., Beebe, J.L., Lane, G., Steele, L., & Ma, A. (2025). How social and emotional learning supports literacy Pre K – Grade 5. The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning. https://casel.org/how-sel-supports-literacy-pre-k-grade-5/
