What Does SEL Look Like?

That’s one of the most common questions we hear!

Second-grader Cordelia explains what SEL is and how it shows up in her school.

The environments, practices, mindsets, and relationships that encompass and promote social and emotional learning (SEL) can be hard to sum up. Here are a few common ways you’ll see SEL in schools and classrooms:

  • Practicing social and emotional skills, like reflection and collaboration, during academic lessons. For
    example, working in groups to discuss different perspectives on how to approach a math problem.
  • Opportunities for students to build supportive relationships with peers and adults,
    such as a “morning meeting” or a quick check-in with a staff mentor.
  • Learning about and practicing social and emotional skills with age-relevant instruction,
    such as lessons on being a good friend or coping with stress.
  • Adults modeling social and emotional skills and proactively looking for ways to support students.
  • Families, educators, and students working together to plan and discuss strategies for
    promoting SEL.

Here are some real-life examples of the many ways SEL can appear in classrooms, schools, workplaces, and elsewhere.

SEL in Districts

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For a series of case studies showcasing how SEL work is done, check out Districts in Action: SEL Fellows Academy Spotlight Briefs, featuring stories from alumni of our SEL Fellows Academy:

Series: What I Wish I Knew

Hear from district leaders who have partnered with CASEL as they share advice on what they wish they had known when they began implementing SEL:

To access this content, sign into the CASEL network.

To hear from more district leaders, view the whole video series.

SEL in the Classroom 

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School Culture and Community

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Students’ Perspectives

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