Social & Emotional Learning
Many of you have heard some information about Social Emotional Learning (SEL) in schools in recent months. We know that many people have questions about SEL and that it is often seen as something new that is being taught in our schools. In an effort to answer some of those questions, the Board of Education and the administration have put together this snapshot of the components of SEL including links to resources for parents and families.
We hope that you take some time to review this useful material. As you read through the information, we ask you to keep a couple key ideas in mind.
The most important thing to know is that SEL is not new. It is not a new program or service in schools. It is simply a new name to better describe the kinds of skills that schools have long sought to help our children develop. The specific pillars of SEL listed below have been a part of school for many years.
For example:
When a Valley View teacher asks a student to greet their peers in a morning meeting, they are working to develop both self-awareness and relationship skills.
When we meet with Woodglen students to discuss career awareness and scheduling for high school, we are working to develop self management and responsible decision making.
When teachers have conversations with students about playground expectations or good sportsmanship, they are working on social emotional learning.
These skills connect our academic programs with the real world interpersonal skills that will help our children grow into successful members of the workforce and society as a whole. In the Lebanon Township School District, we employee the use of several programs to assist staff and parents with achieving this goal.
At Valley View, the Responsive Classroom program provides practices and tools that create an overall environment for successful student-centered social emotional learning, which includes the familiar favorites Morning Meeting and our monthly All-School Assemblies.
At Woodglen, staff had training in The Zones of Regulation in the fall of 2021 and have been implementing its strategies into their day-today interactions with all students.
We hope you find the information on this page useful. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns.
“We define social and emotional learning (SEL) as an integral part of education and human development. SEL is the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions.
SEL advances educational equity and excellence through authentic school-family-community partnerships to establish learning environments and experiences that feature trusting and collaborative relationships, rigorous and meaningful curriculum and instruction, and ongoing evaluation. SEL can help address various forms of inequity and empower young people and adults to co-create thriving schools and contribute to safe, healthy, and just communities.”
from Casel.org
SEL 101: Core Competencies & Key Settings
