As interest grows in the benefits of social and emotional learning (SEL) for students and staff, a growing number of districts are adopting systemic strategies that embed SEL into every aspect of school life.
In a recent BloomBoard webinar, Kori Sanchez Smith, SEL Coordinator at Atlanta Public Schools, spoke about the four components of implementing SEL across the district:
- Explicit Instruction
- Integrating with Curriculum
- Integration with Instructional Pedagogy
- Beyond the Classroom
By considering all four components of SEL implementation, leaders are able to:
- Identify goals for each area
- Design support for implementation
- Identify systems for monitoring implementation
- Determine assessment metrics
#1: Explicit Instruction
- Explicitly teaches needed skills
- Supports needs of highly transitional populations
- Allows for consistency of approach and vocabulary across the school
- Connects tiers of support and can enhance afterschool
#2: Integration with Curriculum
- Highlights and enhances aspects of state standards that reflect CASEL's Five Core Competencies
- Encourages SEL implementation throughout the day
- Entry point for SEL standards
#3 Integration with Instructional Pedagogy
- Student-centered instruction
- Student voice and advocacy
- Academic rigor and relevance
- Pairings, grouping, and circling up
- Problem-based learning
#4 Beyond the Classroom
- Schoolwide essential agreements
- Systems, structures, and routines
- Celebrations and acknowledgements
- Relationship with parents and the community
Social-Emotional Learning: A Systematic Approach that Leads to Student Success
Atlanta Public Schools and CASEL discuss what it means to approach Social and Emotional Learning systemically — what is working, what is challenging, what results they are experiencing, and how this important work is paving the way for other districts.
In this on-demand webinar you’ll learn:
- What SEL is, why it’s important, and how it impacts practice
- Key areas of engagement that schools and districts should focus on
- Tools and resources you can access to support SEL work in your districts
