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Social-emotional learning (SEL) provides students with tools to manage difficult emotions, build strong relationships, show empathy, develop self-awareness, engage in responsible decision making, and more, which result in a stronger connection to learning (NEA, n.d.; CASEL, 2025).

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Social-emotional learning (SEL) provides students with tools to manage difficult emotions, build strong relationships, show empathy, develop self-awareness, engage in responsible decision making, and more, which result in a stronger connection to learning (NEA, n.d.; CASEL, 2025).

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Unfortunately, SEL is often placed on the backburner and not prioritized in spaces where it is needed the most. Today's students needs the tools that SEL can lend them now more than ever. This professional development resource will provide you with research-backed strategies, tools driven by equity, and a space for reflection to ensure that all of our students can be successful in the classroom, in their relationships, and in life.

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Happens at the beginning of every school day

Brief, engaging experience that encourages student voice in the classroom

Promotes inclusion, belonging, connection

Can be a personal question or a question related to the content you are teaching that day

Students can share with partner, small group, or whole class

Great way for teachers to gauge where student's energy and emotional levels are at

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How do we ensure effective approaches to SEL?

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How do we ensure effective approaches to SEL?

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S.A.F.E. (CASEL, 2025):

Sequenced: Strategies are coordinated and connected to foster skills development

Active: Students are active learners that allows them to strengthen new skills

Focused: There is dedicated time and attention to developing students personal and social skills

Explicit: Specific social and emotional skills are explicitly taught

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SEL creates the necessary conditions for students to want to engage in the classroom. Research has shown that when SEL is consistently integrated into daily instruction, students report feeling more emotionally safe and invested in classroom activities, directly leading to increased student engagement (Wright, 2023; Vesper, 2023).

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When SEL is correctly implemented, it improves student:teacher relationships, increases student interest and engagement, improves attendance and academic achievement (Vesper, 2023; NEA, n.d.)

Students who receive quality SEL instruction show fewer negative behaviors and reduced emotional stress (NEA, n.d.)

SEL results in more comfortable environments where students are more comfortable to express themselves, engage, and ask for help (Vesper, 2023)

SEL has positive effects on increasing student engagement resulting in improved cognitive and academic performance (Greenberg, 2023)

SEL has shown long-term student benefits and future readiness (CASEL, 2025)

Low-income, minority communities often have limited access to SEL skills and programs (Finkley & Hayes, 2020; Greenberg, 2023)

There is an increased need for SEL implementation since the pandemic due to the traumatic experiences students have endured (Wright, 2023)

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The Impact of Social and Emotional Learning

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Common barriers to effective SEL implementation

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Common barriers to effective SEL implementation

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Lack of adequate SEL training for teachers and principals (Greenberg, 2023)

Concerns regarding teacher buy-in, consistency, and SEL dedicated time (Finkley & Hayes, 2020)

Lack of systemic approach to SEL implementation (CASEL, 2025)

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SEL builds five competencies including self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making (CASEL, 2023).

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What is something you did recently that made you laugh or feel good?

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What is the next step you will take to implement SEL strategies inside of your classroom?

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What is the next step you will take to implement SEL strategies inside of your classroom?

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What barriers might you face when implementing SEL?

What unique needs do your students have that may impact your delivery method of SEL?

What support or PD do you need to successfully incorporate SEL?

Which SEL activity discussed today was your favorite?

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SEL strategies that you can integrate into your classroom activities include...

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SEL strategies that you can integrate into your classroom activities include...

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The Effectiveness of Social-Emotional Learning Strategies and Mindful Breathing with Biofeedback on the Reduction of Adolescent Test Anxiety (McLeod & Boyes, 2021)

Mindful breathing

Communication strategies

Perspective-taking

Reframing

Toolkit: Implementing Practices to Promote SEL with Students (OSSE, 2024)

Community building

Communication and collaboration among students

Self-awareness

Reflection

Teachers' Perceived Impact of a School-Based Social Emotional Learning Curriculum on Student Engagement and School Climate (Vesper, 2023)

Emotional regulation

7 Strategies to Activate Students' SEL Skills (Elias, 2024)

Open-ended questions

Flexible thinking

Self-calming and focusing techniques

Goal setting

Constructive feedback

Reflection

Preparation for presentations

Classroom Strategies that Support SEL (Reading Rockets, n.d.)

Active listening that promotes empathy and understanding

Making inferences

Reflective thinking

Questioning techniques

Collaborative discussions (also cited in Finkley & Hayes, 2020)

Visualization

Metacognitive strategies

Storytelling

Personal connections

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Strategies that work best specifically for minority students from an educators perspective (Finkley & Hayes, 2020)

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Strategies that work best specifically for minority students from an educators perspective (Finkley & Hayes, 2020)

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Culturally relevant SEL curriculum

Relationship building with mentors

Consistent implementation and monitoring

Modeling and role-playing of SEL skills

Collaborative conversations

SEL is not a one-size-fits-all. SEL strategies need to be adapted to reflect the unique needs and experiences of your students.

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By the end of this presentation, you will..

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By the end of this presentation, you will..

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1. Understand what Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) is

2. Be informed of the research backing SEL and the benefits it has on student success and engagement

3. Learn various effective SEL strategies and 4 activities that integrate these strategies

4. Have the opportunity to reflect and consider how you will move forward with integrating SEL into your classroom

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Needed every 15 minutes in elementary and every 30 minutes in secondary

Great for in-between learning activities

Can raise energy or be a calming activity

Purpose of brain break is explicitly stated so that students understand when and how to use them on their own

Anchors learning and regains focus

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Breathing practices

Animal yoga

Meditation

Freeze dancing

Exercising in place

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Peace Circles (The Learning Accelerator, n.d.)

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Peace Circles (The Learning Accelerator, n.d.)

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Can happen at any point of the day

Provides students and teachers opportunity to connect outside of academics

Students are given a safe space to express themselves and have voice in the classroom

Peace Circles prompt whole class discussion and can last around 45 minutes

Students can engage as much or as little as they want

Can focus solely on explicit social emotional skills such as empathy or more general topics

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Resources & Guidance from The Learning Accelerator

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Students gather weekly to talk about issues they care about, develop their empathy skills and...

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Happens at the end of a learning activity

Ends activity with a clear intention and purpose

Opens discussion for students understanding of the importance of what they learned

Celebrates students accomplishments

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What is your favorite type of food?

What do you think is going to happen to the character in the book we are reading today?

What is your favorite family tradition?

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What SEL strategies can Inclusive Welcomes promote?

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What SEL strategies can Inclusive Welcomes promote?

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Communication strategies (McLeod & Boyes, 2021)

Time for focus and goal setting (Elias, 2024)

Community building, self-awareness, and reflection (OSSE, 2024)

Open-ended questions (Elias, 2024)

Active listening and personal connections (Reading Rockets, n.d.)

Collaborative conversations and cultural relevance (Finkley & Hayes, 2020)

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What SEL strategies can Brain Breaks promote?

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What SEL strategies can Brain Breaks promote?

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Mindful breathing (Mcleod & Boyes, 2021)

Self-awareness (OSSE, 2024)

Emotional regulation (Vesper, 2023)

Mindfulness (Reading Rockets, n.d.)

Self-calming and focusing (Elias, 2024)

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What does empathy mean to you?

How can you promote inclusivity outside of the classroom?

What type of music do you prefer?

What is the most exciting sport to watch?

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What SEL strategies can Peace Circles promote?

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What SEL strategies can Peace Circles promote?

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Mindful breathing, communication strategies, and perspective-taking (McLeod & Boyes, 2021)

Community building, self-awareness, and reflection (OSSE, 2024)

Emotional regulation (Vesper, 2023)

Open-ended questions (Elias, 2024)

Active listening and personal connection (Reading Rockets, n.d.)

Collaborative conversations (Finklet & Hayes, 2020)

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Students complete exit tickets to showcase what they learned

Ask students what their next steps are

Students reflect on want they want to improve on

Students make personal connections to content by reflecting on how they can apply and use what they learned to their personal lives

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What SEL strategies can Intentional Closures promote?

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What SEL strategies can Intentional Closures promote?

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Reframing (McLeod & Boyes, 2021)

Self-awareness and reflection (OSSE, 2024)

Goal setting (Elias, 2024)

Personal connection (Reading Rockets, n.d.)