SEL is something to celebrate

Did you know today is SEL Day? 

You’re forgiven if this wasn’t on your calendar. SEL Day only kicked off in 2020, but it’s since gathered a lot of supporters, including partners in all 50 states and in 87 countries. SEL, or social-emotional learning, is the idea that children’s academic growth is tied to their social and emotional development (a concept popularized by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning).

Pamela McVeagh-Lally, Co-Founder of SEL for Ohio, spoke with EdInk about how this framework shows up during the school day, and what parents should know about SEL. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

EdInk: What is social-emotional learning? 

McVeagh-Lally: I think of social-emotional learning really as an organizing principle that puts our humanity at the center of learning and development. We develop as whole people, we don't just develop as brains. Neuroscience tells us it’s our emotions that are inextricably linked with learning. We're focused on [children’s] whole, holistic well-being and success with SEL.

EdInk: How might SEL concepts show up in schools? 

McVeagh-Lally: We have evidence-based programming which schools can adopt. And those are basically curriculum. Like you have your math curriculum, your English curriculum, you have an SEL curriculum. 

Now in addition to that, you have social-emotional learning practices that get integrated … throughout the school day. So if I was a child … and my school is really focused on social-emotional well-being, there are going to be adults to greet me at the door [and] they’re going to gauge what's going on with me. So for example, I might be able to select how I'm feeling today based on a smiley face. And there will be an adult who is focused on listening to that. Because if you have a class full of kids who come in, and they are all kind of down in the dumps, that's going to significantly impact how you're going to provide your instruction. 

A good SEL educator [will] highlight what the academic instruction and content requires. So if I'm reading a text that is a really challenging text, then I'm going to note for them, Wow, I'm really noticing that you were using your persistence. 

EdInk: Do you have any recommendations for how our readers can celebrate SEL Day?

McVeagh-Lally: They can follow SEL for Ohio, and they can see celebrations of educators from around the state. You can go to selday.org; there’s toolkits and videos and resources that you can learn from.

In your own home, for parents who just want to note SEL day ... you can do something as simple as, like, On a scale of one to 10, how you feeling? It’s so profound, how much that tells you ... putting our social-emotional well-being front and center just for a couple of minutes every day. I think SEL Day is a nice time to just try that.

Parents, caregivers, and educators, how will you be celebrating SEL Day this year? Leave a comment to let us know!

We're new, and we need you. Can you step up to help meet our goal of five founding donors by the end of March? Please become a paid subscriber or make a donation today.