SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING
LUDLOW PUBLIC SCHOOLS
205 FULLER STREET | LUDLOW, MA 01056 | PHONE 413-583-8372 | FAX 413-583-5666
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Definition
There are many definitions for SEL. The MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) uses:
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…It can help all young people and adults thrive personally and academically, develop and maintain positive
relationships, become lifelong learners, and contribute to a more caring, just world.
Self-Awareness: The abilities to understand one's own emotions, thoughts, and values and how they influence behavior across contexts. This includes capacities to recognize one's strengths and limitations with a well-grounded sense of confidence and purpose. For example:
Integrating personal and social identities
Identifying one's emotions
Demonstrating honesty and integrity
Linking feelings, values, and thoughts
Examining prejudices and biases
Self-Management: The abilities to manage one's emotions, thoughts, and behaviors effectively in different situations and to achieve goals and aspirations. This includes the capacities to delay gratification, manage stress, and feel motivation & agency to accomplish personal/collective goals. For example:
Managing one's emotions
Identifying and using stress-management strategies
Exhibiting self-discipline and self-motivation
Setting personal and collective goals
Using planning and organizational skills
Showing the courage to take initiative
Demonstrating personal and collective agency
Social Awareness: The abilities to understand the perspectives of and empathize with others, including those from diverse backgrounds, cultures, & contexts. This includes the capacities to feel compassion for others, understand broader historical and social norms for behavior in different settings, and recognize family, school, and community resources and supports. For example:
Taking others' perspectives
Recognizing strengths in others
Demonstrating empathy and compassion
Showing concern for the feelings of others
Understanding and expressing gratitude
Relationship Skills: The abilities to establish and maintain healthy and supportive relationships and to effectively navigate settings with diverse individuals and groups. This includes the capacities to communicate clearly, listen actively, cooperate, work collaboratively to problem solve and negotiate conflict constructively, navigate settings with differing social and cultural demands and opportunities, provide leadership, and seek or offer help when needed. For example:
Communicating effectively
Developing positive relationships
Demonstrating cultural competency
Resolving conflicts constructively
Resisting negative social pressure
Standing up for the rights of others
Responsible Decision-Making: The abilities to make caring and constructive choices about personal behavior and social interactions across diverse situations. This includes the capacities to consider ethical standards and safety concerns, and to evaluate the benefits and consequences of various actions for personal, social, and collective well-being. For example:
Demonstrating curiosity and open-mindedness
Identifying solutions for personal and social problems
Learning to make a reasoned judgment after analyzing information, data, facts
Anticipating and evaluating the consequences of one's actions
