Social & Emotional Learning - What Is It?
What is Social and Emotional Learning?
Social and Emotional Learning is the process through which children (and adults) acquire and apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to:
Understand and manage emotions
Set and achieve positive goals
Feel and show empathy for others
Establish and maintain positive relationships
Make responsible decisions
These five core competencies — self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making — are the building blocks of SEL. They help young people navigate life with resilience, empathy, and confidence. They are everything outside of academics that also make academic achievement possible.
SEL is supporting the whole child, academics and beyond. The strategies and skills taught through SEL are what makes individuals successful in everyday life. It is not just knowing how to multiply fractions, it is learning about your own feelings and emotions, learning about how to work with and respect others with different points of view, organizing your thoughts and skills in order to achieve a goal, using the academics learned in order to solve problems, or create something, and so forth.
Why Is SEL Important for All Children?
Regardless of academic ability, every child benefits from SEL. Research shows that SEL:
Improves academic performance
Reduces emotional distress and behavior problems
Increases prosocial behaviors like empathy and cooperation
Enhances students’ ability to manage stress and depression
What Social and Emotional Learning Should Look Like in the Classroom
There are many programs and products that can be purchased to support SEL learning. Like any program, some of them may be effective in a classroom with a certain group of students, and some may not. It is important to understand what SEL is, understand your students and their unique needs, and then pick and choose tools to integrate it into your classroom. Effective SEL is not a scripted add-on to the school day — it’s woven into classroom culture and relationships. In classrooms that support SEL, you might observe:
Morning check-ins or class meetings where students can share feelings, practice empathy, and set goals for the day.
Embedded emotional vocabulary in academic subjects (e.g., discussing a character’s motivations or ethical dilemmas in literature or history).
Group projects where collaboration, compromise, and respectful disagreement are modeled and expected.
Conflict resolution strategies being taught and practiced — not just enforced through discipline.
Mindfulness practices, breathing exercises, or brain breaks to help students calm down and refocus.
Teachers modeling self-regulation, active listening, and kindness in everyday interactions.
Reflection prompts or journaling that helps students explore their own thoughts, reactions, and choices.
Differentiated support for students who may be struggling emotionally or socially — including gifted learners who mask distress through perfectionism or withdrawal.
When SEL is integrated in a developmentally appropriate way, it feels natural, respectful, and empowering. For gifted children, it also creates a safe space to bring their whole selves — intellect, emotions, fears, and hopes — into the learning process.
As we look to nurture the next generation of leaders, creators, and change-makers, let’s ensure they have both the cognitive challenge and the emotional support they need to flourish.
Why Is SEL Especially Important for Gifted Children?
See our article - Social & Emotional Learning - Why It Is Essential For Gifted Learners
A Note on the Current Controversy Surrounding SEL
In recent months and years, Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) has become a topic of national debate. Some media coverage and political discussions have portrayed SEL as part of a broader ideological agenda, questioning whether it belongs in school settings at all. This controversy has led to confusion and concern among parents, educators, and communities.
It’s important to clarify that the heart of SEL is not political — it’s deeply human. SEL teaches universal life skills such as empathy, emotional regulation, effective communication, and responsible decision-making. These are not partisan values; they are foundational tools for mental well-being, personal success, and positive social interaction.
SEL is nothing new. Effective teachers have been using SEL strategies since the beginning of time. If you have gone to school and learned about others, learned about managing your own behavior and emotions, learned about organizing your thoughts and physical self, you were experiencing SEL.
For gifted children, SEL is especially crucial. These students often feel things more deeply, think more abstractly at a younger age, and face social challenges due to their asynchronous development. Without intentional support in areas like emotional self-awareness, perfectionism, and peer relationships, gifted children can struggle — despite their academic gifts. SEL provides them with practical strategies to navigate these challenges, develop resilience, and thrive in both school and life.
At its core, SEL is about meeting the real, everyday needs of children — especially those whose intellectual strengths may mask emotional vulnerabilities. Ignoring SEL would mean neglecting a vital part of the child’s development. When implemented with care and transparency, SEL is not a distraction from academics — it is an essential part of learning how to be human. SEL skills support all children in becoming not just good students, but thoughtful, compassionate, and well-adjusted people.
By Adam C. Laningham
June 28, 2025