This Month's SEL Conversation / March 2023

Dear Carolina,

Inspired. Hopeful. Energized. These are just a few words to describe how we’re feeling after our biggest celebration of social and emotional learning (SEL) yet: National SEL Week, March 6-10.

It was a truly groundbreaking week, with thousands of parents, young people, policymakers, and educators–including many of you–coming together to invigorate the SEL movement. From classrooms and homes all the way to the White House, we spotlighted the evidence and shared experiences that lift up the power of SEL.

National SEL Week may be over, but our work continues. We can keep the spirit and momentum of the week going by modeling SEL in our daily lives, supporting SEL in our communities, sharing our stories, and continually learning and sharing about the science of SEL.

As we reflect on our first ever National SEL Week, which culminated in the fourth International SEL Day, let’s ask ourselves:

What actions can we take in our communities to continue championing SEL all year long?

Read on for key takeaways from National SEL Week and impactful actions you can engage in for the road ahead.

SEL Superpower: Sharing Your Story

The first ever SEL Week included Presidential recognition, state proclamations, and millions of social media views around the world. What galvanized this awesome display of support for SEL? It was each of your stories—as students, parents, educators, and community members—showcasing the many unique strengths that SEL can nurture and build in ourselves, our schools, and our communities. Your strengths have also inspired the #SELSuperpower Unite video campaign on social media, where we are spreading joy through real-life stories of SEL. 10-year-old Harper shared, “If you’re new to my school, I’m going to be the person who’s there to help you. … I love making new friends. I call myself: the Super Helper!” 

Support SEL in your community: Use the #SELSuperpower toolkit to join the campaign and inspire others with your story!



SEL Superpower: Amplifying Parent Voices

“SEL deals with the child on a whole different level. That child feels wanted, supported, belonging, so that child wants to learn. It helped my son become a young man in high school. As a father, I believe in [SEL].” These words from Dewand Moore, father of a high school student, echo what we’ve been hearing from parents across the country. The common message? Our children’s well-being and futures rest on what we do in this moment—and social and emotional learning has never been more essential. So what can parents and caregivers do at this moment? Share why SEL matters, ask their children’s schools about how they’re supporting students’ SEL, and help their communities separate fact from fiction. 

Support SEL in your community: Download the free SEL Toolkit for Parents to share accurate information in your children’s school and your community.



SEL Superpower: Leading with Evidence



“Is SEL effective? Does it improve academic achievement? Does it help kids feel safer?” These are some of the important questions many communities are considering right now. For Dr. Christina Cipriano of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, “The answer is overwhelmingly yes.” Her latest research, an analysis of more than 400 SEL studies impacting more than 575,000 students, found SEL consistently benefited students’ well-being and academic learning. In these studies, SEL boosted homework completion, attendance, and engagement in learning. At the same time, it helped decrease bullying, improve a sense of safety, and foster better relationships between students and teachers. The research is clear: SEL is a vital tool for our students and schools. 

Support SEL in your community: Incorporate "The Case For SEL” slides to share the evidence with others.

Community Spotlight

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Share With Your Network

• Psychology Today: How to Integrate STEM and Social-Emotional Learning

• EdSurge: As Safety Threats Rise in Schools, Could SEL Programs Help?

• July 12 - 15: IGNITE Conference hosted by NASSP

• November 7 - 9: Sign up for Alerts on the SEL Exchange, hosted by CASEL

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