Social-emotional practices have unique benefits for secondary students, who face an especially critical social and emotional development period. Incorporate social-emotional support services for secondary students into school culture to provide academic and social support for secondary students.
Advisory group programs and restorative disciplinary practices at contact districts can help students build social-emotional learning (SEL) competencies. In addition, this research provides strategies for gaining faculty and administrative support for SEL.
Effective SEL practicesIncorporating SEL practices at the secondary level provides specific benefits for secondary students entering a critical development period. SEL competencies help students in this age group navigate increasingly complex relationships, both with their friends and with themselves. Secondary-aged students engage in riskier behavior and navigate increasingly complex social challenges (e.g., peer pressure, exposure to social media). In a survey of secondary students conducted by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), the majority believed that SEL practices prepare them for careers and college, improve relationships with peers, reduce bullying, and improve absorption of academic content.
Below are five core SEL competencies from CASEL.
Self-awareness
Identifying emotions Accurate self-perception Recognizing strengths Self-confidence Self-efficacySelf-management
Impulse control Stress management Self-discipline Self-motivation Goal-setting Organizational skillsSocial awareness
Perspective-taking Empathy Appreciating diversity Respect for othersRelationship skills
Communication Social engagement Relationship-building…