Social-Emotional Learning

When you walk into any of our schools, you'll hear teachers greeting students as they arrive for the day. You'll see students raising their hands to talk, listening carefully to a teacher's instructions, and working with peers. All of these practices are social-emotional skills.

Social-emotional learning (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.

According to Sara Lein, Director of Special Services, SEL is ingrained in everything we do. "It's how we present information in the classroom, how we allow students to think and work, and how we as adults work together to serve our students," she shared. "SEL is the base layer for teaching and learning."

School District 197 SEL Vision

Our SEL vision states: Through an equitable system of social and emotional learning support, all students and staff will grow in the following capacities:

Self-awareness • Self-management • Social awareness • Relationship skills • Responsible decision-making

“These skills are important in school, but they’re also important outside of school. Kids can apply these skills while on sports teams, on the school bus, in their community, and as they grow into adults in society.”
- Sara Lein, Director of Special Services


 

What SEL Looks Like In School District 197

CONTACT INFORMATION 

Sara Lein
Director of Special Services 
sara.lein@isd197.org

SEL IN ACTION: STORIES OF SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING

Teaching Social-Emotional Learning Skills
 
Creating a Sense of Belonging Through Classroom Literature
 
Growing Leadership at Garlough

 

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