SEL in 5: Meet people where they are, a note on framing, and SEL as a way of being
A new monthly newsletter that delivers the most wisdom per word of any social-emotional learning publication on the web.
What skills and mindsets are required to effectively lead social-emotional learning initiatives in today’s world?
During the last few months of 2021, I decided to pause my writing and take some time to reflect on this question, the past three years of running Inside SEL, the future of social-emotional learning, and what this work means to me.
Our field has grown quite drastically over the past few years. We are at a point where curated articles on social-emotional learning are far more accessible, with organizations such as CASEL and the SEL Center at WestEd paving the way in terms of sharing the latest SEL research and trends in practice.
We are also at a point where the expert leadership of SEL initiatives – in classrooms, schools, districts, non-profits, after school and out of school time programs, and the policy world – is arguably more needed than ever before. As we continue to navigate a volatile world in which student needs are becoming increasingly more widespread, pronounced, and complex, we will be called upon to lead SEL efforts in ways that are systemic, equity-centered, trauma-informed, and genuinely collaborative.
Given this reality, we are excited to announce that This Month in SEL will be evolving into SEL in 5, a monthly newsletter that delivers the most wisdom per word of any social-emotional learning publication on the web.
Every month, the latest issue is sent to our community of 35,000+ subscribers. Each edition includes:
3 short thoughts on leading SEL efforts;
2 quotes from researchers or practitioners in the field, and;
1 question for you to consider.
Our goal is for SEL in 5 to grow into the #1 resources for SEL professionals who want to level-up their leadership.
Thank you, as always, for reading. We would love to hear from you with any feedback, questions, or ideas.
3 SEL Leadership Thoughts
"When leading, launching, or reviving SEL work, it’s important to remember that it’s OK to meet people where they are. Use the assets in your school community (and broader community) to do what feels feasible for now. As long as you strive to continuously improve over time, give yourself permission to start where you are." [Tweet This]
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"Focus on articulating how SEL is building upon the work that is already taking place versus adding a new initiative or project on top of what folks are already responsible for. As John Norling (Co-Founder of CharacterStrong) often reminds us: 'SEL is not something we add to our plates—it is THE plate.'" [Tweet This]
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"SEL is not a program, curriculum, or intervention. It is a way of being. It is embedded in everything we do. It is a culture that anchors on co-creation, collaboration, honoring student voices, and authentically engaging families. We don’t 'do' SEL." [Tweet This]
2 Quotes from SEL Leaders
"For children, it takes over 400 times in the context of social situations to learn a new skill or routine. We often become frustrated because children 'should know better,' but they need plenty of support and guidance." – Kim Jackson, Conscious Discipline Master Instructor [Tweet This]
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"It is difficult, if not impossible, for adults to help students build skills that they themselves do not possess. It is vital, then, for adults working in educational settings to have strong SEL skills themselves." – Dr. Stephanie Jones, Harvard EASEL Lab [Tweet This]
1 Question for You
What words or phrases capture the strengths that our students have demonstrated over the past year?
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If you enjoyed that, please consider sharing SEL in 5 with others.
Until next month,
Nick Woolf
Author of SEL in 5
Founder of Inside SEL and The SEL in Higher Education Playbook
p.s. here’s what else I’m reading and some events I’m attending:
CASEL President & CEO Dr. Aaliyah A. Samuel on the State of SEL
Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona Shares New Education Goals
Parents and Teachers Say SEL and Academics Should Get Equal Time in School
Instructional Practices That Integrate Equity-Centered Social, Emotional, and Academic Learning
New study finds strong links between curiosity and children's cognitive development