Social-Emotional Learning
Families as Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Experts
We believe that families are students' first and forever teachers. Social emotional learning (SEL) is a set of skills and practices that families and communities have been developing and fostering for generations. The school system has only recently recognized the deep impacts of these skills and practices on all learning outcomes, and now that research in the learning sciences has solidly validated these findings, we seek to integrate social emotional learning across all classrooms in partnership with our families.
These beliefs are directly aligned to the Family Partnership Guiding Principles from our Family Engagement department. We welcome your input, wisdom, and perspectives to help us co-construct our social emotional learning (SEL) supports, please connect with us via email or @highlinesel.
More information for families is below including definitions of social emotional learning, classroom-based and home-based supports, and tools and resources for families.
Family Resources
What is Social and Emotional Learning?
Social and emotional learning (SEL) is the process through which children and adults
- Understand and manage emotions
- Set and achieve positive goals
- Feel and show empathy for others
- Establish and maintain positive relationships
- Make responsible decisions
What is SEL?
Social and emotional learning includes...
Our Beliefs
We believe that continued social and emotional development is critical to student success, now and in the future. Through authentic relationships and intentional skill building, the social and emotional well-being of each member of the Highline community is supported and strengthened, contributing to an equal chance of success for every student.
| SEL Approaches | Short-Term Outcomes | Behavioral/Academic Outcomes |
|---|---|---|
|
Explicit SEL Skills Instruction >>> Teacher Instructional Practices Integration with Academic Curriculum Areas Organizational, culture and climate Strategies |
SEL Skill Acquisition: Five Competence Areas >>> Improved Attitudes: Self, Others, Learning and Schools >>> Enhanced Learning Environment: Supportive, engaging and Participatory >>> |
Positive Social Behavior Few Conduct Problems Less Emotional Distress Improved Academic Performance |
Social-Emotional Competencies
Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) is the process through which children and adults acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel an show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.
In Highline, we focus on the learning competencies identified by the Collaborative for Academic Social and Emotional learning (CASEL). These core competencies include Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, and Responsible Decision Making.
A Comprehensive Approach
We use a number of complimentary strategies and structures to support Social Emotional Learning in Highline, including:
- PBIS: A school-wide approach to creating and sustaining positive teaching and learning environments
- RULER: An approach to teaching the skills of emotional intelligence:
- R - Recognizing
- U - Understanding
- L - Labeling
- E - Expressing
- R - Regulating
- Restorative Practices: A process that encourages accountability, healing and repair when conflict arises.
Learn More:
- SEL Competencies: Washington State OSPI, 2016. SELB Draft Benchmarks.
- What is SEL - Collaborative for Academic Social and Emotional Learning
- What Does Evidence-Based Instruction in Social and Emotional Learning Actually Look Like in Practice? - Dusenbury, Calin, Domitrovich, & Weissberg, 2015
Contact
Phone: 206-631-3269
Melissa Pointer
Director of Social Emotional Learning
Tracy Werthman
Social-Emotional Learning Specialist
Erika Hubbard
Social-Emotional Learning Specialist
Maile Valu
Social-Emotional Learning Specialist
We invite you to share with us so we can learning from your histories, knowledge and experiences. We are at our best when we are learning together in community. We look forward to partnership with you to improve what we are doing at school. Please reach out to us directly via email.