Social Emotional Learning is Essential and Relevant at All Ages

Social Emotional Learning is essential and relevant at all ages; however, it is crucial in pre-teen and teenage years. ‍

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However, programs, curriculum, and instructional focus often detour from SEL as an instructional area and instead focus on high school graduation, test scores, college acceptance, etc. "And that's a problem, because adolescents are going through a lot, and they need strong social and emotional skills as much, if not more, than younger students: Their relationships are becoming more complex. They're dealing with hormonal changes and peer pressure. They're tackling big questions about who they are, what they want to be, and what they value."

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Summarized below are Education Week’s, Ariana Prothero's suggestions for SEL instructional focus at adolescence—full article linked below.

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SEL programs for the middle and high school levels should reflect that, supporting students in five main areas, she said:

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1- Emotion regulation and perseverance: coping skills to navigate emotionally challenging situations productively and persevere despite setbacks.

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2- Goal setting, planning, and organization: create independence on schoolwork and life balance.  

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3- Self-advocacy and agency: important in identifying and supporting strengths, interests, and needs.

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4- Individuated identity: exploring and forming personality, beliefs, or looks. This growth can be independent of peers and family.

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5- Sophisticated relationships: Building relationships with others based on mutual respect, trust, and fairness. This helps students prepare for life transitions, including high school graduation, college, and careers.

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SEL needs to be relevant, applicable, and authentic. If the SEL instruction isn't relevant to a child's life, a child won't use the strategies and tools. Utilizing appropriate intentional SEL education for adolescent students at this age is imperative and has significant outcomes not just for a child but for the world.

Full article can be found here.