Why do you believe the SEL field is gaining momentum, and how do you hope the upcoming SEL Exchange captures and advances that momentum? First, it is pretty universally accessible—most people can grasp the kinds of competencies it takes to …
Since I received my PhD, I have worked hard to unlearn the copious amounts of jargon endemic to the social sciences. Don’t get me wrong: The right jargon can be an economical way to pack a lot of information in …
Read MoreEvidence-Based SEL and Data-Informed SEL: Not the Same; Both Important
Specialization in Social and Emotional Learning The field of social and emotional learning (SEL), like most fields, has its silos. This, as I see it, is the inevitable and natural consequence of the high level of sustained effort required to …
Defining Social Emotional Learning Skills There are many frameworks, models, and definitions of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL). As a result, when trying to comes to grip with what SEL is, it can get overwhelming. While there’s little doubt that …
Recently, the xSEL Labs team met with a group of educators in an ethnically and socioeconomically diverse school district that is using our SEL assessment to inform their SEL instruction. As is so often the case, the district team asked …
Read MoreSocial and Emotional Learning (SEL) and Restorative Practices
My colleagues and I think a lot about how to use SEL assessment data for continuous improvement to make life better for teachers and the kids they serve, and for researchers who care about student social-emotional outcomes. And so it’s …
Read MoreSix Steps for Continuous Improvement in Social Emotional Learning (SEL)
We all know that success in school and life depends on more than book smarts. There is a lot of talk these days about what skills, other than IQ, matters, and what educators can do to nurture those skills. Different …
