This Month's SEL Conversation / June 2023 | |
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Dear Carolina,
This month, “Pomp and Circumstance” blared through stadium speakers, tassels were turned, and high school seniors across the country stepped into their futures.
As graduates at Galena High School in Reno, Nevada prepared to toss their caps triumphantly into the air, they told us about the social and emotional skills they’ll carry with them:
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“Social and emotional learning (SEL) has taught me many valuable lessons, such as how to resist peer pressure, have empathy, and calm my nervous energy.” - Carly Simmons
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“The best lesson SEL has taught me is simple! It’s just being honest with myself and others because I would rather work to be the best version of myself instead of becoming something I’m not.” - Miguel A. Ruiz
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“The interpersonal skills I developed through SEL will allow me to communicate with future employers and use my voice to express my interests.” - Stanley Sherry
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As Carly, Miguel, Stanley, and students everywhere take their next steps, let’s ask ourselves:
How will we leverage SEL to support all young people in preparing for their futures?
Read on for more on the future of work, well-being, and life online.
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The Future of Work: We Need Social And Emotional Skills In The AI Era
It feels like artificial intelligence (AI) is suddenly everywhere. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the rise of AI could rapidly change the job market that our graduates are entering. So how can we best prepare our students for the future of work? By investing in skills that will never go out of demand. Already, employers list social and emotional skills like self-awareness, conflict resolution, and effective communication as some of the most sought after in the workplace. These types of skills become even more important as new technologies pop up. As CASEL CEO Dr. Aaliyah A. Samuel and Chairman of the National Pathways Initiative Stan Litow explain: “By their very nature, social and emotional skills require human interactions that AI will never fully replicate.” Want to learn more? Join us at the 2023 SEL Exchange for a discussion on how AI will impact the future of SEL.
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The Future of Well-Being: SEL Is Critical for Lifelong Mental Wellness
“How valuable it is for a child to have that experience, not just for school, for life.” This was how U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy recently described a moment of emotional care and maturity he observed between young students in a school that prioritized SEL. The focus on SEL is especially important now as we face a youth mental health crisis that Murthy has called the “defining public health issue of our time.” In a recent Senate HELP committee hearing exploring solutions to this crisis, Murthy and other leaders pointed to SEL as an important component of prevention. SEL helps create multiple protective factors that can act as a shield against mental health challenges, including building positive relationships, regulating emotions and solving problems. While there are no quick fixes to the layered challenges ahead, developing these relationships and skills helps us prioritize the long-term mental wellness of every young person.
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The Future Online: Navigating Social Media with SEL
As teachers or parents will attest, no conversation about youth mental health is complete without a discussion about social media. So what role can SEL play in improving digital health and safety in our increasingly online society? Recently, the White House released Actions to Protect Youth Mental Health, Safety & Privacy Online, pointing to the need for safe, healthy, and developmentally-appropriate digital literacy skills and habits.” SEL plays an important role in these digital citizenship skills. As young people navigate online spaces, their social and emotional competencies help them set healthy boundaries, communicate productively, and use technology responsibly. When SEL is integrated into students’ digital experiences, technology can become a tool that helps young people build meaningful connections and positively influence their communities.
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Registration is open for the SEL Exchange! | |
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Register now for the 2023 SEL Exchange, Leaders as Learners: Building the Village Our Children Need, where you’ll connect in person with education leaders from around the world to explore the critical role of adult SEL.
Together, we will explore:
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The systems that support adult SEL
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The policies that make those possible
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The programs and processes that can help adults strengthen our own SEL and strong relationships
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The research and innovations that demonstrate impact
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Psychology Today: How Fathers Can Support the Social and Emotional Health of Their Children
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Education Week: What a Superintendent Told U.S. Senators About Student Mental Health
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July 12: “Honoring the Teacher's Heart: Well-Being Practices for School Change” from Greater Good Science Center
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Now - July 18: Register for our “Leading Schoolwide SEL” Workshop Series
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