In certain parts of the USA, social emotional learning (SEL) is becoming the new buzzword in the educational world. Many teachers and staff members have not heard of SEL. It is described as a process in which students gain skills and knowledge on coping with the demands of everyday life. These skills include identifying and regulating emotions, understanding the rules of social engagement, establishing/maintaining relationships, and responsible decision-making skill. Schools across the country are starting to infuse SEL into their curriculum. Research has shown that when lessons are engaging, have built in movement. and are topics of interest, students’ overall alert level increases along with their ability to focus and stay on task. SEL strategies incorporate self-regulation which helps reduce behavioral outbursts and increase overall social emotional competence among students. Implementation of simple SEL strategies in the classroom, will keep students in the optimal zone for learning.
