Social Emotional Learning Core Competencies

The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) is the leading organization calling for the integration of SEAL into the curriculum of all schools serving children in grades pre-K through 12. To that end, CASEL’s five tenets of social-emotional learning are put into practice.

Self-Awareness

“The ability to accurately recognize one’s own emotions, thoughts, and values and how they influence behavior. The ability to accurately assess one’s strengths and limitations with a well-grounded sense of confidence, optimism, and a “growth mindset.”

Skills include: identifying emotions, self-perception, recognizing strengths, self-confidence, and self-efficacy. Self-efficacy is the belief in your ability to succeed in specific situations or accomplish a task. 

Self-Management

“The ability to successfully regulate one’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in different situations — effectively managing stress, controlling impulses, and motivating oneself. The ability to set and work toward personal and academic goals.”

Skills include: executive function and self-regulation, stress management, and self-discipline.

Executive function and self-regulation are the mental processes that enable us to plan, focus attention, remember instructions, and juggle multiple tasks successfully. Our brains need this skill set to filter distractions, prioritize tasks, set and achieve goals, and control impulses. 

Social Awareness

“The ability to take the perspective of and empathize with others, including those from diverse backgrounds and cultures. The ability to understand social and ethical behavior norms and recognize family, school, and community resources and support.”

Skills include: empathy, appreciation of differences, and respect.

Relationship Skills

“The ability to establish and maintain healthy and rewarding relationships with diverse individuals and groups. The ability to communicate, listen well, cooperate with others, resist inappropriate social pressure, negotiate conflict constructively, and seek and offer help when needed.”

Skills include: communicating, listening, cooperation, resisting negative pressure, resolving conflicts, and supporting one another.

Responsible Decision-Making 

“The ability to make constructive choices about personal behavior and social interactions based on ethical standards, safety concerns, and social norms. The realistic evaluation of the consequences of various actions, and a consideration of the well-being of oneself and others.” 

Skills include: identifying problems, analyzing situations, solving problems, and reflecting.