The Collabortive for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) was formed in 1994 with the 'goal of establishing high-quality' evidence based social and emotional learning (SEL) as an essential part of preschool through high school education.'
According to CASEL 'Social and emotional learning (SEL) is the process through which children and adults to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show emphathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.'
As part of their work, CASEL developed a framework for Systemic Social and Emotional Learning. The framework provides educators with the five core competenices that form the basis of an effective, systematic SEL program in schools.
Greenslopes State School values Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) and has therefore started to provide systemic social and emotional learning across all year levels from Prep to Year Six.
Second Step
Our school uses the Second Step program to embed the systemic Social and Emotional Learning teachings across the school. Second Step is an easy to follow program, that has been peer reviewed by The Collaborative for Social and Academic Learning (CASEL) and research has shown it is effective.
Designed by the Committe for Children, a not for profit organisation founded in 1978, Second Step aims to 'create a more empathetic society by providing professionals, families and the larger community with the tolls to enable them to taken an active role in the social-emotional growth and safety of today's children.'
Second Step embeds the 'Five Core Competencies Framework' into lessons and units of work, and homework tasks for parents and families to help re-inforce key messages.
The figure below illustrates how the Second Step aligns with the Five Core Competencies.
The five key areas of Second Step are:
- Brain Builders (P - 3)
- Skills for Learning
- Empathy
- Emotion Management
- Problem Solving
Our school students each have a Second Step lesson at the beginning of the week, with follow up lessons as they become appropriate over the remainder of the week.