Social-Emotional Learning for Youth: Promoting Well-being and Academic Success
Social-emotional learning activities at Harbord collegiate Institute in Toronto, with Beat the Streets Level Up Program
In today's educational landscape, social-emotional learning (SEL) has gained recognition as a crucial aspect of overall development. This blog post explores the concept of SEL, its significance in education and health policies, and the benefits it offers to low-income youth. By examining various initiatives and evidence-based programs, we aim to show how SEL can empower young individuals to achieve academic excellence while nurturing their well-being.
Understanding Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)
Mastering Social-Emotional Skills: A Path to Academic Achievement and Beyond
"Social and emotional skills refer to the abilities to regulate one’s thoughts, emotions, and behavior" (OECD, 2017). Over the past twenty years, educational thinking has revolutionized, resulting in the belief "that social, emotional, and cognitive processes are all bound together in a seamless web" (People for Education, 2014).
In 1994, the Fretzer Institute in the United States of America held a conference with researchers, educators, child advocates, and stakeholders to identify ways to encourage the positive development of children and youth. Both the term "Social-Emotional Learning" and the Collaborative Association on Social-Emotional Learning (CASEL) emerged from this conference (CASEL, 2021b). According to CASEL:
“Social and emotional learning (SEL) is integral to education and human development.”
"Social and emotional learning (SEL) is integral to education and human development. SEL is the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions" (CASEL, 2021a).
Paul Raso, Level Up Facilitator and education expert, leads a group in social-emotional lessons at Harbord Collegiate Institute, March 2023
Incorporating SEL in Education and Health Priorities
Unlocking Potential: The Vital Role of Social-Emotional Learning in Education and Health Priorities
The importance of student well-being in achieving overall student success is emphasized by the Ontario Government. In their 2014 publication, "Achieving Excellence: A Renewed Vision for Education in Ontario," it becomes evident that student well-being plays a crucial role in academic attainment:
“And they cannot be their best if they are not given the tools and motivation to adopt a healthy, active lifestyle, both in and outside of school”
"Over the past 10 years, we have seen growing evidence demonstrating why student well-being is an important element of overall student success. Students cannot achieve academically if they feel unsafe at school or are bullied online. They cannot be expected to reach their full potential if they have mental health issues and if we do not provide the support they need. And they cannot be their best if they are not given the tools and motivation to adopt a healthy, active lifestyle, both in and outside of school. (...) Developing child and student well-being means supporting the whole child – not only the child’s academic achievement but also his or her cognitive, emotional, social, and physical well-being" (Ontario Government, 2014).
Integrating BTS Programs in School Curriculums
Going Hand-in-Hand: How BTS Programs Complement and Enhance School Curriculums
Many schools, policies, and strategies have already incorporated SEL into classrooms across Ontario. BTS programs complement and supplement these activities by providing activities aligned with current curricula and goals. For example, the Ontario Government emphasized the importance of SEL skills in its 2019 Health and Physical Education Curriculum for grades 1-8 under the section on mental health:
“SEL is now a distinct section of the updated curriculum”
"There is strong evidence that developing Social-Emotional Learning skills at school contributes to student well-being and successful academic performance. (...) Because these skills are so important to student's mental health and healthy development, SEL is now a distinct section of the updated curriculum. This new section builds on Living Skills learning from the previous curriculum to help students foster their own overall health and well-being, positive mental health, resilience, and ability to learn and thrive" (Ontario Government, 2019).
Students at Harbord Collegiate engage with Level Up facilitator Paul Rasso during social-emotional brain teasers to promote critical thinking
Enhancing Academic Performance through SEL
Boosting Academic Performance: How Social-Emotional Learning Enhances Student Success
Through its activities, BTS promotes resilience, well-being, and overall health of students, aligning with the approach of the School Mental Health Organization (SMHO), a provincial implementation support team, which advocates and uses SEL as a tool to promote academic achievement and mental health:
"When students are feeling mentally well, they're more available for learning. (...) Students who receive systematic, active, and focused social-emotional skill instruction perform better on standardized academic tests than those who have not. Also, targeted intervention for students at risk can help to prevent or improve some learning problems at school" (SMHO, 2019).
In Achieving Excellence Education Strategy, the Ontario Government links competency in SEL to achieving potential, academic achievement, and increasing resilience:
“Their sense of well-being supports their learning because it makes them more resilient and better able to overcome challenges”
"Children and students who have strong relationships and a positive sense of self – and who can understand and manage their own health and emotions – are in a better position to reach their full potential in the future. Their sense of well-being supports their learning because it makes them more resilient and better able to overcome challenges" (Ontario Government, 2014).
Furthermore, the Ontario Government's Stepping Up Annual Report of 2016 outlines its goal for youth to:
Be physically healthy.
Feel mentally well.
Make choices that support healthy and safe development (Minister of Children and Youth Services, 2016).
BTS Activities for Social-Emotional Well-being
Fun and Fulfillment: BTS Activities Fostering Social-Emotional Well-being
BTS SEL curriculum aligning with elementary and secondary school curriculums.
BTS addresses all three goals by providing SEL and physical activity opportunities that enable low-income children and youth to learn skills to make healthy and informed decisions. The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), which focuses on building the assets of Ontario's children and youth, supports programs that align with BTS activities. OTF takes inspiration from the strategic priorities of the Ontario Ministry of Children and Youth Services (McDonald, 2015).
As part of our three-year grant with OTF, BTS worked with an early childhood educator to develop social-emotional games and activities for grades 1-6 in our Wrestle 4 Fun program. As part of our Resilient Fund Grant from OTF, BTS worked with an educational consultant specializing in experiential learning to develop a social-emotional learning curriculum for grades 9-12, which we use for Level Up & You Grow Girl. Our curriculum includes activities on key skills such as goal-setting, self-awareness, self-regulation, managing stress, confidence, decision-making and building relationships.
Public Benefits of SEL in Education
Public Benefit of Using SEL to Advance Education
Decades of research by CASEL show the following benefits of SEL:
Improvements in students' social and emotional skills, attitudes, relationships, academic performance, and classroom and school climate perceptions.
Decline in students' anxiety, behavioural problems, and substance abuse.
Long-term improvements in students' skills, attitudes, pro-social behaviour, and academic performance.
Wise financial investment according to cost-benefit research (CASEL, 2021c).
In the Summary Findings of Broader Measures of Success: Social/Emotional Learning, the authors concluded positive outcomes of SEL in the following areas:
Improved academic achievement
Improved attitudes toward school and education
Increased social-emotional skills
Improved attitudes toward self and others
Improved mental health (reduction of anxiety, depression, and emotional distress)
Improved social behaviours
Decreased conduct problems
Improved classroom and school environment (People for Education, 2014).
Moreover, academic performance improves as a direct consequence of cultivating core competencies (People for Education, 2014). Evidence also suggests that the potential benefits of SEL programs are greater for high-risk populations, including students with low socioeconomic status (EENet and CAMH, 2016).
Having a laugh during Level Up's social-emotional activities at Harbord Collegiate Institute, March 2023
Evidence-Based Benefits of SEL
The Science of Success: Evidence-Based Benefits of Social-Emotional Learning
Evidence and benefits of SEL are accepted by academics, governments, educators, and child advocates across the globe. It is used to advance education, improve well-being, and increase the potential for lifelong success. For example, a meta-analysis conducted by Durlak et al. (2011) reviewed 213 studies involving over 270,000 students and found that SEL programs significantly improved students' social-emotional skills, attitudes, and academic performance. Another study by Jones et al. (2017) showed that students who participated in SEL programs had better classroom behaviour, reduced emotional distress, and improved academic achievement compared to those who did not receive SEL instruction.
In addition to academic benefits, SEL also plays a vital role in fostering positive mental health. Research has shown that SEL programs help reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and emotional distress among students (CASEL, 2021c). By equipping young individuals with emotional regulation and interpersonal skills, SEL empowers them to navigate challenges, build resilience, and maintain positive relationships.
Furthermore, SEL initiatives have a long-lasting impact on individuals' lives. A study by Taylor et al. (2017) followed participants of SEL programs into adulthood and found that they had higher educational attainment, better job prospects, and lower rates of criminal behaviour. These findings demonstrate the potential of SEL to positively influence not only academic outcomes but also broader aspects of individuals' lives.
Investing in SEL and Beat the Streets
Beat the Streets participants enjoy Wrestle the North event in 2017.
Social-emotional learning (SEL) has the power to make a real difference in the lives of low-income youth. By integrating SEL into education and health priorities and implementing evidence-based programs like Beat the Streets (BTS), we are empowering young individuals to thrive academically and improve their well-being.
At Beat the Streets, we are passionate about fostering social-emotional skills among children and youth. Through our sports and employment programs, we teach tools and strategies that help them successfully navigate adolescence and transition to adulthood. Our aim is to equip them with essential life skills that contribute to their personal growth, resilience, and overall success.
Investing in SEL is a wise decision, not just for individuals but for society as a whole. By prioritizing social-emotional development, we create positive outcomes, reduce mental health issues, and prepare young people for lifelong success. When we invest in the social-emotional well-being of low-income youth, we create a ripple effect that extends beyond their lives, positively impacting communities.
Let's embrace the transformative potential of SEL and support initiatives like Beat the Streets that are dedicated to cultivating social-emotional skills. Together, we can create a brighter future where all children and youth have the opportunity to thrive and fulfill their potential. Join us in making a difference through the power of social-emotional learning.
References:
CASEL. (2021a). What is SEL? Retrieved from https://casel.org/what-is-sel/
CASEL. (2021b). History of SEL. Retrieved from https://casel.org/history-of-sel/
CASEL. (2021c). Benefits of SEL. Retrieved from https://casel.org/benefits-of-sel/
Durlak, J. A., Weissberg, R. P., Dymnicki, A. B., Taylor, R. D., & Schellinger, K. B. (2011). The impact of enhancing students' social and emotional learning: A meta-analysis of school-based universal interventions. Child Development, 82(1), 405-432. https://srcd.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2010.01564.x
Evidence Exchange Network for Mental Health and Addictions & Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). 2016. Social Emotional Learning. https://www.eenet.ca/sites/default/files/pdfs/SchoolYears_English_EENetEvidence%20 Brief_Final.pdf
Greenberg, M. T., Kusche, C. A., Cook, E. T., & Quamma, J. P. (2003). Promoting emotional competence in school-aged children: The effects of the PATHS curriculum. Development and Psychopathology, 15(1), 117-136. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/231967046_Promoting_Emotional_Competence_in_School-Aged_Children_The_Effects_of_the_PATHS_Curriculum
McDonald, S. 2015. Why do we invest in Promising Young People? Ontario Trillium Foundation. https://otf.ca/sites/ default/files/promising_young_people_story.pdf
OECD. 2017. Social and Emotional Skills Well-being, connectedness and success. OECD. https://www.oecd.org/education/school/UPDATED%20Social%20and%20Emotional%20Skills%20-%20Well-being,%20connectedness%20and%20success.pdf%20(website).pdf
Ontario & Ministry of Education. 2019. The Ontario curriculum, grades 1-8: health and physical education, 2019. (also available at http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curriculum/elementary/health.html).
Ontario Government. 2014. Achieving Excellence: A Renewed Vision for Education in Ontario. http://ncee.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Ont-non-AV-10-Ontario-Government-Achieving-Excellence-A-renewed-vision-for- education-in-Ontario.pdf
Ontario Minister of Children and Youth Services. 2016. Stepping Up 2016 Annual Report, A Strategic Framework to Help Ontario’s Youth Succeed. Ontario Government. http://www.children.gov.on.ca/htdocs/English/professionals/steppingup/index.aspx
Payton, J., Weissberg, R. P., Durlak, J. A., Dymnicki, A. B., Taylor, R. D., Schellinger, K. B., & Pachan, M. (2008). The positive impact of social and emotional learning for kindergarten to eighth-grade students: Findings from three scientific reviews. Chicago, IL: Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED505370.pdf
People for Education. 2014. Social-emotional learning: Measuring What Matters domain paper. In: People for Education [online]. [Cited 31 January 2021]. https://peopleforeducation.ca/report/sel-domain-paper/
School Mental Health Ontario (SMHO). 2020. Supporting Minds Strategies at a Glance: Ideas to Support and Bolster Students with Mental Health Problems in the Classroom. SMHO. https://smho-smso.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/ Supporting-Minds-Strategies-At-A-Glance.pdf
Taylor, R.D., Oberle, E., Durlak, J.A. & Weissberg, R.P. 2017. Promoting Positive Youth Development Through School-Based Social and Emotional Learning Interventions: A Meta-Analysis of Follow-Up Effects. Child Development, 88(4): 1156–1171. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.12864
About Beat the Streets:
At Beat the Streets, our mission is to advance the education of low-income children and youth in the Greater Toronto Area through fun and unique sports, life skills, and employment-based development programs. Since 2015, we have served over 28,000 young individuals through our Wrestle 4 Fun, Level Up, You Grow Girl, Work It (Summer Jobs), and Volunteer programs, providing them opportunities to develop their physical, mental, and social well-being. We believe in empowering the next generation by breaking down barriers and creating pathways to success.
Join us in our mission to impact youth:
Join us in making a difference by supporting our cause and learning more about how you can contribute to the education and growth of children and youth in need. Together, we can shape a brighter future for all.
