Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
There is a growing awareness of the need for youth
to develop social and emotional skills to be successful
in school and later in the workplace. The Collaborative
for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL)
has selected the Lions Quest K-12 programs as exemplary
in their teaching of social and emotional competencies,
evaluation and professional development, awarding Lions
Quest with their highest rating, CASEL "SELECT."
- Outstanding SEL instruction
- Evidence of effectiveness through rigorous research
- Outstanding professional development
Lions Quest programs have received strong program ratings
from CASEL in the following areas:
- Self-Awareness
- Self-Management
- Relationship Skills
- Responsible Decision-Making
- Evidence of Effectiveness
- Documented Behavioral Impacts on academics, substance
abuse prevention, and other social behaviors
- Given designation in Federal Reviews from SAMHSA and
the U.S. Department of Education
How does SEL affect academic performance?
According to CASEL's publication, Safe
and Sound: An Educational Leader's Guide to Evidence-Based
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Programs,
learning is possible only after students' social, emotional
and physical needs have been met. When those needs are
met, students are more likely to succeed academically.
Improving the social and emotional climate of schools,
and the social and emotional competence of students,
advances the academic mission of schools in important
ways. A study estimating the relative influence of 30
different categories of educational, psychological,
and social variables on learning revealed that social
and emotional variables exerted the most powerful influence
on academic performance (Wang et al., 1997). Satisfying
the social and emotional needs of students does more
than prepare them to learn. It actually increases their
capacity for learning. Social and emotional learning
has been shown to increase mastery of subject material,
motivation to learn, commitment to school, and time
devoted to schoolwork. It also improves attendance,
graduation rates, and prospects for constructive employment
while at the same time reducing suspensions, expulsions,
and grade retention (Hawkins et al., 1999; Malecki &
Elliott, 2002).
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