Misconceptions about Social-Emotional Learning

What does SEL stand for?

• Social, Example, Lifestyle

• Social, Emotional, Learning

• Simple, Exercise, Living

• Silly, Example, Lockport

What is SEL?

• It teaches you how to identify and understand the many ways you might think and feel

• It means to ignore positive energy and attract negative energy.

• It means to mimic every emotion another person may be having.

How can Social-Emotional Learning benefit students?

• Helps them become emotionally healthy problem-solvers

• Allows them time to talk about their lives and what is going on in the world around them

• Helps them cope with difficulties they are experiencing in life

• All choices are correct

True or False? :

Social-emotional learning teaches kids about feelings and other skills.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

TRUE: Emotional intelligence (the ability to be smart about feelings) is only one of the many parts of SEL.

True or False? :

Many educators believe social-emotional skills aren't as important as "hard skills".

• True

• False

Answer explanation

TRUE: Unfortunately, some educators DO not believe SEL skills are as important.

SEL skills are often referred to as "soft skills", but they're just as important as "hard skills".

True or False? :

Kids learn social-emotional skills automatically.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

FALSE: People aren't born knowing how to manage emotions, get along with others, and solve problems.

True or False? :

There's more than one way to teach SEL.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

TRUE: Teachers can use what they know about their students to design SEL lessons in which all students can fully access and apply these skills

True or False? :

SEL is for ALL kids.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

TRUE: SEL helps parents and teachers understand that all behavior is communicating something

True or False? :

Misbehavior should result in natural consequences which give students a true opportunity for learning.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

TRUE: Rewards and consequences will not teach on their own. Students need caring adults to explain the interpersonal consequences of social mistakes.

True or False? :

Social-emotional learning can be measured.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

FALSE: While evidence should inform a great deal of what we do, we can't count on all evidence to be quantitatively measured.