As educators, we’ve all heard the disheartening phrases: “This is boring,” or “Why do we even need to learn this?” These comments often stem from a lack of perceived relevance and an inability to connect academic content to students’ lives and emotions. Reflecting on our own school experiences, we might recall similar frustrations when the purpose and benefit of certain subjects felt unclear. Addressing this disconnect, and fostering constructive approaches to emotions and interactions, lies at the heart of Emotional Social Learning (ESL).
In today’s increasingly diverse world, classrooms are microcosms of varied backgrounds, beliefs, and abilities. To navigate these differences and ensure equitable opportunities for all students, emotional social learning (ESL) is essential. ESL empowers students to understand their own emotions, cultivate self-awareness, and develop empathy for others within their communities and the wider world.
By nurturing these qualities, we equip students to become more engaged, self-aware, and socially responsible citizens, both inside and outside the classroom, throughout their lives. Let’s delve deeper into the significance of emotional social learning and explore its profound benefits in education and beyond.
Defining Emotional Social Learning (ESL)
Emotional social learning (ESL) is a pedagogical approach designed to help students of all ages develop a deeper understanding of their emotions, experience these emotions fully, and cultivate empathy for those around them. These learned skills enable students to make informed and responsible choices, establish frameworks for achieving their aspirations, and build positive, meaningful relationships.
The Cornerstone Competencies of Emotional Social Learning
The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), a leading organization dedicated to fostering positive development in PreK-12 students, identifies five core competencies as the foundation of ESL. These competencies are applicable across various settings, including classrooms, homes, and communities:
Self-Awareness
This involves recognizing one’s own emotions and understanding how they influence behavior. It also encompasses acknowledging personal strengths and areas for growth, fostering self-confidence in one’s abilities.
Self-Management
Self-management is the ability to regulate one’s thoughts, emotions, and actions effectively in different situations. It includes setting personal and academic goals and developing the discipline to achieve them.
Social Awareness
Social awareness is the capacity to understand and empathize with individuals from diverse backgrounds and cultures. It involves acting with compassion and ethical principles within one’s family, school, and community.
Relationship Skills
This competency focuses on building and maintaining healthy relationships with a diverse range of people. Key aspects include active listening, effective communication, peaceful conflict resolution, and knowing when to seek or offer support.
Responsible Decision-Making
Responsible decision-making involves choosing actions and responses based on ethical considerations, safety awareness, consideration of consequences, and a concern for the well-being of oneself and others.
Integrating ESL into Educational Practices
While ESL is not a separate subject like mathematics or history, it can be seamlessly integrated into the fabric of a school’s curriculum. When educators personalize academic lessons and make them relatable to students’ lives, students are more likely to engage actively and remain mentally present. By cultivating empathy, self-awareness, and a sense of safety and inclusion in the classroom, ESL can create a lasting positive impact.
Approaches to ESL implementation vary. Some educators dedicate specific time slots during the school day, often in homeroom, for explicit ESL lessons. These lessons then serve as recurring themes throughout the day, reinforcing the core competencies of ESL and making them tangible for students.
Teachers might encourage students to journal or reflect on their thoughts and feelings related to ESL lessons. Peer learning activities, such as pairing younger students with older “buddy classrooms,” can also foster connections and shared understanding across age groups.
Furthermore, ESL principles can be woven into traditional subjects like math, history, or literature. For instance, group projects can encourage students to practice self-delegation and teamwork. Role-playing historical figures can promote empathy and understanding of different perspectives. Class discussions on current events can provide opportunities for students to practice active listening and respectful dialogue.
Supporting students in setting personal improvement goals and tracking their progress provides a tangible way to demonstrate achievement and foster a sense of accomplishment, further reinforcing ESL competencies.
Earn an MA in Social Emotional Learning
The Wide-Ranging Benefits of ESL
ESL offers significant advantages for both students and educators, fostering self-awareness, enhancing academic performance, and promoting positive behaviors both within and beyond the classroom. Academically, studies show that students participating in ESL programs demonstrate an 11 percentile point increase in their grades and improved attendance rates. On an individual level, ESL skills empower students to manage emotional stress, solve problems effectively, and resist negative peer pressure.
Equipping students with these skills prepares them to navigate the complexities of adult life more successfully. A report from the AEI/Brookings Working Group on Poverty and Opportunity highlights that despite the importance of socio-emotional factors in education and life success, major educational reforms have not adequately focused on these crucial elements.
Research published in the American Journal of Public Health using data from the Fast Track Project, an intervention program aimed at reducing aggression in at-risk children, underscores the long-term benefits of addressing socio-emotional development early on.
By identifying students who may struggle with ESL competencies, educators can provide targeted support and help them develop self-control, empathy, and other positive qualities. Cultivating these “soft skills,” such as teamwork, interpersonal understanding, and problem-solving, alongside academic knowledge, sets students up for success throughout their educational journey and future careers.
Understanding Emotional Social Learning Theory
Emotional and social learning (ESL) theory broadly refers to the process through which individuals acquire and apply a range of social, emotional, and related skills, attitudes, behaviors, and values that guide students. This encompasses their thoughts, feelings, and actions in ways that contribute to their success in school and life. While various definitions of ESL exist (Humphrey et al., 2011), the core principles emphasize the interconnectedness of emotional and social development with learning and well-being.
Practical Strategies for Classroom ESL Integration
Numerous practical strategies can be employed to integrate ESL into the classroom. The key is to create a consistent ESL presence throughout the school day. Starting with simple check-ins to gauge students’ emotional states can be a powerful first step. Providing opportunities for students to observe and discuss effective strategies for handling challenging situations is also valuable. Role-playing scenarios can offer a safe space for students to practice ESL skills. Creating designated calming areas within the classroom provides students with a space for reflection and emotional regulation.
For further insights on incorporating ESL, the National University podcast episode “Social Emotional Learning: Embracing Empathy and Connection“ featuring Dr. Maggie Broderick, offers valuable perspectives and practical advice for educators.
Measuring the Impact of Emotional-Social Learning
Assessing the impact of ESL extends far beyond traditional academic metrics. Dr. Christina Cipriano explains that when students struggle academically, school can become a source of anxiety, leading to decreased self-efficacy, motivation, engagement, and connection to the school community.
ESL provides students with the tools to take ownership of their actions, cultivate a sense of belonging, and develop intrinsic motivation for learning. Consistent exposure to ESL helps students manage stress more effectively, reducing the likelihood of experiencing depression and promoting overall well-being.
The Critical Importance of ESL
While ESL programs are increasingly prevalent in preschool settings across the United States, only a limited number of states have formally integrated ESL into the K-12 curriculum. As highlighted in the AEI/Brookings report, only Illinois, Kansas, and Pennsylvania have comprehensive ESL standards and benchmarks for all grade levels.
The limited formal integration of ESL in K-12 education means that much of the evidence demonstrating its benefits has been anecdotal. However, the positive outcomes observed in preschool ESL programs, where children learn these principles early on, suggest significant potential. As more schools and states consider incorporating ESL into their curricula, we can expect to see more robust statistical evidence of its positive impact on student development and success.
Dr. Maggie Broderick from the Sanford College of Education at National University emphasizes the human element in effective teaching: “When you think about the best teacher you ever had, it’s not about their amazing knowledge of calculus, it’s about who they were as a person. ESL is really the heart and the mind of a person, and just taking that moment to realize where is my mind, where is my heart in all of this, and how can I do more to help the learners so that it supports them in their journey and in all sorts of ways, not just academically but the social, emotional growth for their whole life.”
Taking the Next Steps in ESL
Becoming an educator offers a rewarding path to empower future generations to reach their full potential. If you are considering a career in education, explore the programs offered by National University’s Sanford College of Education. Discover our diverse on-campus and online programs, including the Master of Arts in ESL program and the Education Specialist (EdS) in Leadership in ESL program. Connect with our students and faculty to learn more about shaping the future of education through emotional social learning.
