The Why
Gone are the days of trapper keepers, clip up/down charts (thank goodness), and children who are not affected by technology. Back in those days, teaching social emotional standards had just peeked into classrooms all over the United States. Now, those standards are house guests who enjoy their stay. Teaching Social Emotional Learning standards in the classroom is vital because it equips students with the skills they need to navigate challenges, build positive relationships, and develop resilience.
Students learn how to manage their emotions, practice empathy, and communicate effectively when they are taught HOW! These skills will better prepare students to succeed academically and socially. SEL fosters a sense of belonging and emotional safety and creates a classroom environment where students feel valued and supported. One way I develop these skills in my classroom is using picture books. Students gravitate to feeling seen.
The What
Students today need these skills more than ever.
Put a finger down if you have a student that –
- Always needs a hug the moment they walk into your classroom.
- Always has a story they HAVE to tell you after recess
- Redoes the same math assignment until they get it perfect.
- Plays video games after school for hours.
- Likes to play around at their lunch table.
If you are like me, you have no fingers still up. We all want to help our students learn how “to human”. But sometimes we are not sure what to do. Kids in 2026 are so different from the days of prank calls, trapper keepers, and slime on Nickelodeon.
THIS is why SEL is so essential in the classroom.
SEL is essential in these “new” times because the world requires it. They need these foundational skills so when our students are 18 they can continue to grow when they have left the nest?
And yet, it can feel impossible to add one more thing to your list of classroom to-dos. Your schedule is already packed!
🍪 My secret to squeezing SEL into my schedule is the chocolate chip cookie theory.
Teaching SEL standards alongside grade level content is like baking a chocolate chip cookie. The cookie symbolizes the academic standards and provides the structure. While the chocolate chips are categorized as the SEL standards which adds depth and richness into your lesson.
There are 5 SEL competencies: self awareness, self management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.
This is how it might look inside your classroom.
During math class you are teaching your students how to convert a mixed number into an improper fraction AND you are going to focus on one or more of the SEL standards.
- Teach Converting a Mixed Number into an Improper Fraction.
- Model what is the expected behavior you are looking for while giving a direct instruction lesson on converting.
- Recognize students for showing expected behavior (I did not say reward, I said recognize) This might look like, “Annie, thank you for taking notes in pencil and staying focused during instruction.”
- When a classmate is sharing how they converted the fraction, teach students how all peers’ eyes should be on the speaker. Discuss the importance of social awareness.
Just as the chocolate chips enhance the cookie, integrating SEL into daily lessons helps students develop essential life skills while mastering academic content.
Are you ready to take the bull by the horns and teach SEL in your classroom? These 60+ picture book recommendations are the next step in helping you put chocolate chips in your teaching. If you want more information about SEL in the classroom, read this blog post.
