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As an educator cum counsellor adept at student counselling techniques, some of the disturbing things to be heard is a student saying, “This is ridiculous,” or “Why even are we learning this?”. Well, go down the memory lane, when you were in school and remember the things in school that were a menace and reason for frustration. You’d, most probably, find some mutual grounds with your learners in asking for reasons as why something was crucial and how learning a subject or skill would be of advantage to you, as well as in the future.

Addressing this issue, schools are applying social-emotional learning (SEL) in their curriculums of late, which parents and teachers are applauding and are vouching for its value. Studies regarding social-emotional learning show the many whys and wherefores to swear by the continued implementation of SEL in schools, and there are countless reasons, it is having a positive impact on the learners.

So, if you’re wondering about it and want to learn more about the key advantages, listed below are some reasons behind implementing social-emotional learning into classroom settings:

• Learners’ emotional health improves with SEL

Including social-emotional learning (SEL) program/s in the school and the classroom setting imparts that it’s alright to talk about their emotions. Implementation of SEL activities has definitely improved situations as compared earlier times, when mental health was checked at the schoolhouse door.

• SEL encourages Teamwork and Promotes Leadership Skills

SEL activities are mainly group activities, that allow potential leaders to hone their leadership skills. Alternatively, shy or introvert students acquire the requisite confidence to be successful in roles and relationships through communication. Cooperation regarding goals, milestones, and other team-based events provides students with the prospect to be a part of something big. And seeing the big picture will help learners become successful both inside and outside the classroom.

• Academic Success due to Social Emotional Learning

When it comes to success in the classroom, SEL also imparts the know-how as in the ways to understand their feelings, shape their thoughts, and in turn have greater success in the classroom. Social-emotional learning activities oftentimes involve time-management, goal-setting and mindfulness activities that benefit learners in becoming focused and organized in today’s busy world.

Furthermore, students who are emotionally aware, have a tendency to be more focused in the classroom. So, when they express their emotions and are heard, there is an enhanced synchronisation for learning and academic achievements.

• SEL fosters Decision-Making Skills

Through gamified SEL activities, learners acquire to make decisions based on priority, time, and social awareness of their peers. Such decision-making skills are a legacy that continues into the daily lives of students today and tomorrow.

Teaching students the various way/s to make responsible decisions prepares them to deal with tough choices they may face in the future. E.g., SEL can aid learners to prepare for anything, from opting career choices to peer pressure and bullying.

• Socially Positive Behaviour and Attitudes are the Norm

Some studies show that schoolchildren behave better with their peers, teachers, and parents after the implementation of SEL activities, and cheerleaders for SEL are optimistic that it boosts interpersonal skills and tolerance for others.

Counsellors with a diploma in school counselling have observed a decrease in violent behaviour in classrooms, while it’s considered that learners who have a healthy relationship with teachers and counsellors perform well academically as they don’t want to dissatisfy their teachers. The study is new and there will be more in the coming days, practicality tells us tonnes about the way/s SEL can impact students positively.

The good news is that implementing SEL into regular schedules doesn’t have to be a huge responsibility. Just a few moments of fun and mindfulness on a regular basis can call for a huge difference.

As a teacher cum counsellor, if you don’t find the time to arrange SEL lessons, you can always look for some workbooks with an array of topics online; many of which are available in elementary and teen versions.