Recent research highlights the significant benefits of integrating social and emotional learning (SEL) into K-12 education, showing that students with regular SEL exposure outperform their peers in academic assessments.
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The debate over the role of schools in teaching social and emotional skills, alongside traditional academics, has been ongoing. A comprehensive analysis conducted by Yale University suggests a positive outcome, as reported by NPR’s Cory Turner.
The Impact of Social and Emotional Learning
Social and emotional learning, abbreviated as SEL, has been a focal point of educational research for years. Chris Cipriano, an associate professor at the Yale Child Study Center, contributes to this recent analysis.
CHRIS CIPRIANO: “So what does it feel like to feel anxious and how to support your anxiety when you’re about to take that test?”
Cipriano explains that SEL equips students with critical skills, such as understanding and managing emotions, which are essential for forming relationships and succeeding academically.
Academic Gains Through Emotional Skills
By examining 40 prior studies, the review determined that universal SEL access benefits students academically. Those engaged in SEL consistently showed improvements in both test scores and grades.
CHRIS CIPRIANO: “How we understand and communicate with one another towards the end of making friends and growing relationships.”
Significantly, English language arts (ELA) performance increased by over six percentile points, while math scores rose by about four points. This comprehensive report, published in the Review of Educational Research, reveals that students participating in SEL programs for a full school year saw an overall academic improvement of nearly one full grade.
CHRIS CIPRIANO: “So we’re really speaking about the difference between a C and a B, and a B and an A.”
Connection Between Cognition and Emotion
Cipriano emphasizes that these findings reinforce the understanding that cognition and emotion are tightly linked. By addressing emotional needs, students’ cognitive abilities are enhanced, simplifying their academic journey.
Cory Turner, NPR News.
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