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https://www.wjusd.org/Departments/Educational-Services/Student-Support-Services/Social-and-Emotional-Learning-SEL/

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

WHAT IS sOCIAL AND eMOTIONAL (sel)?

WHAT IS sOCIAL AND eMOTIONAL (sel)?

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is the process through which children and young people develop the skills they need to understand and manage their emotions, set and achieve positive goals, show empathy for others, build strong relationships, and make responsible decisions. These skills are important not only for success in school but also for success in life.

Research shows that when students strengthen their social and emotional skills, they are better able to handle stress, solve problems, and work well with others. SEL helps create a safe, supportive learning environment where children can thrive academically and personally.

 
 
Casel wheel with rings labeled by Casels core values
Five Competencies of Social and Emotional Learning

Five Competencies of Social and Emotional Learning

Self-Awareness

Self-Awareness: The abilities to understand one's own emotions, thoughts, and values and how they influence behavior across contexts.

Examples include:

  • Identifying one's emotions

  • Demonstrating honesty and integrity

  • Examining prejudices and biases

  • Having a growth mindset

  • Developing interests and a sense of purpose

Self-Management

Self-Management: The abilities to manage one's emotions, thoughts, and behaviors effectively in different situations and to achieve goals and aspirations.

Examples include:
  • Managing one's emotions
  • Identifying and using stress-management strategies
  • Exhibiting self-discipline and self-motivation
  • Using planning and organizational skills
  • Showing the courage to take initiative

Social Awareness

Social Awareness: The abilities to understand the perspectives of and empathize with others, including those from diverse backgrounds, cultures, & contexts.


Examples include:
  • Taking others' perspectives
  • Demonstrating empathy and compassion
  • Showing concern for the feelings of others
  • Understanding and expressing gratitude
  • Identifying diverse social norms, including unjust ones

Relationship Skills

Relationship Skills: The abilities to establish and maintain healthy and supportive relationships and to effectively navigate settings with diverse individuals and groups.Examples include:

  • Communicating effectively
  • Developing positive relationships
  • Practicing teamwork and collaborative problem-solving
  • Resolving conflicts constructively
  • Seeking or offering support and help when needed
  • Standing up for the rights of others

Responsible Decision-Making

Responsible Decision-Making: The abilities to make caring and constructive choices about personal behavior and social interactions across diverse situations.Examples include:

  • Demonstrating curiosity and open-mindedness
  • Identifying solutions for personal and social problems
  • Anticipating and evaluating the consequences of one's actions
  • Recognizing how critical thinking skills are useful both inside & outside of school
  • Reflecting on one's role to promote personal, family, and community well-being
school Counseling Referral Form

school Counseling Referral Form

Our school counselors are here to support students’ academic, social-emotional, and college/career development. If you have concerns about a student or believe they may benefit from additional support, please use the referral form below.

universal behavior screener

universal behavior screener

As part of our commitment to supporting the whole child, Woodland Joint Unified School District uses a Universal Behavior Screener with all students. This brief, research-based tool helps teachers identify students’ social, emotional, and behavioral strengths, as well as areas where additional support may be needed. The screener is completed twice each year and provides valuable information to guide schoolwide supports and ensure that every student has the opportunity to thrive.

Parent/Guardian Notification

Dear Parents/Guardians:
 
At Woodland Joint Unified School district, we are committed to supporting the well-being and social-emotional development of all students. To help us better understand students’ needs and identify potential concerns, we administer a universal Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) screener twice each year. 
 
At the primary elementary level, the screener is completed by teachers using a standardized rating scale. In grades 4 through 6, students may complete the screener themselves. At the middle and high school levels, the screener is completed exclusively by students. Each assessment typically takes between 5 to 8 minutes to complete. The focus of the screener is a student’s SEL (including self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making) and emotional behavioral concern (internalizing and externalizing). 
 
The purpose of this screener is to assess students' social-emotional wellness, identify areas of strength, and recognize potential emotional or behavioral concerns. This information will support teachers and school leaders in planning and implementing effective social-emotional learning (SEL) instruction and programmatic support. The results will be used to inform universal SEL instruction and to help identify students who may benefit from additional support. Screener data will be accessible only to teachers, administrators, counselors, and other school staff with a legitimate educational interest.
 
All students in grades K–12 attending schools in WJUSD are eligible to participate in the universal social-emotional screener. Parents and guardians who do not wish for their child to participate may opt out by submitting the opt-out form to the child's school site no later than Friday, October 10th. There are copies of the forms available at the school site. Please note that a separate form must be completed for each child you wish to exclude from participation.

Sample Forms

Below are sample forms of the universal behavior screener:

Opt-Out Forms

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