Social and Emotional Learning Research

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Social and emotional learning skills make good citizens, good learners and successful people. Our center is convening youth workers and policy makers, delivering trainings, and researching social and emotional learning and its contribution to closing the achievement and opportunity gaps.

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Now showing 1 - 20 of 55
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    SEL Toolkit: Using Data for Improvement, 2nd edition
    (University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development, 2019) University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development
    Using data to improve social and emotional learning (SEL) is an important tool in supporting youths' growth. This section includes tools and templates to help staff gather and use data for improvement. It includes creating a data dashboard by using reflective activities to measure change over time, having youth assess and provide feedback to the adults that support them, and a checklist to help select SEL outcome measurement tools.
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    SEL Toolkit: Equipping Staff, 2nd edition
    (University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development, 2019) University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development
    Expertise in social and emotional learning (SEL) begins with a foundation in good youth development practices and grows as you gain a deeper understanding. Staff need to be fluent in the concepts and language of SEL in order to be effective. This section has activities to help your staff build their understanding and fluency of SEL, recognize their cultural values and recognize how their program supports and aligns with high quality youth programs that support SEL skills.
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    SEL Toolkit: Designing Impactful Learning Experiences, 2nd edition
    (University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development, 2019) University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development
    Social and emotional learning (SEL) takes place when youth are engaged in activities that allow them to practice and develop skills from the Ways of Being model. Use this section to include program activities that focus on developing all four of the Ways of Being. These activities allow youth to explore their individual and community identity (Ways I Am), practice sharing gratitude and communicate feelings (Ways of Feeling), learn about empathy and set group norms (Ways of Relating), and develop clear goals and work towards agreement (Ways of Doing).
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    SEL Toolkit: Creating the Learning Environment, 2nd edition
    (University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development, 2019) University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development
    Program environment and culture play an important part in social and emotional learning (SEL). You can influence the culture of your program by paying attention to the ways that routines, behavior expectations, and conflict resolution processes within your program support SEL. This section includes tools and templates to help staff establish expectations, give feedback and reflect.
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    Social and Emotional Learning in Practice: A toolkit of practical strategies and resources, 2nd edition
    (University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development, 2019) University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development
    Social and emotional learning (SEL) includes learning to be aware of and manage emotions, work well with others, and work hard when faced with challenges. Youth programs develop SEL skills by creating opportunities for young people to engage in real-world projects, work in teams, take on meaningful roles, face challenges, and experience the emotional ups and downs that come along the way. This toolkit includes activities, templates and tools organized around four ways to help support staff and youth in SEL. It was developed to go along with the 3-hour training, Social and Emotional Learning in Practice and related issue briefs. It is designed primarily for those working with youth in middle school, but with small changes the activities can be used for other age groups too.
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    Sticky Note Survey
    (University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development, 2017) University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development
    This is a simple activity that serves to combine reflection and measurement by asking participants to rate themselves on a particular skill at the beginning and end of a session.
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    Staff Support Card
    (University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development, 2017) University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development
    A tool for youth to assess and provide feedback to the adults that support them in learning social and emotional skills. It should be used at multiple points in time to track progress. This is intended as a low-stakes way to inform and strengthen staff practices, not a high-stakes evaluation.
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    SEL Assessment Decision-Making Checklist
    (University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development, 2017) University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development
    Use this checklist to evaluate formal social and emotional learning assessment tools. The checklist will help you evaluate practical, logistical, and technical considerations for each tool that you are considering.
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    Emoji Data Dashboard
    (University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development, 2017) University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development
    Use the Emoji Reflection activity (under Creating the Learning Environment) to track changes over time by creating a data dashboard. At the individual level, the Emoji Reflection activity is a tool for personal growth. At the program-level, it is well-suited for youth-directed measurement and continuous improvement. There are no-tech and low-tech options for creating a data dashboard.
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    Using Data for Improvement
    (University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development, 2017) University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development
    Using data to improve social and emotional learning (SEL) is an important tool in supporting youths' growth. This section includes tools and templates to help staff gather and use data for improvement. It includes creating a data dashboard by using reflective activities to measure change over time, having youth assess and provide feedback to the adults that support them, and a checklist to help select SEL outcome measurement tools.
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    SAFE-R Corners
    (University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development, 2017) University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development
    This activity helps staff explore and share the ways that their programs are supporting SEL and brainstorm strategies for improvement.
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    Quality Learning Environment
    (University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development, 2017) University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development
    By investing in quality learning environments, youth programs are well poised for effectively supporting social and emotional skill development. This activity explores how elements of the Youth Program Quality Pyramid align with supporting social and emotional skills.
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    SEL + Program Map
    (University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development, 2017) University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development
    Use this template to consider how your program sequence supports social and emotional skill development. A SEL + Program Map can be used to identify natural opportunities throughout your program to intentionally support social and emotional learning.
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    Ways of Being Scenarios
    (University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development, 2017) University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development
    Use this activity with a group of staff to start a conversation about the Ways of Being (WOB) model and youth. Each scenario describes the story of an individual youth (Wobbie) with discussion questions about best practices for working with that youth. This activity will strengthen staff understanding of the Ways of Being model and SEL skills.
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    Ways of Being Quick Guides
    (University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development, 2017) University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development
    Use the Quick Guides to teach staff about SEL and spark a discussion about social and emotional learning in your program. Quick Guides provides a concise summary of one dimension of the Ways of Being (WOB) model. Each Quick Guide contains a short description of the WOB, social and emotional skills associated with that WOB, discussion questions to guide staff, and practices to support youth.
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    Ways of Being Model
    (University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development, 2017) University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development
    Use this simple teaching tool to guide conversations about social and emotional learning, regardless of the specific framework or set of SEL skills your program is using. This model is designed to facilitate discussions that deepen understanding of what social and emotional skills look like in action.
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    Mapping Cultural Values
    (University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development, 2017) University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development
    Culture and identity are at the heart of the Ways of Being model. The relationship between cultural values and SEL skills is complex. Cultural values will often determine which social and emotional skills are most important for individual youth. Use this activity with staff to identify personal cultural values and preferences that influence social and emotional learning.
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    Equipping Staff
    (University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development, 2017) University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development
    Expertise in social and emotional learning (SEL) begins with a foundation in good youth development practices and grows as you gain a deeper understanding. Staff need to be fluent in the concepts and language of SEL in order to be effective. This section has activities to help your staff build their understanding and fluency of SEL, recognize their cultural values and recognize how their program supports and aligns with high quality youth programs that support SEL skills.
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    SEL in Practice: A toolkit of practical strategies and resources
    (University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development, 2017) University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development
    Social and emotional learning (SEL) includes learning to be aware of and manage emotions, work well with others, and work hard when faced with challenges. Youth programs develop SEL skills by creating opportunities for young people to engage in real-world projects, work in teams, take on meaningful roles, face challenges, and experience the emotional ups and downs that come along the way. This toolkit includes activities, templates and tools organized around four ways to help support staff and youth in SEL. It was developed to go along with the 3-hour training, Social and Emotional Learning in Practice and related issue briefs. It is designed primarily for those working with youth in middle school, but with small changes the activities can be used for other age groups too.
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    SEL Toolkit: Introduction + Acknowledgements
    (University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development, 2017) University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development
    Learn about the toolkit.