Social-emotional learning and equity go hand in hand

Though SEL in isolation is not a solution to the history of inequities in educational settings, it can provide a strong foundation for growing educational equity where each child is given the opportunities and resources that they need to learn and grow. Social-emotional learning, woven throughout the tapestry of equity, helps to support understanding, provides a way to reflect on and address bias and racism, and supports practices that positively impact children and families.

"Equitable learning systems provide access to resources, opportunities, and experiences to children and families that result in positive outcomes that are not associated with children's demographic characteristics. They actively and continuously identify and intentionally eliminate manifestations of systemic racism and other forms of oppression" (Meek et al., 2020, p. 2).

CASEL (2020), The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning, identifies five core areas of competency for social-emotional learning: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.

Self-awareness includes understanding one's feelings or emotions, identity, and strengths, and how that impacts interactions with and behavior toward others.

Social awareness includes perspective-taking, or being able to stand in another's shoes and understand their perspective and feelings.

Relationship skills include the ability to form and continue healthy relationships. These skills also include the ability to listen, to communicate effectively, and to work effectively with others in diverse communities and groups.

Self-management or self-regulation is the ability to recognize and regulate one's feelings, thoughts, and behaviors. It includes the ability to manage stress, regulate impulses, and feel motivated and empowered to reach goals.

Responsible decision-making (problem-solving) includes the ability to make responsible, caring, and constructive choices about one's behavior and how one interacts within diverse settings.

Activate the above five core SEL competencies along with the following ten strategies to support and foster equity with young children.

1. Support all children with warm, welcoming, and responsive interactions.

Caring interactions with children are a foundation for strong SEL practice in the learning setting. Interactions that are warm, sensitive, and responsive to children's needs are part of equitable learning environments.

2. Set the stage for a caring classroom community.

Use specific language that acknowledges children's caring actions with each other and empowers children to do the right thing. Teachers who start from an SEL base of care and compassion focus on children's strengths to support equitable, caring communities.

3. Model positive, caring relationships.

Children are always looking to and watching what adults are doing. Adults can show children how to interact in positive ways and how to respond calmly, honestly, and productively when challenges arise. Positive adult models are an important way to help children learn about how we can show compassion, care, and respect to others. Modeling these kinds of practices supports children's SEL and equitable interactions.

4. View children from a strengths-based perspective.

Recognize children's strengths and leverage those strengths in their learning. Educators who start from an asset-based foundation use children's strengths to provide learning opportunities that are equitable and that enhance growth and development.

5. Answer children's questions about race in a sensitive and honest way.

If a child asks something that you're not sure how to answer, let her know that you don't know but will try to help her figure it out. You may seek support from the child's family, your program director, or peers who may have additional knowledge to share. It's also OK to let children know that we don't always have the answer and that we can problem-solve together to figure things out. Problem-solving, an important SEL skill, helps children think through challenges and seek solutions. Equitable classroom communities support problem-solving discussions and give children voice in the classroom community.

6. Talk with children about the diversity in our world using language and ideas that young children can understand.

It's important for children to know that people have varied beliefs and behave in many ways. Conversations may happen in the moment or may be driven by books you read with children or classroom activities and experiences. Books and other play activities--as well as emergent curriculum and classroom activities that emerge from children's interests--can be avenues for talking about diversity. These kinds of activities help children become aware of other's perspectives, a core SEL skill.

7. Actively listen to children, pay attention to their conversations, and respond throughout the day.

It's important to talk with children about their feelings, thoughts, and ideas to build their sense of self and understanding of others, two important SEL skills. Support conversations that help children build knowledge about race, culture, and identity, and that build compassion and understanding.

8. Gently and accurately correct misconceptions in language that children can understand.

Children may unintentionally say things that are hurtful or unkind. For example, a child comments that a friend's hair is "wrinkled." The teacher calmly and gently corrects the child and says, "Maya's hair is different than yours. There are lots of different kinds of hair. You have straight hair, and Maya has wavy hair." Helping children learn about and understand differences lays a foundation for growing relationships with others different from themselves.

9. Books are a wonderful way to begin conversations with children.

Read with children and have book conversations about what happens in the story and why, how the characters feel, and children's own experiences. Helping children build an understanding of emotions in themselves and others grows their SEL skills. Book reading is a pathway for expression and discussion of feelings. Stories that reflect children's experiences and those different from themselves can be a powerful way to support and validate children's identities and grow their understanding of others.

10. Help children move toward action with compassion and care.

Show interest and compassion in helping children move toward action by supporting their problem-solving efforts. Young children have great potential to think about ideas and plan ways to help others. Listen with care and compassion and encourage children's thinking and action.

References

Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL). (2020). SEL is….

Meek, S., Iruka, I. U., Allen, R., Yazzie, D., Fernandez, V., Catherine, E., McIntosh, K., Gordon, L., Gilliam, W., Hemmeter, M. L., Blevins, D., & Powell, T. (2020). Fourteen priorities to dismantle systemic racism in early care and education. The Children's Equity Project.