Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Maximizing the potential of all students and staff to become responsible, caring and reflective members of our diverse society.
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) refers to foundational skills that all students and adults need to be successful. By building on the foundation provided at home, our schools provide students opportunities to develop healthy identities, relate to others, and set and achieve goals.
Virginia’s Vision for SEL
FCPS support for SEL is aligned with Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) guidance. The VDOE defines social emotional learning as:
“The process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions.”
Social emotional learning is a partnership among families, schools, and the community. Intentionally embedding SEL in school culture supports the work that begins and continues at home.
Supporting SEL at Home and at School
According to CASEL (2020), SEL is made up of 5 broad and interrelated areas of knowledge and skill, listed below. These skills are important for collaboration and perspective taking. They also help students manage their feelings, address challenges, and reach their goals. Families, schools, and communities support these skills by working together to create the learning, experiences, and environments students need to be successful.
In FCPS we are proud to partner with families to help support SEL knowledge and skill development for all students.

The following five SEL competencies include suggestions for how families and school staff can support the development of skills at home and at school:
1 - Self-Awareness
The ability to accurately recognize one’s emotions and thoughts, and their influence on behaviors. This includes learning about different emotions, as well as exploring personal strengths and challenges.
Ways to Promote Self-Awareness at Home
- Focus on your child’s strengths - talk with them about things they’ve done well and offer specific praise for strengths you have noticed.
- Ask your child how they feel and share how you feel in different situations and settings using age-appropriate vocabulary.
- Discuss ways that you or your child might be feeling and how that can impact behavior and actions in different settings.
Ways to Promote Self-Awareness at School
- Teachers lead discussions about how characters feel and how those feelings can impact the outcome of the book and other character's feelings.
- Staff listen to what students say and reflect what they heard about their feelings.
- Staff encourage students to reflect on how their thoughts and emotions affect decision-making and behavior.
Adapted from Sample Teaching Activities to Support Core Competencies of Social and Emotional Learning, CASEL
Related Resources
- PBS Video on Self Awareness (YouTube)
Information on self-awareness and how families and educators can support students in developing this skill. - Get to Know SEL: A Simple Guide to Self Awareness
Information about Self Awareness, how it can impact student learning, and activities families and educators can use to strengthen these skills at home or at school.
2 - Self-Management
The ability to regulate one’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors effectively in different situations. This includes using healthy coping skills to manage stress, motivate oneself, and work toward goals.
Ways to Promote Self-Management at Home
- Discuss your own stress-relieving strategies with your child and use them when they are around so they can see that we all need to use strategies at times (e.g. “I’m feeling a little frustrated, so I’m going to stop and take a breath before I decide what to do next.”
- Ask your child what they are thinking/feeling when they are engaged in an activity.
- Talk with your child about what is important to them and why. (e.g. “I noticed you’ve been interested in _____. Tell me more about that.”)
Ways to Promote Self-Management at School
- Staff give students age-appropriate, authentic praise for self-management (e.g. “I saw the way you waited your turn just now.”)
- Staff help students to establish and work towards positive and realistic goals.
- Teachers read books and discuss how people persevere through hard times to reach a goal.
Adapted from Sample Teaching Activities to Support Core Competencies of Social and Emotional Learning, CASEL
Related Resources
- PBS Video on Self Management (YouTube)
Provides information on Self Management and how families and educators can support students in developing this skill.
3 - Social Awareness
The ability to take the perspective of and empathize with others from diverse backgrounds and cultures, to understand social and ethical norms for behavior, and to recognize family, school, and community resources and supports.
Ways to Promote Social Awareness at Home
- Practice empathy. Spend some time watching a show or movie. At any given time, pause and discuss what social cues you noticed. You might ask: “How are they feeling?” and “How would you feel if that happened to you?” Use this conversation to build on considering how others feel.
- Talk with your child or have them write in a journal ways they are/could be helpful in your family or with their peers.
- Talk with your child about who they can reach out to when they need help or advice.
Ways to Promote Social Awareness at School
- Staff use cooperative and project-based learning to build diverse student work groups.
- Teachers develop and revise classroom rules and norms with students to promote understanding and respect.
- Staff model and promote a school norm of treating others the way you would want to be treated.
Adapted from Sample Teaching Activities to Support Core Competencies of Social and Emotional Learning, CASEL
Related Resources
- PBS Video on Social Awareness
Provides information on Social Awareness and how families and educators can support students in developing this skill.
4 - Relationship Skills
The ability to establish and maintain healthy and rewarding relationships with diverse individuals and groups. This includes skills such as communicating effectively, listening actively, and perspective taking.
Ways to Promote Developing Relationship Skills at Home
- Celebrate individual and family strengths with an accomplishments box. Write down your accomplishments, no matter the size. Fill up a jar with each of your successes like learning to ride a bike, trying a new recipe, or talking to a new neighbor.
- Model and reinforce effective communication and relationship building at home and in the community.
- Talk with your child about communication skills such as listening, looking at the person talking, and tone of voice.
Ways to Promote Developing Relationship Skills at School
- Staff practice active listening by empathizing, showing understanding, reflecting back, and asking open ended questions.
- Staff intentionally use collaborative work groups to reinforce the importance of working together to solve problems and achieve goals.
- Staff give students support as needed when they are working out a conflict
Adapted from Sample Teaching Activities to Support Core Competencies of Social and Emotional Learning, CASEL
Related Resources
- PBS Video on Relationship Skills
Provides information on Relationship Skills and how families and educators can support students in developing these.
5 - Responsible Decision-Making
The ability to make constructive and respectful choices about personal behavior and social interactions.
Ways to Promote Responsible Decision-Making at Home
- Establish age-appropriate jobs and chores around the house.
- Brainstorm multiple solutions to a problem you or your child is facing. Talk about the pros and cons of each.
- Try strategy games or activities with your children that provide a chance to share or take-turns (e.g. Uno, Yahtzee, checkers). Games and activities provide opportunities for decision-making, as well as a good excuse for family time!
Ways to Promote Responsible Decision-Making at School
- Staff clearly identify the steps for solving a problem and walk them in response to hypothetical situations with students.
- Staff discuss higher order values – impact on the environment, being a good citizen, ways to help the community or school.
- Staff model appropriate behaviors based on norms and rules.
Adapted from Sample Teaching Activities to Support Core Competencies of Social and Emotional Learning, CASEL
Related Resources
- PBS Video on Responsible Decision Making
Provides information on Responsible Decision Making and how families and educators can support students in developing this skill.
In addition to using the strategies outlined above to support students in developing SEL competencies:

©2022 CASEL. All Rights Reserved.
- All schools have dedicated Morning Meeting or Advisory Time to support relationship building and problem solving.
- All staff include CASEL’s 3 Signature Practices in their classrooms:
- Welcoming inclusions which create a predictable routine for students and allow an opportunity to build community
- Engaging strategies such as brain breaks to provide opportunities for students to interact and reflect
- Optimistic closures to highlight the importance of student work, reflect on the learning, identify next steps, or make connections.
SEL Instructional Materials
Key practices and resources to support SEL skill development.PTA Podcast: “What is Social and Emotional Learning Anyway?”
Video: Social Emotional Learning at Home
SEL Supports and Strengthens Portrait of a Graduate (POG)
In FCPS, we provide high-quality instruction in academics, and support students as they develop social and emotional skills over the course of their educational career. SEL skills provide the foundation students need to become successful and are deeply intertwined with Portrait of a Graduate attributes.
This approach supports leads all students to greater success wherever their paths take them. Teaching and learning is made stronger by incorporating SEL skills into a student’s academic study, where they have many opportunities to learn skills and see their application to real life circumstances
Benefits of SEL
Developing SEL competencies as part of students’ regular educational experience leads to:
- Improved academic performance and behavior
- Improved attitude and lower stress levels
- Increased graduation rates
- Increased preparedness for success at college or in careers
- Healthier relationships
- Stronger mental health
- Increased civic engagement
Parent Resource Center
Student Safety and Wellness
Resources
The following resources provide more information on SEL and how parents and schools can partner to support students.
- Social and Emotional Learning in VA: A Shared Commitment, The Role of Families
Listen to a panel discussion on the essential role families play in SEL implementation efforts. - CASEL’s 5 FAQs about SEL
CASEL outlines what SEL is and why it’s important by answering 5 FAQs. - CASEL’s SEL for Parents Video
The video provides information about SEL in schools and insights on SEL in parenting practices in order to support children's social and emotional learning. - VDOE Social Emotional Wellness: Considerations for Parents and Caregivers
quick guide to promoting resiliency in children and wellness strategies for adults and children. - Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning Family Resources
Resources for parents of young children on supporting SEL with our earliest learners.