October 2021
Supporting the Whole Child By Sean Moore & Holly Barrett There has been quite a bit of research in the last 20 years about the importance of emotional intelligence and social and emotional learning (SEL) on student success. Emotional intelligence is defined as the ability for individuals to identify their own emotions and the emotions of others, and to be able to utilize that information to inform thinking and behaviors. The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) is one of the leading SEL models and identifies five main competencies focusing on personal and social skills that are important for student success. These competencies include self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making (CASEL, 2021). Research suggests that these “non-cognitive” skills related to SEL may be equally important, if not more, to traditional cognitive skills that students need for life success (Zins et al., 2007) and m