Viewing Classroom Management through a Social and Emotional Lens

“Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is an approach that teaches individuals to recognize, regulate, and express the social and emotional aspects of their lives so they can successfully manage life tasks,”  (Norris 2003).  Some people are naturally attuned to their emotions as well as others, and some people are not.  There is no program for SEL, however it is possible to gain emotional intelligence.  “Leaders in the field of SEL believe that schools need to take a more programmatic approach where SEL behaviors permeate every part of school life—the policies, curricula, instruction, and interactions of all who work and learn there (Elias, Arnold, & Hussey, 2003),” (Norris 2003). SEL is important in the classroom because it helps teachers to be aware of their students’ emotions. It is equally as important for students to have a decent level of emotional intelligence so that they can express themselves correctly. 

The following table shows key skills students and teachers must have in order to foster social and emotional learning:

(Norris 2003)

It is important that teachers create a positive classroom climate in order for their students to be successful. In order for this to occur, teachers must have a well-organized classroom management plan in place. “Well-organized classroom management plans establish the

parameters for the physical, social, emotional, and intellectual environments of the classroom. Classrooms where students feel safe to take risks, acquire new knowledge, and know they are valued members of a community are classrooms where learning is optimized (Evertson, Emmer, & Worsham, 2003; National Research Council, 2000; Wang, Haertel, & Walberg, 1994),” (Norris 2003). 

There are several aspects of SEL to consider: Do teachers with higher levels of SEL competencies remain in the field longer because they have more job satisfaction? What SEL approaches can narrow the achievement gap between ethnicities and genders in the classroom? Can high levels of SEL in students decrease bullying? All of these are reasons to address SEL in the classroom and try to portray high levels of emotional competencies to our students.  After all, they learn most through our modeling. 

Norris, J. A. (2003). Looking at Classroom Management through a Social and Emotional Learning Lens. Theory Into Practice. 42(4), 313-318.