Rich Library: SEL Topics
Overview
Books on social and emotional learning (SEL) topics, such as developing empathy and productive persistence, help teach these skills. A classroom library can provide a wealth of stories for modeling and reflecting on SEL skills and behaviors, building students' advanced Vocabulary and ability to express their own emotions and feelings in a more nuanced way.
Example: Use This Strategy in the Classroom
Starting at 3:42, watch how these high school students read and discuss complex SEL topics through the lens of the characters. By having access to and reading relevant books that tackle SEL, they can make authentic connections to their readings and build positive relationships with each other.
Design It into Your Product
Videos are chosen as examples of strategies in action. These choices are not endorsements of the products or evidence of use of research to develop the feature.
Learn how the Character Playbook course teaches students essential SEL skills using stories and characters. Students navigate the scenarios and practice SEL skills to respond effectively, while also developing their Vocabulary, Reading Fluency and Inferencing skills.
Additional Resources
Additional examples, research, and professional development. These resources are possible representations of this strategy, not endorsements.
Factors Supported by this Strategy
More Physical Space Strategies
When classrooms are intentionally designed to promote inclusion, belonging, and accessibility, they positively influence key learner factors, including Attention, Self-Regulation, Learner Mindset, and Sense of Belonging.
Exposure to natural light is beneficial to the students' health and can increase their alertness and Attention.
Having private or semi-private spaces where students can go to support Self-regulation and individual deliberate practice.
Creating student-driven, flexible learning spaces involves setting up the classroom to support the desired learning outcomes for each activity.
Multiple display spaces promote collaboration by allowing groups to share information easily as they work.
Multiple writing surfaces promote collaboration by allowing groups to share information easily as they work.
Decreasing extra audio input provides a focused learning environment.
Providing texts in braille, large font, and with text-to-speech allows learners with visual needs to access content.
Reading materials of varying complexity and levels are necessary for all students to experience success.
Providing access to a variety of multimodal texts that align with the interests of learners allows them to practice digital, information, and Critical Literacy.
With figurative language and creative sentence structure, poetry supports the development of a deeper understanding of the different ways language makes meaning.
Providing ways for students to adjust sound level supports individual auditory needs.
Providing ways for students to meet their individual temperature needs supports Attention and Self-regulation.
Spaces that are structured, organized, and clean provide increased room for collaboration and active learning.
