What are the essential SEBL competencies?

CASEL has identified five core groups of social and emotional competencies:

• Self-awareness- accurately assessing one's feelings, interests, values, and strengths; maintaining a well-grounded sense of self-confidence
• Self-management- regulating one's emotions to handle stress, control impulses, and persevere in overcoming obstacles; setting and monitoring progress toward personal and academic goals; expressing emotions appropriately
• Social awareness- being able to take the perspective of and empathize with others; recognizing and appreciating individual and group similarities and differences; recognizing and using family, school, and community resources
• Relationship skills- establishing and maintaining healthy and rewarding relationships based on cooperation; resisting inappropriate social pressure; preventing, managing, and resolving interpersonal conflict; seeking help when needed
• Responsible decision-making- making decisions based on consideration of ethical standards, safety concerns, appropriate social norms, respect for others, and likely consequences of various actions; applying decision-making skills to academic and social situations; contributing to the well-being of one's school and community

Is SEBL a fad?
No, there's mounting evidence that correlates positive school environment and improved academic performance and achievement.

Isn't SEBL just one more thing to do?
You could see it that way if you are randomly inserting an SEBL activity, but if it is infused routinely into your daily life, far from being a burden, it helps make school life better.

Don't you have to be a social worker, psychologist, or
counselor to teach SEBL?
No, all adults who work with students and parents, model desired behavior, promote cooperation, help children set and achieve goals, and encourage taking risks for new learning. They probably don't call this SEBL, but it is, nonetheless. Social workers, psychologists, and counselors can help as colleagues, co-facilitators, and consultants, but they don't own SEBL.