Research shows that students who participate in social-emotional learning (SEL) programs do better in school — both academically and socially.

Not only do student achievement scores rise with exposure to SEL activities, but SEL fosters empathy and kindness while reducing depression, anxiety and stress. It can be a powerful antidote to many of the challenges young people face today.

SEL is especially beneficial for students with disabilities, who may need additional support in developing self-regulation or emotional awareness.

SEL’s importance has grown in recent years — partly due to the loss of peer interaction during the pandemic and partly because technology has increasingly replaced face-to-face communication.

The UFT has partnered with MindUP, which has free resources on its website, and ThinkEqual to teach SEL skills in schools across the city. There also are other fully online resources for educators that make SEL strategies and curriculum more accessible and engaging. These activities can be integrated into the curriculum, assigned as homework or used as short “brain breaks” throughout the day.

Greater Good provides hundreds of SEL “practices” for K–12 students on topics such as learning how to be comfortable making mistakes, setting goals, developing self-awareness and promoting positive changes in the community. Educators can search these practices by grade level and activity duration.

PBS Kids offers developmentally appropriate online games and videos featuring characters that young students know and love. For example, “Guess the Feeling” with Daniel Tiger prompts students to look at Daniel’s facial expressions to determine his emotions. Similar PBS Kids' games can be found on their website.  

Character Lab features research-based “playbooks” to help cultivate SEL skills such as self-control, honesty, emotional intelligence and gratitude. Each guide includes strategies to encourage self-reflection and practical tips for learning these skills and practicing them in your daily life.  

Mylemarks produces animated, child-narrated videos on SEL topics such as different feelings, test anxiety, empathy, positive self-talk and coping with loneliness. These videos demystify emotions and offer practical, age-appropriate advice.

Calm is an app that focuses on mindfulness practices through guided meditations, calming sounds, ambient music and sleep stories. It also offers resources designed specifically for educators — both for classroom use and for their own self-care. UFT members can access Calm’s premium content for free. 

Collaborative activities, whether in person or online, help foster teamwork and social awareness. Group projects in Google Classroom promote cooperation, while peer-to-peer feedback through a platform like Google Docs allows students to practice kindness and compassion when they comment on their classmates’ work.