Lines Elementary: 217 Eastern Avenue • Barrington, IL 60010




Lines PTO CC/SEL Supports Social Emotional Skill Building


Are you familiar with the term Social Emotional Learning (SEL)?  Has your child talked to you about how s/he is learning to manage conflicts, problem solve, build friendships, and refuse bulling?

The Lines PTO CC/SEL committee is dedicated to helping you understand an important transition the school will make over the next few years.  This transition involves building on what we have learned from the Character Counts program and embracing opportunities to develop social emotional skills.

We strive to be the link between home and school.  Our role is to highlight important CC and SEL information so you can be more aware and informed advocate for your child’s development.

What is Social Emotional Learning (SEL)?

“Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is the educational process that leads to the development of emotional intelligence - that is, the process by which we become better at understanding and managing our emotions AND learning how they impact the choices we make, the relationships we have and our outlook in life. It refers to the acquisition of the understandings and specific skills that are at the heart of a child's academic, personal, social and civic development.

Social and emotional learning is critical not only for success in school, but also in life. SEL enables individuals to:
*  Recognize and manage emotions
*  Understand their personal values
*  Develop caring and concern for others
*  Make responsible decisions
*  Establish and maintain positive relationships and
*  Handle challenging situations effectively.

Research has shown that people with social and emotional competence are most likely to succeed academically, have a sense of well-being in their personal lives and act as contributors to their communities. They know what their strengths and challenges are, and are optimistic about the future, have meaningful relationships and are happy with their work lives. They are able to set and achieve goals and solve problems effectively. They are able to empathize with and show respect for others, appreciate diversity, and, live in accordance with their values, making positive contributions to their communities. SEL promotes this development as part of our children's education.”

Why is SEL Important?

One of the reasons you should become an advocate for your child’s social emotional learning and development comes from this statistic sited by CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning) -

“Students receiving school-based social emotional learning (SEL) scored 11 percentile points higher on academic achievement tests than their peers who did not receive SEL.”

Those same students also attained higher grades while improving:
*  Classroom behavior
*  Feelings about themselves
*  Handling of emotional problems
*  Social and emotional skills

These are the skills that will help your child be successful later in life.

PTO