I think in a JROTC classroom, bringing in social-emotional learning can feel like a bit of a balancing act. It is a structured program with leadership, drill, and discipline to cover, along with set curriculum requirements, so finding the time and the natural fit for SEL isn’t always easy. On top of that, building buy-in while supporting a diverse group of cadets (and sometimes the co-instructor) means being intentional about how you connect SEL to leadership, resilience, and teamwork.

My school district has also chosen to establish the Portrait of a Graduate program for our students, similar to the one in the example. After surveys by district employees, parents, students, and the community were evaluated, we selected four skills that we want our students to master by their high school graduation. Those skills do include academic behaviors, but also include 21st century skills, such as teamwork and communication, along with compassion. We are still in the early phases of implementation; however, the idea is that students are more intentional about recognizing what they learn and how they grow on… >>>

SEL is how people learn and apply their knowledge, skills, and attitudes as part of self-regulation, establishing interpersonal relationships, decision-making, and empathy.