- Youth Development
- Theories of Youth Development
- Piaget's Theory of Cognitive Development
- Vygotsky's Sociocultural Learning Theory
- Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Model Theory
- Other Theories of Youth Development
- Connecting Youth Development to Library Services
- The SEL Competencies
- The SEL Settings
- Tying it All Together
The SEL Competencies
The SEL framework is composed of five competencies (self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making) that youth develop across four settings (classrooms, schools, families and caregivers, and communities).
The competencies represent knowledge and skills in five different facets of social and emotional abilities. The table below defines each competency and describes some ways that library services and connected learning could support teens’ SEL. (The definitions are from CASEL’s Interactive Wheel.)
Self-competencies in actiom
Definitions are from CASEL’s Interactive Wheel.
Self-awareness
“The abilities to understand one’s own emotions, thoughts, and values and how they influence behavior across contexts.”
- Activities that encourage self-expression or help teens observe their own growth and learning
- Mentors and other adults that are open about their own feelings
- Support for teens pursuing interests that are or may become a part of their identity
Self-management
“The abilities to manage one’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors effectively in different situations and to achieve goals and aspirations.”
- Helping teens identify goals and steps towards achieving those goals
- Mentors and other adults may express negative emotions, but also demonstrate strategies to help them regulate those feelings
Social Awareness
“The abilities to understand the perspectives of and empathize with others, including those from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and contexts.”
Relationship skills
“The abilities to establish and maintain healthy and supportive relationships and to effectively navigate settings with diverse individuals and groups.”
- Teens work collaboratively in groups
- Library staff help groups identify and assign group roles
- Mentors and other adults demonstrate conflict resolution strategies
Responsible decision-making
“The abilities to make caring and constructive choices about personal behavior and social interactions across diverse situations.”
- Helping teens see connections between today’s behaviors and future consequences
- Allowing teens to (safely) “fail” and learn from mistakes