Social & Emotional Learning (SEL)

Social Emotional Learning (SEL) at Wakefield is aligned with the Virginia SEL Guidance Standards and the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) Framework. SEL the Wakefield Way …

Seeks to empower students with the skills, knowledge, and understanding to make positive choices about their social-emotional engagement;
Models, teaches, and reinforces prosocial skills that align to college, career, and life readiness frameworks; and
Provides students with opportunities to learn how to engage with people who may be different from themselves in constructive and collaborative ways.
SEL modeling, instruction, and reinforcement is the responsibility of everyone in the Arlington Public Schools community.

The 6 Rs at Wakefield help to support the above goals for Social & Emotional Learning:

What is SEL?

At Wakefield, we utilize the CASEL Framework to support our Social & Emotional Learning:

CASEL Framework

Core SEL Competencies There are five core social emotional learning competencies that address broad and interrelated areas of competence. These SEL competencies can be taught and applied at various developmental stages from childhood to adulthood and across diverse cultural contexts.Self-awareness: The abilities to understand one’s own emotions, thoughts, and values and how they influence behavior across contexts.Self-management: The abilities to manage one’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors effectively in different situations and to achieve goals and aspirations.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.Decision-making: The abilities to make caring and constructive choices about personal behavior and social interactions across diverse situations.

A Systemic Approach to SEL Implementation

As exemplified by the SEL Competencies Infographic (© CASEL, All Rights Reserved), SEL implementation requires a systemic approach that emphasizes the importance of establishing equitable learning environments and coordinating practices across key settings of classroom, schools, families, and communities to enhance all students’ social, emotional, and academic learning. Effective implementation integrates SEL throughout the school’s academic curricula and culture, across the broader contexts of schoolwide practices and policies, and through ongoing collaboration with families and community organizations. These coordinated efforts should foster youth voice, agency, and engagement; establish supportive classroom and school climates and approaches to discipline; enhance adult SEL competence; and establish authentic family and community partnerships.

What is SEL? – Casel Schoolguide – Casel Schoolguide. (2025). CASEL Guide to Schoolwide SEL. Retrieved July 14, 2025, from https://schoolguide.casel.org/what-is-sel/what-is-sel/

Social & Emotional Learning in the Classroom

Below is an overview of how SEL works in the classroom at Wakefield: