What does social-emotional learning (SEL) focus on developing?

Social-emotional learning (SEL) emphasizes the development of resilience, emotional regulation, and interpersonal skills. This approach recognizes the importance of understanding and managing one’s emotions, establishing positive relationships, and making responsible decisions.

By fostering resilience, students learn how to cope with challenges and setbacks, which helps them persist in the face of adversity. Emotional regulation involves understanding and controlling one’s feelings, a skill crucial for personal well-being and effective interaction with others. Moreover, developing interpersonal skills enables students to communicate effectively, collaborate, and build healthy relationships, which are essential components of success both in and out of the academic environment.

The other options do not capture the essence of SEL. A focus solely on academic skills overlooks the essential emotional and social competencies that influence learning. Physical fitness and discipline may contribute to well-being but do not encompass the broader emotional and social skills promoted through SEL. Lastly, an emphasis on standardized test preparation fails to address the holistic development of students, which is a core objective of SEL. Thus, option B accurately captures the goals and focus areas of social-emotional learning.