Educator First
Exploring SEL in Emergency and Low-Resource Settings
Let's go!
Understanding SEL in Challenging Contexts
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) helps educators create safe, supportive, and emotionally responsive learning environments. In emergency and low-resource settings, SEL can strengthen participation, trust, wellbeing, and classroom connection for both learners and educators. This interactive guide introduces the five core SEL competencies and explores how they can be applied through practical, low-resource strategies.
🟦 Safety 🟩 Belonging 🟨 Participation 🟧 Emotional Support 🟥 Teacher Wellbeing
Explore SEL
Why SEL Matters in Challenging Contexts
Educators in crisis-affected and low-resource settings often support learners experiencing stress, uncertainty, disruption, and emotional overload. Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) helps create safer, more supportive learning environments by strengthening trust, emotional safety, participation, and connection.
SEL supports both learners and educators.
Continue Exploring
Explore the 5 SEL Competencies
Social and Emotional Learning is built around five core competencies that help learners and educators understand emotions, build relationships, manage challenges, and create supportive learning environments. Select a tulip or button to learn more about each SEL competency.
Continue
Bringing SEL Into Everyday Learning
SEL does not require expensive materials, formal counseling programs, or separate class periods. Small, consistent practices can help create safer, more supportive, and emotionally responsive learning environments. Educators can integrate SEL through: • classroom routines • group activities • reflection moments • relationship-building practices • emotionally supportive interactions
🟦 Safety
🟩 Connection
🟨 Participation
🟧 Reflection
Continue
SEL Is More Than Activities
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is not only about games, activities, or behavior management. SEL is the process of creating learning environments where learners feel emotionally safe, respected, supported, and connected. In many settings, SEL is reflected through: • the way educators respond to learners • how relationships are built • how conflict is handled • how learners feel included and heard
Continue
Emotional Safety Supports Learning
Emotional Safety
Learners are more likely to participate and engage when they feel safe, respected, and supported.
Stress and Learning
Stress, uncertainty, and emotional overload can affect concentration, behavior, memory, and participation.
Educator Support Matters
Educators also need emotional support, reflection, and realistic expectations to create stable learning environments.
Info
Continue
Looking Beyond Behavior
Behavior Is Communication Learners experiencing stress, uncertainty, fear, or emotional overload may express these feelings through withdrawal, frustration, silence, aggression, or disengagement.
Supportive Responses Matter Emotionally supportive learning environments help learners feel safer, more connected, and more willing to participate in learning.
Possible Signs of Stress • difficulty concentrating • emotional reactions • withdrawal from activities • frustration or conflict • low participation
Supportive Responses Can Include • calm communication • active listening • predictable routines • encouragement and reassurance • respectful relationship-building
+info
+info
Continue
Continue
Supporting Educators Through SEL
Reflection
Emotional Support
Sustainability
Small, realistic SEL practices are often more sustainable than large or complicated programs, especially in emergency and low-resource settings.
Supportive learning environments are difficult to sustain when educators feel isolated, overwhelmed, or unsupported. Peer support and emotionally safe professional spaces matter.
Educators also need opportunities to pause, reflect, and process challenging experiences. Reflection can help reduce emotional overload and strengthen self-awareness.
Continue
Pause & Reflect
SEL begins with relationships, emotional safety, and supportive learning environments.
Educators do not need to implement everything at once. Small, consistent actions that help learners feel safe, respected, and connected can make a meaningful difference over time.
Continue
Key Ideas to Remember
🟨 Educators Need Support Too Supportive learning environments are more sustainable when educators also feel supported and valued.
🟦 Emotional Safety Learners participate more when they feel safe, respected, and supported.
🟩 Relationships Matter Positive educator-learner relationships help strengthen trust, belonging, and engagement.
🟧 Small Actions Matter SEL does not require large programs. Small, consistent practices can make a meaningful difference.
Continue
Which SEL Competency Best Fits This Situation?
A learner becomes frustrated during a group activity and struggles to calm down.
Continue
Which SEL Competency Best Fits This Situation?
An educator encourages learners to listen respectfully to different perspectives during a discussion.
Continue
Which SEL Competency Best Fits This Situation?
A classroom develops shared agreements for respectful communication and conflict resolution.
Continue
Which SEL Competency Best Fits This Situation?
A learner reflects before reacting during a disagreement with a peer.
Continue
Which SEL Competency Best Fits This Situation?
An educator asks learners to identify and describe how they are feeling before starting class.
Continue
Small Practices Can Make a Difference
🟨 Predictable Routines Consistent routines can help learners feel more secure and prepared for learning.
🟧 Calm Communication The tone educators use when responding to learners can influence emotional safety and participation.
🟩 Pair Discussions Small group or partner conversations can help learners feel safer participating and sharing ideas.
🟦 Emotional Check-Ins Simple opportunities for learners to express how they are feeling before or during learning activities.
Continue
Starting Small
SEL is not about implementing perfect programs or changing everything immediately. Small, consistent actions that help learners feel safe, respected, and connected can make a meaningful difference over time. Educators can begin with practices that feel realistic and appropriate for their own learning environments.
Reflection Question 1 What already supports learners in your environment?
Reflection Question 2 What challenges affect participation and emotional safety?
Reflection Question 3 What is one small SEL practice you could begin with?
• greetings • pair discussions • emotional check-ins • calm communication • reflection questions
• relationships • routines • encouragement • peer support • communication
• stress • overcrowding • inconsistent attendance • emotional fatigue • limited resources
Continue
Small Actions Matter
Classroom Challenge
Supportive SEL Response
A learner becomes withdrawn and stops participating during activities. The educator notices the learner avoiding group work and remaining quiet during discussions.
The educator responds calmly, checks in privately, and offers different ways for the learner to participate without pressure. Small supportive actions can help learners feel safer, more connected, and more willing to engage over time.
+info
+info
Continue
Moving Forward With SEL
Building supportive learning environments takes time, reflection, and consistency. Educators do not need to implement everything at once. Small actions that strengthen safety, trust, participation, and emotional support can make a meaningful difference over time. SEL is a continuous process of learning, adapting, and supporting both learners and educators.
🟧 Begin Small Choose one realistic SEL practice that fits your learning environment.
🟩 Reflect Think about what helps learners feel safe, supported, and included.
🟦 Observe Notice how learners respond to different classroom interactions and routines.
Continue
Continue Exploring SEL
SEL is an ongoing process of learning, reflection, and relationship-building. Educators can continue exploring small practices and approaches that help create safe, supportive, and emotionally responsive learning environments.
Continue
Thank you!
https://www.apex-learninglab.org/
Start
What already exists in your learning environment?
Think about the ways learners are already supported through communication, relationships, routines, or emotional encouragement.
Research consistently shows that supportive learning environments improve participation, engagement, and student wellbeing. 🟦 Participation Learners are more likely to ask questions, contribute ideas, and participate when they feel emotionally safe and respected. 🟩 Engagement Supportive learning environments help learners stay connected, motivated, and involved in classroom activities. 🟧 Wellbeing Positive relationships and emotionally supportive classrooms can help reduce stress and strengthen a sense of belonging.
Additional Resources/Support
🟦 SEL Playbooks and Activities Practical activities and strategies designed for diverse and low-resource learning environments. 🟩 Educator Support and Training Interactive learning experiences, workshops, and educator-centered SEL support. 🟧 Classroom Reflection and Growth Tools and reflection opportunities that help educators strengthen supportive learning environments over time.
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Transcript
Educator First
Exploring SEL in Emergency and Low-Resource Settings
Let's go!
Understanding SEL in Challenging Contexts
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) helps educators create safe, supportive, and emotionally responsive learning environments. In emergency and low-resource settings, SEL can strengthen participation, trust, wellbeing, and classroom connection for both learners and educators. This interactive guide introduces the five core SEL competencies and explores how they can be applied through practical, low-resource strategies.
🟦 Safety 🟩 Belonging 🟨 Participation 🟧 Emotional Support 🟥 Teacher Wellbeing
Explore SEL
Why SEL Matters in Challenging Contexts
Educators in crisis-affected and low-resource settings often support learners experiencing stress, uncertainty, disruption, and emotional overload. Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) helps create safer, more supportive learning environments by strengthening trust, emotional safety, participation, and connection.
SEL supports both learners and educators.
Continue Exploring
Explore the 5 SEL Competencies
Social and Emotional Learning is built around five core competencies that help learners and educators understand emotions, build relationships, manage challenges, and create supportive learning environments. Select a tulip or button to learn more about each SEL competency.
Continue
Bringing SEL Into Everyday Learning
SEL does not require expensive materials, formal counseling programs, or separate class periods. Small, consistent practices can help create safer, more supportive, and emotionally responsive learning environments. Educators can integrate SEL through: • classroom routines • group activities • reflection moments • relationship-building practices • emotionally supportive interactions
🟦 Safety
🟩 Connection
🟨 Participation
🟧 Reflection
Continue
SEL Is More Than Activities
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is not only about games, activities, or behavior management. SEL is the process of creating learning environments where learners feel emotionally safe, respected, supported, and connected. In many settings, SEL is reflected through: • the way educators respond to learners • how relationships are built • how conflict is handled • how learners feel included and heard
Continue
Emotional Safety Supports Learning
Emotional Safety
Learners are more likely to participate and engage when they feel safe, respected, and supported.
Stress and Learning
Stress, uncertainty, and emotional overload can affect concentration, behavior, memory, and participation.
Educator Support Matters
Educators also need emotional support, reflection, and realistic expectations to create stable learning environments.
Info
Continue
Looking Beyond Behavior
Behavior Is Communication Learners experiencing stress, uncertainty, fear, or emotional overload may express these feelings through withdrawal, frustration, silence, aggression, or disengagement.
Supportive Responses Matter Emotionally supportive learning environments help learners feel safer, more connected, and more willing to participate in learning.
Possible Signs of Stress • difficulty concentrating • emotional reactions • withdrawal from activities • frustration or conflict • low participation
Supportive Responses Can Include • calm communication • active listening • predictable routines • encouragement and reassurance • respectful relationship-building
+info
+info
Continue
Continue
Supporting Educators Through SEL
Reflection
Emotional Support
Sustainability
Small, realistic SEL practices are often more sustainable than large or complicated programs, especially in emergency and low-resource settings.
Supportive learning environments are difficult to sustain when educators feel isolated, overwhelmed, or unsupported. Peer support and emotionally safe professional spaces matter.
Educators also need opportunities to pause, reflect, and process challenging experiences. Reflection can help reduce emotional overload and strengthen self-awareness.
Continue
Pause & Reflect
SEL begins with relationships, emotional safety, and supportive learning environments.
Educators do not need to implement everything at once. Small, consistent actions that help learners feel safe, respected, and connected can make a meaningful difference over time.
Continue
Key Ideas to Remember
🟨 Educators Need Support Too Supportive learning environments are more sustainable when educators also feel supported and valued.
🟦 Emotional Safety Learners participate more when they feel safe, respected, and supported.
🟩 Relationships Matter Positive educator-learner relationships help strengthen trust, belonging, and engagement.
🟧 Small Actions Matter SEL does not require large programs. Small, consistent practices can make a meaningful difference.
Continue
Which SEL Competency Best Fits This Situation?
A learner becomes frustrated during a group activity and struggles to calm down.
Continue
Which SEL Competency Best Fits This Situation?
An educator encourages learners to listen respectfully to different perspectives during a discussion.
Continue
Which SEL Competency Best Fits This Situation?
A classroom develops shared agreements for respectful communication and conflict resolution.
Continue
Which SEL Competency Best Fits This Situation?
A learner reflects before reacting during a disagreement with a peer.
Continue
Which SEL Competency Best Fits This Situation?
An educator asks learners to identify and describe how they are feeling before starting class.
Continue
Small Practices Can Make a Difference
🟨 Predictable Routines Consistent routines can help learners feel more secure and prepared for learning.
🟧 Calm Communication The tone educators use when responding to learners can influence emotional safety and participation.
🟩 Pair Discussions Small group or partner conversations can help learners feel safer participating and sharing ideas.
🟦 Emotional Check-Ins Simple opportunities for learners to express how they are feeling before or during learning activities.
Continue
Starting Small
SEL is not about implementing perfect programs or changing everything immediately. Small, consistent actions that help learners feel safe, respected, and connected can make a meaningful difference over time. Educators can begin with practices that feel realistic and appropriate for their own learning environments.
Reflection Question 1 What already supports learners in your environment?
Reflection Question 2 What challenges affect participation and emotional safety?
Reflection Question 3 What is one small SEL practice you could begin with?
• greetings • pair discussions • emotional check-ins • calm communication • reflection questions
• relationships • routines • encouragement • peer support • communication
• stress • overcrowding • inconsistent attendance • emotional fatigue • limited resources
Continue
Small Actions Matter
Classroom Challenge
Supportive SEL Response
A learner becomes withdrawn and stops participating during activities. The educator notices the learner avoiding group work and remaining quiet during discussions.
The educator responds calmly, checks in privately, and offers different ways for the learner to participate without pressure. Small supportive actions can help learners feel safer, more connected, and more willing to engage over time.
+info
+info
Continue
Moving Forward With SEL
Building supportive learning environments takes time, reflection, and consistency. Educators do not need to implement everything at once. Small actions that strengthen safety, trust, participation, and emotional support can make a meaningful difference over time. SEL is a continuous process of learning, adapting, and supporting both learners and educators.
🟧 Begin Small Choose one realistic SEL practice that fits your learning environment.
🟩 Reflect Think about what helps learners feel safe, supported, and included.
🟦 Observe Notice how learners respond to different classroom interactions and routines.
Continue
Continue Exploring SEL
SEL is an ongoing process of learning, reflection, and relationship-building. Educators can continue exploring small practices and approaches that help create safe, supportive, and emotionally responsive learning environments.
Continue
Thank you!
https://www.apex-learninglab.org/
Start
What already exists in your learning environment?
Think about the ways learners are already supported through communication, relationships, routines, or emotional encouragement.
Research consistently shows that supportive learning environments improve participation, engagement, and student wellbeing. 🟦 Participation Learners are more likely to ask questions, contribute ideas, and participate when they feel emotionally safe and respected. 🟩 Engagement Supportive learning environments help learners stay connected, motivated, and involved in classroom activities. 🟧 Wellbeing Positive relationships and emotionally supportive classrooms can help reduce stress and strengthen a sense of belonging.
Additional Resources/Support
🟦 SEL Playbooks and Activities Practical activities and strategies designed for diverse and low-resource learning environments. 🟩 Educator Support and Training Interactive learning experiences, workshops, and educator-centered SEL support. 🟧 Classroom Reflection and Growth Tools and reflection opportunities that help educators strengthen supportive learning environments over time.