Character counts! 

• Have you heard this phrase before?

Created in 1992, CHARACTER COUNTS! is a prominent and successful development organization with a social-emotional learning (SEL) program widely used in K-12 public schools across the United States; however, it is just one of many SEL programs.

Edovate Learning Corp. recognizes SEL is an integral part of education, and developers are encouraged to include aspects of SEL in Elephango lessons whenever possible and appropriate. Examine SEL and discover how to incorporate it in lessons to connect with learners personally and profoundly.

“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” — Aristotle

CASEL Framework

The CASEL Framework outlines the five major competencies of SEL education.

1. Self-Awareness
2. Self-Management
3. Social Awareness
4. Responsible Decision-Making
5. Relationship Skills

CASEL is a leading framework in SEL. Many educational sites, including Elephango, use it. Many SEL-related Elephango lessons are aligned with the CASEL Framework and can be located using the site’s standards search tool.

Essential incorporation of SEL occurs within a lesson when any of the above competencies is related to the topic (within reason and when appropriate).

For example, a lesson in literary studies could focus on character decisions and highlight responsible decision-making. Students could reflect on ways they are similar or dissimilar from characters or if they would have made different decisions.

A math lesson could ask students to imagine they are the assistant to a mathematician, such as Pythagoras or Isaac Newton, who is discovering a new mathematical concept.

Personality and Learning Styles

The SEL elements corresponding to different personality and learning styles allow for great connections. (Review these styles in Filter Information.)

Personality Style

Personality styles focus on healthy identities and relationships, ways of dealing with conflict and relationships, and healthy coping strategies for stress, allowing connections with all five CASEL competencies.

1. Self-Awareness

integrating personal and social identities; demonstrating honesty and integrity; linking feelings, values, and thoughts; having a growth mindset; developing interests and a sense of purpose

2. Self-Management

identifying and using stress management strategies; showing courage to take the initiative

3. Social Awareness

taking others’ perspectives; recognizing strengths in others; demonstrating empathy and compassion; showing concern for the feelings of others; understanding and expressing gratitude; recognizing situational demands and opportunities

4. Responsible Decision-Making

demonstrating curiosity and open-mindedness; identifying solutions for personal and social problems; reflecting on one’s role in promoting personal, family, and community well-being

5. Relationship Skills

communicating effectively; developing positive relationships; practicing teamwork and collaborative problem solving; resolving conflicts constructively; showing leadership in groups; seeking or offering support and help when needed

Explore a breakdown of the strengths of Elephango’s four personality styles in the context of SEL.

Golden Retriever

• tireless work ethic
• conflict resolution
• empathy
• getting along with others, making friends with all kinds of people, diplomacy
• teamwork
• humor as a healthy coping strategy
• sticking to a routine

Beaver

• good at analyzing (thinking through thoughts, emotions, and concepts)
• conscientiousness
• appreciating beauty, showing gratitude
• organization as a way to deal with stress (making lists, clearing your head)
• ability to work independently (self-reliance)
• sticking to a routine

Otter

• compassion for others and themselves
• getting along with others, making friends with all kinds of people, diplomacy
• generosity (sharing)
• humor as a coping strategy
• positive thinking
• living in the present (being mindful of the present, coping with anxiety)
• embracing change (flexibility and adaptability)

Lion

• leadership skills
• healthy decision making
• ability to work independently (self-reliance)
• embracing change (flexibility and adaptability)
• resilience
• positive thinking

For example, content for a lion personality could include independent activities allowing for subtle (or not so subtle) healthy decision-making or positive thinking.

Content for an otter personality could highlight compassion for others by asking critical-thinking questions that promote different points of view or by including activities that involve applying knowledge to help someone within their family or community.

Learning Styles

Learning styles focus on study skills and preferred methods of processing information, allowing connections with two of the CASEL competencies.

2. Self-Management

planning and organizational skills; setting personal and collective goals

3. Self-Awareness

experiencing self-efficacy; having a growth mindset

For example, a visual learner could write down one or two goals to achieve by the end of the lesson and keep those goals in sight throughout the lesson.

A kinesthetic math lesson could focus on note-taking strategies that allow students to work through math problems on paper rather than staring at a screen trying to follow along.

SEL Focus

Unless a lesson is focused solely on SEL, connections to competencies should be brief and not remove the overall focus from the lesson.

SEL-focused work orders may be assigned. Examples include what it means to have a growth mindset, how to set personal goals, and why flexibility and adaptability are essential in life.

Leader in Me and SOAR may offer guidance on incorporating SEL into lessons.