Social emotional learning is truly more than just a buzzword. SEL concepts are foundational for students to become the most independent, empathetic, and helpful people possible. There is a lot of SEL vocabulary that gets tossed around in classrooms, and it can easily fly over students heads. Check out this SEL Word Wall and how it can be helpful for teaching these important words so they are foundational vocabulary words for our students.
Social Emotional Learning word wall
Using an SEL word wall is such a unique yet functional way to teach SEL vocabulary. I love taking one or two words per week to teach students. Depending on the age and developmental levels of your students, you can use the word wall cards with or without clip art images.
Having students learn more complex and abstract words like negotiate, impulsive, and self-control may seem like a lot for some students. By broadening students SEL vocabulary, it can really enhance their feedback to others, their self reflections about themselves, and the feedback we can offer to them.
Extending the lessons
Looking for more? These paired worksheets are perfectly aligned to the SEL word wall! Each sheet focuses on one SEL vocabulary word and goes in depth with questions, reflections, and connections.
When would you use these? I used these worksheets weekly in my classroom for students with emotional behavior disorders. We went over an SEL vocabulary word and then together, completed our sheets. I would model and write down student responses using our classroom document camera. Since my classroom was students in grades 2-4, completing these together as a group worked best for us. I also can see these being great partner activities, or independent tasks for students to do in the morning or at a center.
Read aloud connections
Once students have learned a few SEL vocabulary words from the word wall, it is great to use books and written scenarios to tie it all together. You can highlight how specific characters may have experienced a conflict, how a character feels annoyed, or that someone showed aggressive behavior. The more we make these words relevant to students, the more likely they can use them in many contexts.