There is a growing body of research supporting the benefits of social-emotional learning and highlighting the impact of SEL on children’s success in school. The provision of comprehensive SEL programs can decrease problem behaviors, and promote social-emotional competence and self-regulation. Focusing on social-emotional learning in early learning environments establishes foundations in executive function, self-regulation, and social-emotional skills. Emotional literacy is a critical element of social and emotional skills and learning. Emotion vocabulary is the foundation for understanding feelings, relationships, and everyday problem solving.

About Keri Baker

Keri Baker has served in a variety of instructional and coaching roles with a concentration on inclusive practices in early learning settings for the Charleston County School District. Currently serving as a School Climate coach, focusing on Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports and social-emotional learning, Keri assists school teams in designing and implementing multi-tiered system of supports to promote inclusive climates, high-quality, social-emotional instruction, and individualized interventions in educational settings.

About Lisa Entstrasser

Currently serving as the Coordinator of Preschool Programs for the Department of Exceptional Children in Charleston County School District, Lisa Entstrasser assists preschool special education teachers and school teams in the implementation of high-quality preschool programming provided in a variety of educational settings with a focus on data-based problem solving. Lisa brings her experience in inclusive preschool settings to guide teams in using data to drive instructional decisions to plan for and address the individual needs of each student.