Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)

Dear Parents,

Thank you to all the parents who attended our Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) workshop, and a heartfelt thank you to Ms. Rodriguez for leading such a thoughtful and engaging session. Her warm and welcoming approach set the tone for a meaningful conversation around how we can support our children’s emotional growth at home.

The workshop began with parents introducing themselves by sharing their names, their children’s ages, and something they’re proud of. This simple activity reminded us all of the shared joys and challenges of parenting—and the strength of community.

Ms. Rodriguez provided an insightful overview of SEL, explaining that it’s not just about managing emotions but about building the life skills children need to thrive—in school and beyond. She introduced the five CASEL competencies, the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning as the foundation of SEL:

1. Self-Awareness – recognizing one's emotions and values

2. Self-Management – managing emotions and behaviors to achieve goals

3. Social Awareness – showing empathy and understanding for others

4. Relationship Skills – building positive relationships and working through conflict

5. Responsible Decision-Making – making ethical and constructive choices

Through relatable examples and practical tips, Ms. Rodriguez helped parents explore ways to foster each of these skills at home—like using visual emotion charts, encouraging mindfulness with deep breathing or “belly breaths,” and modeling emotional regulation ourselves. She also shared kid-friendly tools and language, such as calming a “mad monster,” to help younger children (K–2nd) understand and manage their feelings. Parents appreciated her honesty and humor as she shared stories from her own family life.

A particularly helpful part of the session was focused on recognizing signs of anxiety in young children and understanding how common it is, especially during early childhood. Ms. Rodriguez reminded us that creating a safe space for children to express their feelings and ask for help is one of the best ways to support their mental health.

We left the workshop feeling encouraged, equipped, and more connected to one another as caregivers. Thank you again for participating in this important conversation—and thank you, Ms. Rodriguez, for your guidance and care.

We look forward to seeing you at future workshops in the new school year as we continue building emotionally strong, confident, and compassionate young learners together.

Click here to for the workshop recordings!