{"id":1980,"date":"2023-03-10T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-03-10T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2025-12-18T22:39:57","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T06:39:57","slug":"uplift-hearts-and-connect-minds-on-international-sel-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/education\/blog\/2023\/03\/uplift-hearts-and-connect-minds-on-international-sel-day\/","title":{"rendered":"Uplift hearts and connect minds on International SEL Day"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On March 10, 2023, classrooms around the world will come together to celebrate International SEL Day<\/a>. This year\u2019s theme is \u201cUplifting Hearts, Connecting Minds.\u201d The annual event connects schools and communities across the world to promote social emotional learning (SEL), and help students gain lifelong well-being skills. help students gain lifelong well-being skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft proudly supports the academic, social, and emotional well-being of students by providing powerful technology and resources to help students develop future-ready skills like self and social awareness, self-management, and responsible decision making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

Social and emotional skills are an essential ingredient for success. Also, they contribute to well-being. We know that intelligence is not enough to ensure that children succeed at school or go on to become happy, healthy, and productive adults.\u201d <\/p>\nMark Sparvell, Director Marketing Education at Microsoft Education and an Emotional Intelligence Society of Australia ambassador<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Importance of SEL<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Understanding our emotions, connections, and relationships are a foundational piece of being human. Just as students may need help learning to balance equations in their chemistry class, many people need help learning how to balance their relationships, emotions, and feelings. These social and emotional skills are valuable for children and can be supported at home and at school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

School stakeholders acknowledge the benefits of developing these skills on students. Over 90 percent of parents<\/a> want their students to gain life skills like setting goals and believing in themselves. For educators, 93 percent want a greater focus on SEL<\/a> in schools and 80 percent believe that positive emotions<\/a> \u2014 a common result of developing SEL skills \u2014 are critical for academic success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The impact of SEL also extends to academics. According to the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), students who took part in a well-rounded SEL program grew 11 percentile points academically<\/a>. And researchers have seen a positive impact on students decades later<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Celebrate, uplift, and connect<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Many educators may wonder how to introduce SEL in their classrooms, schools, or communities. The International SEL Day team has developed helpful toolkits and resources<\/a> to introduce SEL in communities. Also, new this year is an online SEL Summit with keynote speakers, resources for families and classrooms, and data that demonstrates SEL\u2019s benefits for learners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sign up to participate in SEL Day 2023!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Join Marcus Stroman for a Flip Event on self care<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Educators can also introduce learners to Microsoft Flip<\/a>, a video-based discussion platform, to help facilitate classroom connections and conversations. Flip regularly hosts Flip Events<\/a> that connect students with authors, experts, and other learners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On March 30, 2023 at 10am PT, Marcus Stroman, a pitcher for the Chicago Cubs, is hosting a real talk on the importance of taking care of your mind and body. Marcus will share his story and experience in overcoming doubt as well as tips and advice on how learners can believe more in themselves and find their inner balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Register for this free event.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tools to help build SEL skills<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Watch the YouTube video<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft Reflect<\/a> is a Learning Accelerator<\/a> in Microsoft Teams for Education that uses daily check-ins, academic reflections, and emotional vocabulary to help students develop social and emotional skills. Through regular check-ins that take just a few moments, students and teachers can communicate feelings, notice emotional patterns, and offer support to help meet each student\u2019s individual needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reflect offers multiple features to support social and emotional growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n