CASEL

The CASEL framework is the most widely adopted guide for social-emotional learning (SEL) in K-12 schools. It identifies five core competencies that are essential to both academic success and lifelong wellbeing: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. Unlike academic content standards, CASEL competencies are not tied to specific grade levels; instead, they develop continuously from early childhood through adulthood, with the complexity and context changing as students mature. Self-awareness involves recognizing one's emotions, thoughts, and values and understanding how they influence behavior. Self-management is the ability to regulate emotions, thoughts, and behaviors effectively across different situations. Social awareness involves understanding the perspectives of others and empathizing across diverse backgrounds. Relationship skills include the ability to communicate, cooperate, negotiate, and seek help. Responsible decision-making involves making constructive choices about personal behavior and social interactions. JamWise SEL jams are tagged to specific CASEL competencies. A jam about managing frustration, for example, addresses self-management by giving students concrete strategies (deep breathing, counting to ten, talking to a trusted adult) embedded in memorable lyrics. A jam about friendship models relationship skills through scenarios that students can recognize in their own lives. The platform's learning games extend SEL practice into interactive contexts where students apply concepts in low-stakes, playful environments. Teachers use the CASEL filter to find jams for morning meetings, transition times, and dedicated SEL instruction.