Career and Technical Education (CTE) is all about helping students find a meaningful and fulfilling career pathway that aligns with their skills and passions. But before students can discover what they want to do with their lives, they need to discover who they are. That’s where social-emotional learning (SEL) comes into play.
In an episode of our CERTIFIED Educator Podcast, Dr. Damien Sweeney, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the Kentucky Department of Education, shares his insights on integrating SEL into the CTE classroom.
Understanding SEL
Dr. Sweeney describes SEL as helping students learn about who they are, what they feel, and how to process those feelings. He suggests that SEL should be viewed as an opportunity for students to learn about themselves and develop essential life skills.
"It's helping kids to learn about their emotions, learn how to connect to other people, learn how to love, learn how to be a good friend, learn how to be part of a community, and also how to make responsible decisions," he explains.
Building students’ emotional intelligence empowers them with confidence, a sense of identity, and the foundational skills necessary to progress in their educational and career journeys.
SEL and CTE
While social-emotional learning should remain an important focus in all classrooms, it’s particularly relevant in the CTE learning environment. CTE programs help students understand what they’re good at and how they connect with likeminded peers and professionals.
Across Kentucky, Dr. Sweeney sees CTE programs providing students with a sense of value and hope for post-secondary goals and readiness. "I think that CTE is uniquely positioned to be the one thing that really moves education forward in our country," he says. “Students feel a sense of belonging and community within CTE classrooms. It can even feel like little families."
These “little families” are the perfect opportunity for students to practice social skills and to learn about collaboration and connection.
Teaching SEL in the classroom
Like any other learning objective, teaching SEL must be done intentionally. Dr. Sweeney suggests asking questions like, "How can this lesson tie back to self-awareness? How can it tie back to relationship skills or social awareness or self-management?" He also emphasizes the importance of creating equitable measures to ensure all students have access to learning opportunities.
When it comes to resources for integrating SEL, Dr. Sweeney recommends , which offers a wealth of materials, including curricula and research to help educators who are new to teaching SEL.
Looking for more? Dive deeper into resources on trauma-informed practices and mindfulness. Whether you feel like you’re an SEL expert or a newbie, there are resources to help you bring these valuable skills into your classroom.
Don’t neglect your biggest resource: your students and their families. "Listen more than you speak. Ask more questions to your students and their families. Elevate the voices of those people and you're sure to win," he advises. When you really understand where your students are on their SEL journey, you’ll know where to focus.
Integrating SEL into the CTE classroom helps students develop essential life skills and fosters a sense of community and belonging. As Dr. Sweeney's insights show, with the right approach and resources, SEL can be a powerful tool for enhancing the CTE learning experience.
Catch Dr. Sweeney’s full podcast episode .