How Get Real Supports Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

Get Real is framed with the concept of social and emotional learning, or SEL. These skills are integrated into the content of the lessons through activities and process questions.

According to the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL):

“SEL is a process for helping children and even adults develop the fundamental skills for life effectiveness. SEL teaches the skills we all need to handle ourselves, our relationships, and our work effectively and ethically. These skills include recognizing and managing our emotions, developing caring and concern for others, establishing positive relationships, making responsible decisions, and handling challenging situations constructively and ethically.”

Get Real incorporates five SEL skills as key elements in learning how to negotiate relationships. If young people can negotiate relationships, they can better negotiate sexual relationships:

• Self-awareness is applied when students are asked in each lesson to reflect on their personal attitudes and beliefs about the lesson topic, and to consider how these attitudes and beliefs affect their everyday lives.
• Self-management skills are strengthened as students develop their beliefs and put voice to them, associating beliefs with personal boundaries, guidelines and goals.
• Social awareness is introduced through the many activities that focus on empathy and giving advice, which help students gain the ability to see the different roles they play and understand how their actions affect their relationships and the larger community.
• Relationship skills are a key element of Get Real. Because the program is grounded in the belief that consensual sexual activity occurs in the context of relationships, nearly every lesson includes activities that practice relationship skills, including refusal skills, negotiation and communication.
• Responsible decision making is addressed when students use their knowledge of sexual health topics to make informed decisions in scenario situations. The role-play opportunities and the use of a decision-making model utilized throughout the curriculum help equip students with skills to make healthy decisions about their sexual health in the real world.