Using Writing to Teach Social-Emotional Skills to Teens

Journal writing with a focus on social-emotional learning skills is the perfect strategy to teach critical SEL in the classroom; it’s a simple strategy that combines writing practice with learning skills for success.

All kids and teens could use a boost with social-emotional skills. These are the abilities that help students manage emotions and stress, develop meaningful relationships, take initiative towards meeting goals, and work through challenges that they encounter along the way.

Given that time in the secondary classroom is often quite limited, integrating SEL and journaling just makes sense. Teens can learn important personal, social, and emotional skills while also improving their writing abilities. It’s a win-win.

SEL and Writing: What the Research Says

Substantial research shows that social-emotional skills are critical for success. A recent SEL meta-analysis reviewed over 400 studies and included over 500,000 students. The review found that students with SEL interventions in schools experienced significant improvements in behaviors, attitudes, peer relationships, academic achievement, and skills.

Some key findings about SEL and writing specifically include:

Journal writing is an evidence-based learning approach. The writing process itself helps students learn new skills. By writing ideas out, students are able to make meaningful connections between concepts and apply new knowledge in different content areas (Graham, et al. 2020). With this in mind, journal writing becomes a tool to build not only academics, but also social-emotional skills like empathy, communication, empathy, and conflict resolution.
Integrating SEL with writing greatly enhances both areas. When social-emotional skills are paired up with traditional academics like reading and writing, it provides the opportunity to strength social skills and academics at the same time (Elias et al., 1997). This also becomes a more authentic learning opportunity for students.
Reflective journaling can build metacognition and self-management skills. Marzano (2017) explains that reflective journals are a research-based approach to help students understand what they’ve learned. Additionally, recent research has shown that the process of writing encourages students to slow down, analyze their own thinking, and build self-management skills (Alt & Raichel, 2020).

research shows that integrating SEL and writing can greatly enhance both areas.

Altogether, these points make a clear case for using writing to teach social-emotional skills.

Any middle or high school teacher can use SEL journaling to teach social-emotional skills and writing at the same time. This is true whether you teach English, science, special education, or anything in between. Consider these points to get started using writing to teach SEL skills to teens and young adults:

Plan a daily SEL writing time

First, figure out a SEL writing time that makes sense for you and your learners. One of the best strategies is to begin your day or class with SEL writing time. Post the writing prompt as a bell-ringer and have students start writing as soon as they walk into the classroom.

Different SEL writing times are going to work for different educators. If the beginning of class doesn’t work for you, consider other options like advisory period, study hall, resource room, or a targeted social skills group.

Consistency is key! Once you’ve chosen a SEL writing time, stick with it. Plan to dedicate 10-15 minutes each session to focused writing, sharing, and discussion. Once this is a routine for you and your students, learners can often become more comfortable expressing their ideas in a way that leads to meaningful learning opportunities.

Dedicate daily time for SEL journal writing

Create individual student journals

Help set each student up for success by providing them with their own individual journal. This could be as simple as a spiral notebook or binder with empty pages. Allow students to color or design the cover of their journal – this helps them to make it their own.

Choose weekly SEL topics

Choose a weekly social-emotional theme. Use research-based best practices for SEL instruction by following the five core competencies of social-emotional learning.

Self-awareness: Understanding who you are, how you feel, and what you need. Topics include understanding strengths, metacognition (thinking about your thinking), embracing a growth mindset, emotional awareness, and hopes for the future.
Self-management: Developing strategies to keep yourself on track for success. This covers skills like self-control, focus and attention, goal-setting, taking initiative, and perseverance.
Social awareness: Learning how to survive and thrive in the social world around you. Topics include understanding social expectations, showing respect, active listening, perspective-taking, and empathy.
Relationships: Developing healthy connections with people around you. Relationship skills cover topics like effective communication, building community, strengthening friendships, teamwork skills, and conflict resolution.
Decision-making: Learning how to strategically make choices to help you succeed and do your best. This covers skills such as calming your mind, owning your choices, showing integrity, critical thinking, and problem-solving.

Sticking with weekly themes also allows more opportunities to discuss and generalize the skills throughout the week. For example, if your weekly topic is teamwork, you might make it a point to highlight teamwork skills and strategies during your class that week.

Topics for SEL journal writing - from self-awareness to decision-making skills.

Assign meaningful social-emotional prompts

Develop writing prompts focused on social-emotional skills. Varying the types of prompts can also make writing activities more engaging. For example, you might ask students to respond about a topic or skill, reflect on a past experience from their life, or write a letter to themselves.

Try some of the sample prompts with your students to give this activity a try right away.

What is a choice you made recently that you feel proud of? Explain how you came to make the decision and why you feel proud of it. (Focus: decision-making and owning your choices).
What is something you recently discovered about yourself? Explain what you discovered and why it matters in your life. Then, sketch a picture. (Focus: self-awareness and discovering yourself).
Who is a good friend in your life? Think about how they have enjoyed the good times with you and helped you through the challenging ones. Describe them below, highlighting what makes them a good friend. Then, sketch a picture of you together. (Focus: relationships and building friendships).

At the same time, it can be helpful to go beyond simple writing prompts, especially for older learners. Use your prompts to provide background knowledge about skills and integrate strategies teens can use right away.

Use these free simple social-emotional questions you can use for discussions and journal writing with your students.

SEL journal writing teaches meaningful skills teens can use right away.

Use a research-based SEL journal for teens

Save time for yourself by using a research-based social-emotional journal designed for teens. Here are some reasons that you’ll love this full-year journal:

Teaches Meaningful Skills: Every page is filled with strategies, tools, and supports for social-emotional skills that matter.
Designed for Older Learners: The workbook includes real photos and scenarios that are age-appropriate for teens and young adults.
Research-Based SEL: This journal follows the 5 core domains of SEL and includes sequenced and connected activities to teach SEL skills explicitly.
Easy to Use: The passages and prompts are all written for you – just read and work through them together.

Research-based social-emotional learning journal for teens

Provide independent writing time

Plan to give your students the time they need to respond to each SEL writing prompt. It’s important for students to not feel rushed. Instead, allow learners to pause, reflect, and openly share their ideas. Kids and teens should begin to enjoy the writing pr process. You can even set the tone for a calm and peaceful writing experience with calming music or dimming the lights as you write.

Some strategies to tell your students include:

Give yourself time to pause and reflect before starting your writing. This can help you plan and figure out exactly what you want to write.
Do your best to respond. It’s okay if you aren’t 100% sure of your answer. Don’t overthink it. The goal isn’t to be perfect, but to learn and grow.
If you get stuck, re-read the prompt. Reviewing the question can help refocus your brain and generate new ideas.

Give time to share responses

After giving ample time to write independently, it’s helpful to give a chance for share responses. Discussions after journal writing allow for shared learning. It also gives teens a chance to hear different perspectives, learn about their peers, and practice active listening. This daily practice alone can help strengthen the community and help kids build more meaningful relationships with each other.

What’s important here is that we give kids and teens the option to share with the class, but not the requirement. Sometimes, journal prompts can feel personal and private. As students build confidence, they may begin to feel more comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas with the class.

Group discussions after journal writing help teens learn and grow

Consider accommodations and supports

In order to write and share responses, some students may benefit from accommodations or extra supports. One option is to have them talk through the prompt with a partner before writing on their own. Other supports that may be helpful include word banks, sentence starters, or sample journal responses. If time allows, you can even craft your journal response together first. Then, allow time for students to write their own personal response independently.

Another simple support is using digital journals and allowing students to type their entries instead of writing them out on paper.

It’s important to be flexible, try new strategies, and find what works for your individual learners.

Use word banks and digital tools to provide accommodations for SEL writing.

Conclusion

Social-emotional skills matter. Even though time can be limited in the middle and high school classroom, it’s worth finding ways to integrate these skills into your day. While there are many ways to integrate SEL skills, SEL journal writing just makes sense. Not only can building SEL skills help your students become stronger academic learners, but they also provide foundational skills for success in all areas of their lives.