Top Tools and Apps Supporting SEL in Schools: Enhance student Well-Being Digitally
In today’s fast-paced educational landscape, social-emotional learning (SEL) has taken center stage as schools strive to nurture resilient, empathetic, and mentally healthy students. While teachers and counselors remain the heart of SEL programs, digital SEL tools and apps are now transforming how educators support student well-being—making SEL accessible, engaging, and data-driven. If you’re passionate about student mental health, academic achievement, and school climate, this guide will reveal the top SEL platforms, their benefits, expert tips, and firsthand insights into implementing digital SEL in schools.
What is Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and Why Does it Matter?
before diving into the tech, let’s clarify what SEL is. Social-emotional learning involves teaching students skills in self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship building, and responsible decision-making. Research has shown that SEL not only improves academic outcomes, but also reduces emotional distress, enhances social skills, and decreases behavioral issues.
- Empathy: Understanding and sharing others’ feelings
- Self-regulation: Managing emotions constructively
- problem-solving: Making positive,responsible choices
Digital SEL solutions can seamlessly reinforce these critical skills—meeting students where they are most familiar: on their screens.
Top SEL Tools and Apps for schools
Here’s our curated list of the best digital SEL tools embraced by schools worldwide, each offering unique features to advance student well-being.
1. Second step
- Overview: Second Step is a research-based SEL program available via an interactive online portal. It delivers a complete curriculum for pre-K through Grade 8,including lesson plans,activities,and assessments.
- Key Features:
- Grade-specific modules for every developmental stage
- Teacher-kind dashboard and progress tracking
- Parent engagement resources for reinforcement at home
- Why It Stands Out: Its comprehensive structure and multimedia content engage diverse learners.
2. ClassDojo SEL Portals
- Overview: Popular for class management, ClassDojo now offers SEL modules that help teachers teach growth mindset, empathy, and mindfulness skills.
- key Features:
- Animated SEL lessons and videos
- Real-time feedback on student behaviors
- Interactive communication channel between home and school
- Why It Stands Out: Seamlessly blends SEL instruction with positive behavior incentives.
3. Peekapak
- Overview: Peekapak lets students journey through digital storybooks, games, and reflection activities focused on SEL themes like gratitude, empathy, grit, and perseverance.
- Key Features:
- Personalized student learning paths
- Teacher guides and parent connection resources
- Data analytics for monitoring skill development
- Why It Stands Out: Engages K-5 students through rich storytelling and interactive exercises.
4. Sanvello for Schools
- Overview: Sanvello’s app provides on-demand mental health support, including mindfulness activities and CBT-based exercises aligned with key SEL skills.
- Key Features:
- Guided meditations and mood tracking
- Evidence-based intervention modules
- Anonymous support community for students
- Why It Stands Out: Offers self-care resources and daily mental health check-ins for middle school, high school, and college students.
5.Calm Schools Initiative
- Overview: Calm—famous for its meditation app—provides free mindfulness resources to schools. Teachers can stream guided meditations, breathing exercises, and relaxation audios for classroom use.
- Key Features:
- Mindfulness practices tailored for kids and teens
- teacher toolkit for classroom integration
- grants and free access for eligible schools
- Why It Stands Out: Integrates simple, stress-reducing routines into the daily school experience.
Benefits of Implementing Digital SEL Tools in Schools
Beyond meeting curriculum goals, digital SEL tools offer practical benefits for educators and students alike:
- Accessibility: Students and teachers can access lessons anytime, from any device.
- Personalization: SEL apps adapt to meet diverse student needs and learning paces.
- Engagement: Interactive digital content boosts participation and motivation.
- data-Driven Insights: progress dashboards help identify at-risk students and measure program impact.
- Scalability: Easily deployed across classrooms, grades, or entire districts.
- Family Involvement: Parent portals and resources strengthen the home-school SEL connection.
Practical Tips for Integrating SEL Apps successfully
For best results, schools should focus on thoughtful SEL app selection and purposeful integration. Here are proven tips to guide your rollout:
- Define SEL Goals: Clarify which competencies—empathy, resilience, conflict resolution—you aim to target.
- Involve Stakeholders: Engage teachers, counselors, students, and families in tool selection and implementation.
- Start Small: Pilot the app with select classes, gather feedback, then scale school-wide.
- Blend with In-Person SEL: Use digital tools to complement, not replace, hands-on SEL discussions and activities.
- Use data: Leverage app analytics to celebrate growth and adjust strategies for students needing extra support.
- Offer Training: Ensure staff receives training on app features, privacy considerations, and best practices.
Case study: Digital SEL Transformation at Harmony Elementary
Harmony Elementary, a bustling urban school, faced increasing behavioral challenges and emotional struggles post-pandemic. The counseling team decided to pilot Second Step and Calm in grades K-5.With monthly support sessions and weekly app activities, Harmony witnessed remarkable changes:
- 40% reduction in classroom disruptions
- Significant increase in student-initiated empathy moments
- Parent feedback: “We see our kids using breathing exercises and ‘talking out’ problems at home, too!”
The key? Teachers and counselors worked hand-in-hand, blending digital activities with daily check-ins and SEL circles, proving technology can amplify—rather than replace—relational skill-building.
First-Hand Experience: Teacher Voices
“Incorporating Peekapak into our morning routine made a dramatic difference in how my third graders relate to one another. The interactive stories created really meaningful class discussions about kindness and perseverance.” – Mrs. Howard, Third Grade teacher
“I was skeptical at first, but classdojo’s SEL modules gave me new ways to talk about feelings—and the kids love earning positive points for teamwork.” – Mr. Garcia, Fifth Grade Teacher
How to Choose the right SEL App for Your School
with so many options, consider these factors to find the best SEL app for your unique school community:
- Age Appropriateness: Choose platforms tailored to your students’ developmental level.
- Alignment to Standards: Review if content matches CASEL or district SEL frameworks.
- User Experience: Demo interfaces for simplicity and engagement—especially for younger ages.
- Privacy and Security: Assess data protection practices and student privacy guarantees.
- Cost and Support: Check pricing, trial periods, and available onboarding resources.
- Integration: Ensure compatibility with your current learning management system (LMS).
Future Trends: The Evolution of digital SEL
Edtech companies continually innovate—expect exciting trends like AI-powered emotional check-ins, immersive gamification, and real-time counseling platforms. As digital SEL matures, educators will be empowered to address the whole child, everywhere learning happens.
Conclusion: digitally Elevate student well-Being with SEL Tools
There’s never been a more critically important time to prioritize student well-being in schools.By embracing top SEL apps and digital tools,educators can foster a culture of empathy,resilience,and belonging—while supporting students’ social-emotional needs wherever they are. Whether you choose Second Step’s structured curriculum,ClassDojo’s gamified approach,or Calm’s mindfulness suite,the right digital SEL resources will elevate outcomes and unlock brighter futures for all learners.
Ready to enhance SEL in your school digitally? Explore these resources, pilot a program, and watch your students thrive—in the classroom and beyond!