Master Ohio's Reading Challenge 2026 – Ace Your OAE Foundations of Reading!

The integration of social-emotional learning (SEL) in reading activities significantly enhances social skills and reading comprehension. This is because SEL focuses on developing emotional intelligence, interpersonal skills, and self-awareness, all of which contribute to a more empathetic and collaborative learning environment. When students engage with texts that explore diverse characters and emotions, they not only improve their capacity to understand and analyze content but also learn to communicate with their peers effectively.

As students work in collaborative settings, discussing texts and expressing their thoughts and feelings, they develop crucial social skills such as active listening, empathy, and the ability to articulate their perspectives. This dynamic interaction fosters a deeper understanding of the text and encourages students to make personal connections to the material, thereby enhancing overall reading comprehension.

In contrast, outcomes like test scores, speed of reading, and memorization of texts do not encompass the broader benefits of SEL, which emphasize emotional and social development alongside academic learning.