5 Ways to Incorporate SEL into Virtual Teaching

Written: January 2022                  Updated: February 2026

You can see the small moments when students reflect on how they’re feeling, hesitate to speak up, or struggle to stay regulated during the school day. That's why it's so important to incorporate social-emotional learning (SEL) into virtual teaching. SEL focuses on helping students understand themselves, connect with others, and manage emotions in healthy, productive ways. In a synchronous environment, those SEL skills don’t develop automatically, they need to be intentionally supported through live, interactive instruction.

Live instruction teachers see this need every day. Brandi Davidson, a live instruction teacher teaching second grade in a virtual school, says, "SEL is important in any classroom form, but is especially important in the virtual classroom. Students who are learning virtually are often working from home and have limited or no in-person contact with others outside of the virtual school and home. This increase in isolation has brought attention to behaviors that may not necessarily have been exhibited so blatantly in a brick-and-mortar environment."

She goes on to add, "Some things I have personally witnessed are difficulty with self-care, conflict among siblings/family members, difficulty with basic social skills (turn-taking, having conversations, etc.), and lack of empathy. It is increasingly important that I build in opportunities for students during the school day in my virtual classroom to address these deficiencies.”

Victoria Young, a live instruction teacher teaching first grade in a virtual school, also explains, “It is extremely important for students’ emotional needs to be met in the virtual classroom. In a brick-and-mortar school, students can ask to speak to the counselor or we can see that they need to step away from the classroom to regain their composure or take a breather. In a virtual setting, this is a bit difficult. Students need to know that they matter. They need to know that their voices are heard.”

While Ms. Davidson and Ms. Young teach in virtual schools where students learn from home, the SEL strategies they share apply equally to Proximity Learning's synchronous instruction model, where students learn together in a physical classroom with an in-person facilitator, taught by a certified, livestreamed teacher. Whether students are at home or in a classroom, these approaches strengthen emotional connection and social-emotional growth.

When certified teachers teach students SEL in a virtual environment, they create space for self awareness, relationship building, and trust. Done well, SEL is a stabilizing force that supports learning, connection, and emotional well-being where it may otherwise be challenging. Here are 5 ways to incorporate SEL into virtual teaching and increase students' mental and emotional health.

1. Create Space for Daily Student Sharing

Building in structured time for students to share is a very effective way to integrate SEL and relationship building into virtual learning. When students share regularly, teachers gain insight into their emotional needs, interests, and experiences. That awareness helps certified teachers support students more intentionally throughout instruction, whether adjusting pacing, grouping, or engagement strategies during live class time.

“One way that I build rapport with my virtual students is by allowing the time to share,” Ms. Davidson says. “Every morning we have 10 minutes of sharing time to start our day where students are able to share aloud the things that are on their minds and talk with each other. This allows me to get to know my students, learn about their families, and find out what their hobbies and interests are."

The result? She continues, "I can then weave this information into lessons to increase interest and buy-in, as well as give students the sense of love and care that they need from their teacher to succeed by showing that I am interested in them as people, not just as students.”

2. Use Breakout Rooms to Build Connection

Small-group interaction plays a critical role in SEL. Using digital tools like breakout rooms allows students to participate in group discussion at a more comfortable scale, especially for those who may feel hesitant speaking in front of the whole class.

For example, Ms. Davidson explains. “Another strategy I use to build rapport is to incorporate both small group instruction and breakout rooms as often as possible into each day. I’ve found that there are many students who feel uncomfortable discussing topics in a whole group of 20+ students, but come out of their shell in a group of three to four students. This allows me time to extend my personal knowledge of each student and what works for them academically. It also continues those personal connections that I strive to make.”

These settings also help students practice social-emotional skills like turn-taking and listening. They also create opportunities for individual check-ins, making it easier for teachers to build relationships and notice when students need additional academic or emotional support.

Ms. Young agrees, “I make it a point to connect with my students on a more personal level. Each morning I ask how they are doing, but I also will pick a few students to ask a more detailed question. Maybe about their loose tooth, maybe about a trip they took this weekend or a sibling that was sick. This shows them that I care about each of them and their families.”

3. Empower Students to Lead and Participate

“One thing that can be difficult but is really important to do is to take a step back as the teacher and allow the students control over how the classroom is run,” Ms. Davidson says. “Allowing them to discuss and write the classroom expectations, letting them use the Zoom annotate tool to draw on your screen when appropriate, and having them lead discussions when it is feasible are all great ways to give them freedom while still being able to guide them towards what you want them to learn that day.”

Giving students ownership in the synchronous classroom strengthens social and emotional learning by reinforcing confidence and agency. Allowing students to help set expectations, lead discussions, or contribute ideas encourages them to become more self aware and engaged in their own lives as learners.

When students help shape the learning environment, they develop problem solving, time management, and self regulation skills. These moments also reinforce that their voices matter, which is essential for emotional well-being and long-term engagement.

4. Honor Diversity and Build Social Awareness

Celebrating students’ backgrounds and experiences is a meaningful way to incorporate social-emotional learning skills while building social awareness. When students are encouraged to share traditions, family experiences, or perspectives, they learn to develop empathy and respect differences.

Ms. Young explains, "One of the things I do in class is learn more about my students and their backgrounds. I encourage them to discuss their beliefs or traditions. They enjoy asking questions about cultures that they may not understand. I have had parents share things that they do as a family. This immerses the class in diverse cultures.”

This approach helps students navigate digital spaces with curiosity and care. Over time, these conversations strengthen positive relationships and help students feel valued within the learning community.

5. Address Emotional Needs Together as a Class

Some moments call for collective support. Addressing challenges like frustration, anxiety, or confusion through shared coping strategies helps the entire class build SEL skills without making anyone feel embarrassed.

Ms. Young has used this strategy personally for one of her students. She recalls, “I have a student who becomes very upset at times in class. He cries and becomes extremely emotional if he doesn’t understand a problem. Instead of singling him out, I get the entire class to work on breathing exercises that help him and the whole class cope with their feelings. We breathe in as we count on our fingers to five and then we breathe out as we count six through ten. Something that takes thirty seconds to a minute and does wonders for this student."

How so? She continues, "He also believes his peers are supporting him. His emotional needs are met by feeling like he has a purpose and that his feelings matter. He even asks me to breathe with him sometimes before he becomes really upset. So, he has recognized that this breathing exercise helps him and he knows what he needs to cope with his emotions.”

Methods such as breathing exercises or brief moments to practice mindfulness help students manage emotions and stay engaged. These shared strategies reinforce SEL practices and help students recognize when they need support and how to regulate their responses.

Bringing Social-Emotional Learning to Life with Proximity Learning

Strong social-emotional learning doesn’t happen by accident. It’s built through intentional instruction, consistent routines, and teachers who understand what students need in the moment. When teachers implement SEL correctly, it enhances students' mental health, emotional well-being, and engagement. Partnering with the right virtual platform can make all the difference.

With over 15 years of experience delivering synchronous instruction, Proximity Learning empowers certified teachers to support students' emotional well-being while teaching live in real time. In Proximity Learning classrooms, students learn together physically in the classroom alongside an in-person facilitator, creating the structure and community that supports both academic learning and SEL growth.

If you’re interested in making a difference in students’ lives through live, interactive instruction, learn more about remote teaching jobs with Proximity Learning.

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