Finnish Pedagogy vs American Social-Emotional Learning and the CASEL Framework
Social-emotional learning (SEL) has become a defined, standards-based programme in many American schools, built around the CASEL framework. Finland pursues similar goals through its national curriculum, but without a separate SEL label or standalone lessons. The aims overlap; the delivery does not.
- CASEL's framework names five core competencies: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making
- US schools commonly deliver SEL through dedicated curricula, standalone lesson time, or state-level standards
- Finland's national core curriculum organises similar goals under seven transversal competencies taught across every subject from grade 1, rather than as a separate programme
- Finland does not use the term 'SEL' in its own curriculum documents, so comparisons describe parallel goals rather than a direct equivalence
What CASEL and American SEL programmes look like
CASEL, the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning, organises its framework around five competencies, often shown as a wheel: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. Many US states and districts have adopted these, or close variants, as formal standards, and schools commonly deliver them through a named SEL curriculum, a dedicated lesson slot, or a specific programme purchased and implemented school-wide.
How Finland pursues the same goals differently
Finland's national core curriculum builds emotional and social development into seven transversal competencies that run through every subject, not just a designated period. The two most relevant to SEL are described as 'cultural competence, interaction and self-expression' and 'taking care of oneself and managing daily life'. These show up in how Finland teaches emotional and social skills: through cooperative learning structures, classroom jobs, and regular reflection built into ordinary lessons, rather than a separate SEL class.
The practical difference for a K-5 classroom
A US classroom using CASEL might have a scheduled SEL block with its own materials and assessment. A Finnish classroom is more likely to fold the same skills into group work in maths, a shared classroom responsibility, or an end-of-day reflection, with no separate line on the timetable. Neither approach is inherently better: a named, standards-based programme is easier to measure and roll out consistently, while an embedded approach depends more on individual teacher practice but avoids treating social and emotional skills as separate from academic learning.
- CASEL: five competencies, often delivered as a standalone, named programme
- Finland: emotional and social goals embedded across all subjects via transversal competencies
- CASEL: easier to standardise and measure across a large school system
- Finland: depends more on individual teacher practice, but keeps social skills connected to everyday learning
Frequently asked questions
Is Finland's approach to social-emotional learning the same as CASEL's SEL framework?
The goals overlap closely, but Finland does not use SEL terminology or a standalone programme. Its transversal competencies achieve similar aims through everyday teaching rather than a separate curriculum.
Could a school combine CASEL-style SEL with Finnish pedagogy?
Yes, in principle. Since both address similar competencies, a school could use CASEL's structure for measurement and reporting while embedding the actual teaching into subjects, closer to the Finnish model.
Which approach is easier for a new school to implement?
A named SEL programme like CASEL is generally easier to roll out consistently across many teachers because it comes with defined materials and standards. Finland's embedded approach requires more teacher training and judgement, since it is not a separate subject to teach from a manual.
Related reading
Bring Finnish pedagogy to your school
OPPI affiliates a selective cohort of schools each year for its K-5 Finnish-pedagogy programme, backed by Education Finland. Tell us about your school and our team will reach out.
Backed by Education Finland. Over 20 schools have already affiliated, including DPS, Radcliffe and Sanctus. Places in each cohort are limited.
Apply to the affiliation cohort →