A Thematic Synthesis of Social-Emotional Learning, Learning Climate, and Student Achievement in Elementary Education

Social and emotional learning (SEL) is increasingly recognized as an important component of elementary education, supporting students’ social-emotional development, engagement, well-being, and academic learning. However, the relationships among teacher social-emotional competence, learning climate, implementation quality, and student outcomes remain insufficiently integrated, particularly in the Indonesian context. This study aims to synthesize literature on these relationships and examine their implications for SEL implementation in Indonesian elementary schools. A narrative literature review was conducted using an existing source corpus supplemented by relevant peer-reviewed literature. The synthesis examined major themes concerning teacher competence, classroom practices, learning climate, student outcomes, implementation conditions, and contextual adaptation. The findings suggest that teacher competence is associated with the quality of SEL enactment, while a supportive learning climate provides a context for student participation and social-emotional learning. Implementation quality and cultural context also shape how SEL is adapted and sustained. These relationships should not be interpreted as a universally established causal pathway. The review highlights the need for context-responsive teacher development, school-level support, and rigorous evaluation of SEL practices. Future empirical research in Indonesian elementary schools should investigate these relationships using longitudinal and mixed-methods approaches.