A mixed-methods study of a large social-emotional learning (SEL) program revealed notable disparities in the ways that teachers and students perceived the program's impact. Teachers believed the initiative empowered students, while the students themselves described the program as one that emphasized compliance. Madora Soutter summarizes her…

The Anchorage (Alaska) School District has been committed to social and emotional learning (SEL) for the last 30 years. The district achieves SEL in three ways: (1) Climate: Creating a safe andrespectful learning environment; (2) Direct instruction: Using a variety of programs to deliberately teach the SEL skills students need to be successful…

Many schools and out-of-school organizations use social-emotional learning (SEL) programs to boost students' skills. Yet research shows that these programs can be difficult to implement and don't always meet students' needs. In response, Rebecca Bailey, Laura Stickle, Gretchen Brion-Meisels, and Stephanie Jones propose a new approach to SEL…

The Pyramid Model for Supporting Social Emotional Competence in Infants and Young Children (Hemmeter, Fox, & Snyder, 2013), or the Pyramid Model, is a conceptual framework focused on systemic and sustained implementation of evidence-based practices (EBP) related to promoting social emotional competence and preventing challenging behaviors in…

This article is focused on the description of the content and the implementation process of an originally developed, culturally appropriate and sustainable social and emotional learning program in Latvia. The article also includes the teachers' self-reflected experience illustrated through the perspective of the program's sample activities. The…

There is a proven link between healthy socioemotional development and academic success (SAMHSA in SAMHSA's concept of trauma and guidance for a trauma-informed approach. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Rockville, 2014; Alisic et al. in J Clin Psychiatry 69:1455-1461, 2008; Landolt et al. in J Trauma Stress 26:209-216,…

The paper presents the results from a thematic analysis of the process diaries of teachers involved in teacher training in social and emotional learning (SEL) in Sweden. Twenty-nine out of the 122 diaries available were analyzed until saturation was reached. The following themes and sub-themes were extracted: development (professional and…

School counselors have the challenging task of implementing a comprehensive, developmental school counseling program to serve a large number of students. We present the creative use of a garden program to promote the development of students through the integration of the natural environment. Additionally, we describe activities and metaphors…

Childhood anxiety is a common condition which, if untreated, can cause considerable distress and impairment and increase the likelihood of mental health problems in adulthood. Developing good emotional health in children is therefore an important objective which has been emphasised in recent governmental initiatives and policies. In particular,…

Childhood is a universal aspect of the human condition. Yet the landscape of childhood is changing rapidly. On playgrounds young children carry cell phones, and in classrooms children are more sophisticated in their use of computers and digital media than the adults in their lives. Most young adolescents are prolific communicators via text and…

There are increasing demands in schools to provide social-emotional learning opportunities for students. This article reports on the utility of a universal coping skills program for young people at risk for depression in a rural context. The study deals specifically with the utility of the Best of Coping (BOC) program implemented to all students…

This report provides an overview and description of social and emotional learning (SEL) and service-learning (S-L) as tools to improve the lives and academic performance of students. It describes how the two practices are interrelated, and cites research evidence that supports the expanded use of both practices in the classroom. Also provided are…

During an 8-month period, a primary school teacher designed and implemented a practicum study intended to socialize children in prekindergarten through 3rd-grade classes to be cooperative, responsible, and achieving individuals. Primary goals of the practicum were to develop a nurturing affective environment, enhance character development,…

A complex and changing society requires education that prepares its citizens with complex skills. Yet, successful implementation of the complex pedagogies needed for our rapidly changing world involve teaching strategies and knowledge not yet commonplace in classrooms. To effectively teach K-12 students today and in the future, teacher candidates…

Intended for curriculum designers, educational planners, teachers, and others who have responsibility in creating school programs, this book focuses on affective education, a domain of education in which feelings and attitudes come into play. The book provides guidelines for developing a practical, affective program that will gain the cooperation,…