Links to Research

Social-Emotional Climate and the Success of New Teachers: A New Look at the Ongoing Challenge of New Teacher RetentionDespite a heightened focus in recent years on the need to more effectively prepare, support, and retain new teachers, teachers in their first five years in the classroom continue to leave the profession in alarming numbers. This report suggests that current teacher education programs and school induction efforts commonly undervalue or overlook a potentially pivotal aspect of how the social-emotional climate in classrooms and schools impacts new teachers' attitudes toward their work and their decisions about whether to remain in the profession. In response, this report reviews relevant research with a specific focus on the influence of this climate on new teachers.
Social and Emotional Learning must be embedded in “great teaching”“I came into teaching because I wanted to inspire kids like mine, kids who don’t have access to a quality education. I am doing anything but that right now.”

This is a quote from a new teacher I coached last year. She leads a cast of teachers whose experiences led me to believe that placing an emphasis on Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) is critical for our students' futures. For this to be successful it must be embedded in teacher practice, rather than a curriculum for students.
EduTopia: Resources and Downloads for SEL Classroom ManagementEducators from Mount Desert Elementary School in Northeast Harbor, Maine, have shared a few social and emotional learning tools and we've gathered some of our favorite resources to help educators implement positive discipline strategies, build community, and keep kids engaged.