Transformative Social and Emotional Learning

Learn how to cultivate a commitment to justice with young children in developmentally appropriate ways (pre-K–grade 6).

Transformative social and emotional learning (TSEL) is an asset-based, culturally responsive way of teaching that sees social and emotional learning and social justice as inextricably linked. This practical guide will support teachers in centering TSEL in their work and in cultivating a commitment to justice with young children in developmentally appropriate ways.

The authors provide stories, perspectives, and concrete tools, including planning resources for teachers, tips on integrating TSEL into different content areas, research on how to foster positive racial identity development, support for integrating transformative play into the classroom, and a roadmap for teacher educators. The text provides specific examples that demonstrate how to implement complex concepts in accessible ways. Chapters are designed to be practical (though not overly prescriptive) so teachers can readily adapt takeaways to their own practice.

Book Features:

• Advice on how to navigate barriers to integrating TSEL: An entire chapter is dedicated to situating TSEL in the realities of the current climate—providing teachers with tools and resources to address challenges that are inherent to social justice work.
• Concrete tools for a complex concept: TSEL as a concept can be difficult to access for classroom teachers who are already creating so much content. This book provides concrete tools and specific examples of how to implement TSEL without oversimplifying this work.
• A foundation of social justice for young children: Social justice work has traditionally focused more on adolescents. This book provides tools for building a developmentally appropriate foundation for doing this work with young changemakers (pre-K–grade 6).

Madora Soutter is an assistant professor of education at Villanova University. Alessandra E. Ward is an assistant professor of education at Wheaton College. Chu N. Ly is an assistant professor of education at Framingham State University.

"Transformative Social and Emotional Learning is an essential read for educators striving to create justice-oriented, inclusive environments where all young learners can thrive. With its blend of practical tools, actionable strategies, teacher narratives, professional development insights, and advice for navigating today’s complex political landscape, this book serves as a comprehensive guide to help educators confidently bring transformative social-emotional learning into any classroom."
—Shelby Clark, principal investigator, Project Zero

"Transformative Social and Emotional Learning is a timely and important resource for every educator invested in carrying out social and emotional learning that challenges injustice and honors all of the different identities that our students hold."
—Scott Seider, professor, Boston College Lynch School of Education and Human Development

"I read lots of books that focus on the what of schools—what teachers should do and therefore what students will know as a result. But few also attend to the how of change—how we make meaningful and implementable changes to classrooms and systems that have not always attended to areas such as socio-emotional learning, not to mention imagining that work as work of transformation and maybe even justice. Soutter and colleagues treat teachers and children as authentic, important collaborators in the work of change around TSEL by being simultaneously concrete, imaginative, and humanizing in exploring their ideas of how to make TSEL a reality. It is truly no small feat and is sure to be useful to educators at many levels and sites who are interested in this work."
—Christina L. Dobbs, program director for English education, Boston University, Wheelock College of Education & Human Development

Contents

Acknowledgments  ix

Introduction  1
Why TSEL Matters to Us  3

1.  Toward a Transformative Vision of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)  5
What You’ll Learn  5
What Is SEL and Why Does It Matter?  5
Research on Outcomes for Students: Why SEL Matters  7
What Is Transformative Social and Emotional Learning (TSEL) and Why Does It Matter?  8
Transformative SEL: What Is It and How Is It Different From SEL?  10
Children as Changemakers: Making the Case for TSEL in Elementary Classrooms  14
Closing Thoughts  14

2.  TSEL Planning Toolkit  23
What You’ll Learn  23
Identify Your SEL Goals  23
There Are Many Ways to Bring SEL to Your Classroom  26
Infusing SEL and TSEL Into a Sample Lesson  30
Pushing an SEL Curriculum Past Personally Responsible SEL to Transformative SEL  35
Closing Thoughts  42

3.  Integrating Transformative Social and Emotional Learning With Other Domains  45
Contributing Teacher Voices: Christie Brewster and Lindsay Dugan
What You’ll Learn  45
Starting With Literacy  46
Sample Lesson Plan  49
Integrating SEL With Other Subjects Using Project- Based Learning  51
Thinking Outside the (Homeroom) Box: SEL and Specials  53
Closing Thoughts  55

4.  Supporting Students to Develop Positive Racial Identities  57
Authorship led by Marisha L. Humphries and Ceily Moore
Contributing Teacher Voice: Ashley L. McCall
What You’ll Learn  58
The Importance of Attending to Race From a Transformative SEL Perspective  58
How Children Develop Racial Identity  59
Teacher Self-Reflection and Racial Identity  61
Culturally and Developmentally Responsive Pedagogical Practices for Supporting Racial Identity Development  64
Challenges and Opportunities in Supporting Students’ Racial Identity  69
Closing Thoughts  74

5.  Transformative Play  77
Authored with Rani Pan and Laura A. Hudock
Contributing Teacher Voices: Martine Ciccio and Sarah Hurdelbrink
What You’ll Learn  79
A Self-Reflective Journey, by Rani Pan  79
What Is Play?  81
Play as Pedagogy  82
Personally Responsible Play  83
Participatory Play  86
Transformative Play  88
Integrating Play Into an Existing Curriculum  90
Open-Ended Materials for Play for All Classrooms  91
Closing Thoughts  93

6.  Transformative Social-Emotional Learning in Online and Hybrid Environments  95
What You’ll Learn  95
Infusing SEL Into Online and Hybrid Spaces: Cultivating Personally Responsible SEL  96
Cultivating Transformative SEL in Online and Hybrid Spaces  99
Building Partnerships and Collaborating With Families  104
Closing Thoughts  107

7.  Professional Learning Communities for Transformative Social and Emotional Learning  109
Authored with Graciela Petrelli, Samantha Simon, Oladimeji Fatoki, and Madelyn Dyer
What You’ll Learn  110
What Exactly Are Professional Learning Communities?  110
Why Are PLCs Effective?  111
Recommended PLC Structure  112
Sample PLC  112
Closing Thoughts  121

8.  Assessing Transformative Social and Emotional Learning: Holding Ourselves Accountable  123
What You’ll Learn  126
Listen to Students  126
Measure Context  129
How Can We Measure Context and How Can It Help?  130
Closing Thoughts  132

9.  Navigating Roadblocks to TSEL  135
What You’ll Learn  135
Case Studies and Resources  136
Closing Thoughts  146

10.  Integrating Transformative Social and Emotional Learning Into Educator Preparation  147
Contributing Teacher Voices: Susan Donnellan and Sara Donaldson
What You’ll Learn  148
Where Do Learning Experiences on TSEL Fit in Educator Preparation Programs?  148
What Can an SEL Course Look Like?  156
How Do I Get Support for and Build an SEL Course?  163
Closing Thoughts  170

11.  TSEL for Educators  173
What You’ll Learn  173
Principle #1: Strengths-Based Mindset  173
Principle #2: Critical and Transformative Stance  176
Principle #3: Patience and Flexibility  178
Principle #4: Reflection and Action  179
Closing Thoughts  182

References  185

Index  199

About the Authors and Contributors  205