"I have come to a frightening conclusion. I am the decisive element in the classroom. It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher I possess tremendous power to make a child’s life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated, and a child humanized or de-humanized." -- Haim Ginott, Teacher and Child: A Book for Parents and Teachers (1972)
Transformative Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)
SEL is more than just skills; it’s about transforming the learning environment to empower every student to engage deeply with themselves and each other. Transformative SEL places equity at its core, fostering an inclusive culture that respects and celebrates diversity while actively addressing social injustices. By integrating DEI into SEL, we help students develop the tools to challenge biases, build empathy, and become allies within their communities.
Adult SEL and the Pedagogy of Discomfort
For educators, SEL isn’t just about teaching—it’s about doing the hard work themselves. Embracing the "pedagogy of discomfort," we dive into the emotional challenges of confronting privilege, implicit bias, and uncomfortable truths about identity and power. Adult SEL with this approach empowers educators to grow through discomfort, building resilience, empathy, and a truly anti-racist stance in their classrooms. This journey transforms not just teaching practices but also school culture, creating an environment where every student feels seen, valued, and supported.
SEL is more than just skills; it’s about transforming the learning environment to empower every student to engage deeply with themselves and each other. Transformative SEL places equity at its core, fostering an inclusive culture that respects and celebrates diversity while actively addressing social injustices. By integrating DEI into SEL, we help students develop the tools to challenge biases, build empathy, and become allies within their communities.
Adult SEL and the Pedagogy of Discomfort
For educators, SEL isn’t just about teaching—it’s about doing the hard work themselves. Embracing the "pedagogy of discomfort," we dive into the emotional challenges of confronting privilege, implicit bias, and uncomfortable truths about identity and power. Adult SEL with this approach empowers educators to grow through discomfort, building resilience, empathy, and a truly anti-racist stance in their classrooms. This journey transforms not just teaching practices but also school culture, creating an environment where every student feels seen, valued, and supported.