What does social-emotional learning really mean, and why is it so important? In today’s episode, we explore the transformative power of social-emotional learning (SEL) with renowned experts Dr. Bridget Hamre and Erin Gruwell. Join us as we delve into the true meaning of SEL, its impact, and some critiques.
Erin shares her experiences, including her story portrayed in the Freedom Writers movie. We discuss the role of personal narratives in shaping curriculum and the importance of building intentional relationships with students. We also tackle fear, vulnerability, and healing in education. The episode concludes with a look at an innovative video-based coaching model, and how SEL can revolutionize teaching.
Topics Discussed in This Episode
- [00:00:58] Introducing Bridget and Erin
- [00:02:15] What it was like for Erin to be portrayed by Hillary Swank in the movie about her story with Freedom Writers
- [00:06:20] The definition of social-emotional learning
- [00:10:19] How Erin thinks about social-emotional learning as separate from or integrated into the daily work of teaching
- [00:13:39] Making content relevant to students instead of just curriculum-driven
- [00:16:13] Three important fears in the classroom
- [00:22:00] The difficulty of supporting students when co-workers turn them away
- [00:26:16] What social-emotional learning looks like in the classroom
- [00:29:57] How social-emotional interactions play out
- [00:34:19] Why interventions don’t always have to be big and complicated
- [00:36:55] Having a language and lens for observations
- [00:39:31] Supporting social-emotional learning in post-COVID settings
- [00:43:30] Preparing students for success outside the classroom
Resources
Marnetta Larrimer
Dr. Bridget Hamre
Erin Gruwell
