Social and Emotional Learning

Social and emotional learning occurs when teachers and school staff help students develop the interpersonal skills they need to succeed in school and work. This skill-building happens in the course of everyday instruction, when teachers pause to encourage students to pose a question in a more respectful tone, imagine how others feel, take a deep breath to calm themselves down, break a goal into manageable pieces and more. Social and emotional self-management is thought to set the stage for productive, cooperative learning.

Homeless Youth

January 1, 2018

Young, gay and living on the street: LGBT youth face increased odds of homelessness

Of the nation's 1.6 million homeless youth, 40 percent identify as LGBT, according to one survey.

Carolyn Jones

December 21, 2017

Male teachers provide important role models

Our society should celebrate and respect male teachers in the same way we idolize sports figures and celebrities.

Josh Brown

November 19, 2017

Encouraging students to make mistakes to improve math outcomes

San Francisco Unified incorporates social and emotional learning in math curriculum to provide richer academic lessons and improve student outcomes.

Lizzy Hull Barnes

October 20, 2017

In strategy shift, Gates Foundation to spend bulk of education dollars on 'locally driven solutions'

The foundation says it will spend $1.7 billion on K-12 education over the next five years, on local, regional and state networks, "big bets" on innovation, charter schools, and research and development.

Louis Freedberg

October 19, 2017

In aftermath of fires, schools brace for newly homeless students

As of Monday, Oct. 30 all schools had re-opened except Riebli elementary, Schaefer elementary, Roseland Collegiate Prep and Hidden Valley Satellite. Students at those schools are attending other schools, at least temporarily.

Carolyn Jones

October 4, 2017

New poll: Safe and positive school environment more important than higher test scores

A survey of California registered voters also shows strong support for school districts to devote more funds and resources to addressing the needs of the state’s most vulnerable students.

Louis Freedberg, John Fensterwald, And Theresa Harrington

October 1, 2017

Can we talk? Schools try to wrest cell phones from students' hands

Cell phones and social media can leave teenagers depressed and isolated, new research has found. Some schools are encouraging students to put down their phones and talk to each other.

Jane Meredith Adams

September 18, 2017

Vinnie Pompei wants you to know that we're all biased, and we can work with that

Some LGBT students find themselves accepted by their peers, but not by teachers and administrators at school, said Vinnie Pompei of the Human Rights Campaign, who will speak at the EdSource Symposium in October.

Jane Meredith Adams

September 13, 2017

New system of support contributes to student success

Multi-tiered system of support helps educators solve problems before they become problems.

Al Mijares

August 27, 2017

As schools reopen, teachers will have a difficult time avoiding the Trump fallout

Teachers can respond to students' concerns by encouraging discussion.

Louis Freedberg

August 8, 2017

Circle up: Teaching social-emotional skills year round

All social-emotional learning, all the time as California moves to start a conversation between after-school and summer programs and their school-day counterparts.