 Dear reader,
A high-poverty elementary school in southwestern Virginia had a problem: student test scores that were among the worst in the state. After a number of improvement efforts failed, a new principal took a chance on an unconventional approach.
What would happen if students and teachers learned new strategies for listening, asking questions and understanding one another’s feelings, all part of an educational trend called social-emotional learning? And how could a new curriculum be trusted, at a time when schools are getting all kinds of pitches for untested programs that have no backing in research?
This week we have the uplifting story about what happened next, out of Bristol, Virginia, and there are many lessons worth sharing. We’d love to hear about other schools that have had success – or failure – with social-emotional learning programs. Tell us about your experiences! Reply to this email to talk to us.
Liz Willen, Editor
|
|
Main Idea
