Supporting the Whole Teacher

The second case study from the Aspen Institute National Commission on Social, Emotional, and Academic Development highlights the need for teacher preparation and professional learning to focus on building teachers’ own social and emotional competence and sharing strategies for building these skills in their students. Supporting the Whole Teacher discusses the benefits of focused efforts to address teachers’ understanding of the social and emotional dimensions of learning and provides examples of programs across the country that have found success in providing this support to teachers.

The case study details specific strategies to prepare teachers to introduce these concepts in the classroom. It highlights clear examples such as RULER, an evidence-based program that trains teachers on recognizing and managing their emotions and collaborating with colleagues before they build these skills in their students and the Center for Reaching and Teaching the Whole Child, which works with teacher preparation programs to integrate teacher and student social and emotional competencies into their classes.

See a related blog post that examines the role of educator social, emotional, and academic development:

Blog Posts Publications

Putting It All Together

Shows how schools and educators enhance learning when they teach a curriculum that simultaneously builds students’ social, emotional, and academic understanding.

Blog Posts Publications

School-Community Partnerships

The third case study discusses the role community partners can play in supporting children’s learning in collaboration with schools.

Blog Posts Publications

Caring Communities: Linking School Culture and Student Development

The forth case study discusses the relationship between school climate and culture and social, emotional, and academic development.

Blog Posts Publications

National Commission Case Study Series

The four-part case study series will explore these topics: Using a curriculum that simultaneously builds students’ social, emotional, and academic understanding, Ensuring that teachers are prepared to promote students’ comprehensive development, Promoting a positive school climate and culture, and Partnering with the broader community to support students.