Educating Minds and Hearts: Social Emotional Learning and the Passage Into Adolescence

By Jonathan Cohen

Book Overview

Announcing--The premier volume in the new Series on Social Emotional Learning!

Social and emotional learning needs to be an integral part of children's education in conjunction with linguistic, mathematical, aesthetic, kinesthetic, and ethical learning. In this innovative volume, leading national experts describe the range of programs and perspectives that teachers, counselors, and administrators can use to promote social-emotional education in today's middle schools. This book will also serve as a useful guide for educators providing concrete strategies, curricular-based programs, and perspectives that can be integrated into school life--inside and outside the classroom. Chapters focus on the importance of comprehensive and integrative programs as well as conflict resolution, self-esteem, and appropriate behavior in the classroom--including how educators, themselves, can develop in these areas.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0807738387
• ISBN13: 9780807738382
• Release Date: April 1999
• Publisher: Teachers College Press
• Length: 216 Pages
• Weight: 0.72 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.1" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Great book on social emotional learning...

This is a companion to Cohen's other edited book, Caring Classrooms/Intelligent Schools. This book addresses an older group of youngsters in school--those passing into adolescence. The 12 chapters cover the theory of social emotional learning (SEL) in schools. A number of SEL curricula or projects are discussed, such as the Comer/New Haven project, the work from the Northeast Foundation for Children, a psychoanalytically informed educational perspective, the Resolving Conflict Creatively Program (RCCP), and others. This is not really a "how-to" book, any more than was Cohen's other book. Readers will benefit, however, because he systematically reviews SEL programs, and readers will be eager to pursue specific programs from among those referenced.I missed not seeing any work from Myrna B. Shure, who is a good cognitive-behavioral SEL practitioner (the "I Can Problem Solve" curriculum). Does her work not involve young adolescents? If not, that is a disappointment.SEL is important because we all 'swim' in a social environment. When that environment is caring and concerned, when students can make heart-informed choices, they 'swim' better and are said to learn better. We certainly know they are happier and appear more productive.I know many readers will gain a lot from this work, and the other related books in the SEL field. Good luck!

Excellent, important book for educators interested in SEL.

This timely volume presents the range of ways that teachers can help students develop social-emotional skills and competencies. It is very practical and helpful. On one level, teachers have always done this. On another, new information, stratagies and research findings are presented here. Very helpful to "front line teachers" and I suspect, administrators too. It will also be of interest to parents who want to help thier kids feel better about themselves and more able!