A classroom is more than a place where children learn letters, numbers, stories, and other academic skills. It is also a place where children learn how to live with other people. Every day, children enter a classroom bringing their own wants, needs, feelings, personalities, and experiences. One child may want to be first. Another may want the toy someone else is using. Someone may not want to clean up. Another may have difficulty waiting for a turn. These moments can become o

How often do we ask children questions like: “Do you like her?” “Do you like him?” “Is she your friend?” “Do you like the way he looks?” “Do you think he’s nice?” We may think these are harmless questions, but they can teach children to form opinions about people before they actually get to know them. A child may see someone smiling and think, “They’re nice.” Another child may see someone who looks different and think, “I don’t like them.” But neither conclusion tells us what

I know this may not be a popular thing to say. But I believe there comes a time when you have to be courageous enough to speak the truth as you see it—even when what you are saying challenges what everyone else has accepted. So, I’m going to say it. What many people call Social Emotional Learning may look good on paper, sound good in a curriculum, and contain words that sound exactly like what children need—but when it is actually applied, I believe something important is mis