Examining How Educators Create an Intentional Environment That Invites Social and Emotional Learning Into High School Classrooms

• In Event: New Conversations on Social Emotional Learning: Racial Literacy, Sex Talk, and Intentional Environments

Abstract

Through the lens of invitational education (Purkey & Novak, 2011) coupled with the work of Elias (2016) on social and emotional learning (SEL), it was the goal of these researchers to answer how can schools create an intentional environment that invites SEL into suburban high school classrooms. Using a mixed design case study, data suggested challenges existed when suburban high schools attempted to invite social-emotional learning into the classroom and building. The findings further suggested school personnel have unknowingly uninvited people to be part of SEL in the district. Implications for SEL training, consistent communication, and the use of the invitational process are significant.

Authors

• Timothy R Walker, Shawnee Mission South High School

• Barbara Nell Martin, University of Central Missouri