Social and Emotional Learning Community for English Language Learners: Storytelling Journals During Disruptive Times

• In Event: Saturday Roundtable 7:45 am
  In Roundtable Session: Social and Emotional Learning With Language Learners and Immigrants (Table 12)

Abstract

This study explores how culturally responsive teaching (CRT) and social and emotional learning (SEL) builds a supportive environment and sense of belonging for English language learners (ELLs) by telling their own stories. This study emerged from a disruptive phase during a global crisis when frameworks like the CRT-SEL model are needed to support students going through unprecedented challenges. The diverse group of students (n=12) from three continents created 84 journal entries and 182 peer responses over the course of a semester. The manual data coding process utilized a hybrid approach for blending inductive and deductive coding techniques. This study illustrates how students were able to use components of storytelling to blend elements from the class and their cultural backgrounds.

Authors

• Ellen Yeh, Columbia College Chicago

• Rashmi Sharma, Western Illinois University