Students Taking Action Together: 5 Teaching Techniques to Cultivate SEL, Civic Engagement, and a Healthy Democracy

by Lauren M. Fullmer, Laura F. Bond, Crystal N. Molyneaux, Samuel J. Nayman, Maurice J. Elias

Overview

A field-tested, classroom-based approach for developing the critical thinking, social-emotional, problem-solving, and discussion skills students need to be good citizens and effective changemakers.

We often hear that a key purpose of schooling is to prepare students for informed and active citizenship. But what does this look like in practice? How do teachers pursue this goal amid other pressing priorities, including student mastery of both academic content and social-emotional competencies? Students Taking Action Together, based on a program of the same name developed at Rutgers University, clarifies that the way to prepare young people for life in a democracy is by intentionally rehearsing democratic behaviors in the classroom.

This field-tested program ("STAT" for short) is built on five research-backed teaching strategies that work with existing social studies, English language arts, and history curriculum in the upper-elementary, middle, and high school levels. Incorporating these strategies into your lessons is a way to meet students' natural desire to be heard with skill-building that empowers them to

* Adhere to norms of civil conversation, even when topics are controversial and emotions are high;
* Speak confidently and listen actively;
* Engage in respectful debate aimed at understanding issues rather than winning points;
* Target communication to different audiences, needs, and contexts; and
* Examine problems from many sides, considering potential solutions, drawing up action plans, and evaluating these plans' effectiveness against historical examples.

In addition to vignettes that show the five STAT strategies in action, you'll find practical teaching tips and sample STAT lesson plans. For school leaders, there is a road map for schoolwide STAT implementation and guidance on communicating the program's value to stakeholders.

Are you ready to help students understand complex content, confront pressing social issues, and engage with the structures of power to advocate for change? This book is for you.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781416630999
Publisher:	ASCD
Publication date:	04/27/2022
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	235
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

Lauren M. Fullmer is a 5th grade teacher, an instructor for the Academy for Social-Emotional Learning in Schools, an adjunct professor at St. Elizabeth University and Dayton University, and a consulting field expert for the Rutgers Social-Emotional Character Development (SECD) Lab. Her primary research focuses on trauma-informed practices to meet the needs of at-risk learners in the K–12 classroom and on integrating social-emotional learning and social justice practices into content-area instruction.

Laura F. Bond is a K–5 curriculum supervisor who has served as a high school and elementary school assistant principal. She taught secondary social studies for 19 years. A member of the executive board of New Jersey ASCD, she is passionate about whole child education and disrupting the hidden curriculum in schools and classrooms through equity-driven social-emotional learning and inclusivity measures.

Crystal N. Molyneaux is a New Jersey–certified school psychologist who counsels students in group and individual settings to assist in self-awareness, self-efficacy, and self-management in hostile or adverse situations. She works in the Rutgers Social-Emotional Character Development (SECD) Lab on the Students Taking Action Together (STAT) project and is passionate about SEL, restorative justice, empowering women and girls, decreasing systemic racism and oppression, amplifying student voice, and creating and maintaining student support systems while also using evidenced-based methods to build confidence.

Samuel J. Nayman is a postdoctoral fellow in clinical child/pediatric psychology at the Mayo Clinic. A graduate of Rutgers University's clinical psychology doctoral program and Yale School of Medicine's doctoral internship in clinical and community psychology, he served as project director at the Rutgers Social-Emotional Character Development (SECD) Lab and has designed and consulted on school-based SECD programs. He has published a number of articles and a book chapter on the topic.

Maurice J. Elias is a professor in the psychology department of Rutgers University, the director of the Rutgers Social-Emotional Character Development (SECD) Lab, and a codirector of the Rutgers-based Academy for SEL in Schools, which offers online certificates in social-emotional learning instruction and school leadership. The recipient of multiple awards for SEL and character education scholarship, he has published extensively on these topics and currently writes a blog on social-emotional and character development for Edutopia.

Table of Contents

Introduction: Democracy, Schools, and the Classroom 1

1 The Five STAT Strategies 11

2 Norms: Creating the Climate for Civil Conversation 29

3 Yes-No-Maybe: Building Skills for Social Awareness and Peer Listening 42

4 Respectful Debate: Developing Empathy and Perspective-Taking 57

5 Audience-Focused Communication: Creating Effective Presentations 74

6 PLAN: A Problem-Solving Strategy for Historical Understanding and Social Action 91

7 STAT Integration Across the Curriculum 115

8 STAT in the Inclusion Classroom 134

9 Scaling Up STAT 143

Acknowledgments 160

Appendix A Matrices for Available STAT Lessons 163

Appendix B Four Sample STAT Lessons 174

Appendix C Teaching Tips 200

Appendix D Resources for Further Reading and Learning 209

Appendix E STAT Elevator Pitches to Key Stakeholders 215

References 219

Index 226

About the Authors 233

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

This book has come right on time. In fact, it is not an exaggeration to say that it may be of critical importance to the future of American democracy. For years, it has been painfully obvious that we need a new approach to civics education. In too many schools, social studies courses have done little more than ask students to memorize facts and dates, failing to make history and civics feel relevant to students. The authors of this book describe concrete strategies for bringing these topics to life, and in so doing, make it possible to better prepare students to participate as citizens in the political process. For those who understand and appreciate how critical civics education is to the future of American society, this book will be a timely resource.
—Pedro A. Noguera, Dean, Rossier School of Education and Distinguished Professor of Education, University of Southern California

In the midst of a global pandemic and civil unrest, this book answers an urgent need by providing educators with practical, instructional strategies to help students converse and connect across difference and engage civically in their communities—all while leveraging the power of social and emotional learning for the promise of a healthy democracy.
—Dena Simmons, EdD, Founder of LiberatED

Students Taking Action Together provides both the imperative for embedding social and emotional learning competencies within academic instruction and the practical strategies for doing so across ages and subject areas. The STAT model allows educators and students to co-craft powerful learning environments as well as authentic action plans for our most pressing societal issues.
—Karen VanAusdal, Senior Director of Practice, CASEL

Each generation calls upon its educators to renew our covenant with the future by providing them with the tools needed to forge community and advance our society toward a more perfect union. Students Taking Action Together sits squarely in this tradition. Using classroom-friendly techniques that combine academic discourse, service learning, and social-emotional and character development, the book reminds us that the most important facet of our democracy is "we the people" who create it, refine it, and preserve it every day for posterity. A must-read for educators everywhere.
—David Adams, Chief Executive Officer, The Urban Assembly

Students Taking Action Together does what few books for educational practitioners committed to social-emotional well-being do: provides concrete and viable lesson activities that can be implemented right now. I can see schools opening the new year with a copy for every teacher, counselor, and child study team that serves a child.
—Scott Taylor, Superintendent of K–12 Township of Union Public Schools and Adjunct Professor at Rutgers and Montclair Universities

I can't wait to share Students Taking Action Together with educators who are looking for creative tools and approaches to strengthen the civic character of their students. I especially loved the Assessment Checklists at the end of each chapter.
—Arthur Schwartz, President, Character.org

In an age of increased uncertainty, violence, climate change, growing inequity, and other global issues, cultivation of SEL skills such as self-awareness, emotional resilience, empathy, compassion are critical for the young—necessary to equip them to deal with the stress, anxiety, frustration, and even anger which accompany wicked global problems. I am very pleased to support and endorse Students Taking Action Together, a book designed to help kids develop critical thinking and social and emotional skills. The book is very closely aligned to UNESCO MGIEP's EMC2 framework, which focuses on building Empathy, Mindfulness, Compassion, and Critical Inquiry amongst young learners toward achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goal 4.
—Anantha Duraiappah, Director, UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development

At a time when the fabric of our democracy is being torn and torn again, Students Taking Action Together offers educators practical strategies for weaving it back together. By situating SEL as an antidote to shattered norms of civic engagement, this gem of a book demonstrates that education can and should be central to rebuilding both our democratic institutions and our faith in one another.
—Joel Westheimer, University Research Chair in Democracy and Education at the University of Ottawa

Democratic citizenship is multifaceted, and our ability to engage in difficult conversations is an essential element of self-government. The skill of having political discussion can and must be taught, and Students Taking Action Together is an invaluable tool—not only for preparing our students to talk about politics but for getting us closer to being the "more perfect union" we aspire to be.
—Elizabeth C. Matto, Director, Eagleton Institute of Politics Center for Youth Political Participation

In today's world, students need a firm understanding not only of their own skills and dispositions but also of their ability to improve their society and world, even in small ways. The authors of Students Taking Action Together have created an essential collection of strategies for teachers to help promote social-emotional learning concepts as part of a larger effort to promote and defend democratic ideals and values.
—Mark Pearcy, Professor of Social Studies Education, Rider University

The straightforward tools and actionable approach in this book cut through the noise and speak compassionately to learners' heart and minds about empowering youth action and advocacy in and beyond the classroom. Students Taking Action Together covers the kind of critical and transformative work we need to restore hope in education right now.
—Alisha De Lorenzo, Educator, Licensed Therapist, Consultant, and Founder of Living YES

This book should be a part of all new teacher training and integrated into all school curriculum. Students Taking Action Together focuses on how to explicitly teach the skills of empathy, perspective-taking, self-regulation, and critical thinking within existing content. These are essential skills that all children need to succeed in this shrinking world. As we continue to work toward an equitable education for all, the STAT program provides a framework for supporting executive function and giving all students a foundation to truly succeed outside an educational environment.
—Rajneet Goomer, Former District Director of Student Services and DEIB Advocate

With Students Taking Action Together, teaching state standards-aligned curriculum in social studies and ELA or securing the future of American democracy and citizenship is no longer an either-or proposition. This how-to book empowers teachers to deliver both while simultaneously developing the SEL competencies of social awareness and responsible decision making and the character traits of respect, civility, and empathy. I know from firsthand experience that teachers who implement STAT's practical strategies feel confident and comfortable facilitating necessary discussions with students about controversial content.
—Richard Cohen, Assistant Superintendent of Metuchen Public Schools and Coauthor of The Metacognitive Student.

Empowering student voices is essential for nurturing lifelong learners. Students Taking Action Together offers strategies that demonstrate the power language has to create change, make an impact, and foster empathy.
—Gayle Colucci, Cranford Schools District Coordinator of Culture and Climate

Students Taking Action Together is the full package. It combines SEL and civics in a powerful way. In these contentious times, the challenge of fully preparing youth to take part in our democracy is sizable. The vision and highly usable resources this book provides will enable educators to meet this vital challenge in ways that are both equitable and effective.
—Joseph Kahne, Dutton Presidential Chair for Education Policy and Politics, University of California, Riverside