For years research has pointed to an overwhelmingly positive correlation between social and emotional learning (SEL) and successful student performance.  However, the recent push for the Common Core Curriculum, higher standards, Race to the Top, STEM, and other cognitively-based initiatives have crowded out the time, money, and resources for the implementation of SEL either school wide or even in individual classrooms.  Common cries from teachers include, "I just don't have a single minute to devote to anything other than what is going to be on the test," or "If my administrator comes in here and sees us doing that 'touchy-feely' stuff, I will be in real trouble!"However, new research shows strong evidence that America's teachers embrace the ideas of SEL for promoting academic success, student engagement, cooperation, and other positive attributes as well as for acting to deter truancy, drug use, bullying, and violence. Teachers from all over the country have been asking us exactly how they should go about integrating SEL into their classrooms. This book is our response to that request.

ForewordAbout the AuthorsAcknowledgmentsINTRODUCTION Why Teach Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) in the Classroom? What Are the Thrive Skills? Taking This Book to the Next Level (Thrive Website) Thriving TogetherCHAPTER 1. MINDFULNESS IN THE CLASSROOM: SLOWING DOWN TO SPEED UP SUCCESS Why Don't They Just Pay Attention? Mindfulness: What It Is and What It Is Not Using Mindfulness in the Classroom Beginning a Mindfulness Practice Research on Mindfulness in the Classroom Implementation in the Classroom What Supporting Mindfulness Looks Like in the Classroom Frequently Asked Questions Discussion Questions and Exercises Thrive Skills in ActionCHAPTER 2. HELPING STUDENTS WITH THEIR COMMAND AND CONTROL FUNCTIONS Executive Function: What Is It? The Six Skills of Executive Functioning EF Skill 1: Self-Regulation and Self-Control EF Skill 2: Working Memory EF Skill 3: Task Initiation, Organization, and Time Management EF Skill 4: Flexibility EF Skill 5: Emotional Regulation EF Skill 6: Focus What Supporting Executive Function Looks Like in the Classroom Frequently Asked Questions Discussion Questions and Exercises Thrive Skills in ActionCHAPTER 3. CREATING STUDENT AGENCY THROUGH SELF-EFFICACY AND GROWTH MINDSET Self-Efficacy: What Is It? Self-Efficacy: What Is It Not? (Learned Helplessness) Aim for the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) Students' Beliefs About Success (Attribution Theory) Growth vs. Fixed Mindsets How Do We Help Students Develop Growth Mindsets? What Supporting Self-Efficacy and Growth Mindset Looks Like in the Classroom Frequently Asked Questions Discussion Questions and Exercises Thrive Skills in ActionCHAPTER 4. PERSEVERANCE: PUSHING THROUGH DESPITE THE SETBACKS Quit Now or Finish? What Makes the Difference? Perseverance: What It Is and What It Is Not What Educators Need to Know About Perseverance What Does Perseverance Look Like in the Classroom? What Supporting Perseverance Looks Like in the Classroom Frequently Asked Questions Discussion Questions and Exercises Thrive Skills in ActionCHAPTER 5. BOUNCING BACK: TEACHING KIDS ABOUT RESILIENCE Resilience: What Is It? Acknowledge the Struggle Normalize the Struggle The Classroom as the Tribe Resiliency in Boys Developing Resiliency Through Competency Building Hope What Supporting Resilience Looks Like in the Classroom Frequently Asked Questions Discussion Questions and Exercises Thrive Skills in ActionCHAPTER 6. BUILDING A CULTURE OF RESPONSIBILITY IN THE CLASSROOM Give Kids a Chance to Act Responsibly Teaching Responsibility in an Entitled Society Using Accountability to Promote Responsibility Building a Culture of Responsibility Teachers as Models of Responsibility How Do We Reinforce Responsibility? What Supporting Responsibility Looks Like in the Classroom Frequently Asked Questions Discussion Questions and Exercises Thrive Skills in ActionCHAPTER 7. CULTIVATING HONESTY AND INTEGRITY IN STUDENT CHOICES How Do We Teach Personal Integrity? How Do We Teach Academic Integrity? What Do We Do When Children Cheat? The Restorative Justice Approach The Courage to Take a Stand What Supporting Honesty and Integrity Looks Like in the Classroom Frequently Asked Questions Discussion Questions and Exercises Thrive Skills in ActionCHAPTER 8. TAPPING INTO EMPATHY Empathy: What Is It? Does Everyone Have Empathy? What Does Empathy Look Like in Action? Why Is It Important to Teach About Empathy? Modeling Empathy in the Classroom Service Learning Projects Integrating Empathy Into the Curriculum The Power of Empathy What Supporting Empathy Looks Like in the Classroom Frequently Asked Questions Discussion Questions and Exercises Thrive Skills in ActionCHAPTER 9. IT'S ALL ABOUT GRATITUDE "Pay It Forward" Is Still Thriving Gratitude: What Is It? What Research Tells Us About Gratitude Why We Should Teach Gratitude in the Classroom How Do We Teach Gratitude in the Classroom? What Supporting Gratitude Looks Like in the Classroom Frequently Asked Questions Discussion Questions and Exercises Thrive Skills in ActionFinal WordsReferencesIndex