Handbook of Social and Emotional Learning: Research and Practice, Oct/2016

The burgeoning multidisciplinary field of social and emotional learning (SEL) now has a comprehensive and definitive handbook covering all aspects of research, practice, and policy. The prominent editors and contributors describe state-of-the-art intervention and prevention programs designed to build students' skills for managing emotions, showing concern for others, making responsible decisions, and forming positive relationships. Conceptual and scientific underpinnings of SEL are explored and its relationship to children's and adolescents' academic success and mental health examined. Issues in implementing and assessing SEL programs in diverse educational settings are analyzed in depth, including the roles of school- and district-level leadership, teacher training, and school-family partnerships.

Reviews:

“A very important volume for practitioners and policymakers. Until educators come to grips with the full meaning of SEL—its strong theoretical basis, the tools available for applying this knowledge in classrooms, and the very real impacts it produces for students—we will continue to see a disconnect between public education and the needs of the students and society it serves. This volume will be of tremendous use in graduate courses in teacher preparation, educational policy, assessment, school psychology, school counseling, leadership preparation, and program evaluation. Educators will do well to draw from the impressive evidence base and practical implications outlined throughout.”
—Robert C. Pianta, PhD, Dean, Curry School of Education, University of Virginia

“A masterpiece! Durlak and his colleagues have assembled the very best thinkers and writers in the broad field of SEL, and have created a volume that must be on the shelf of every researcher, educator, and student. It is not easy to bridge theory, empirical findings, and practice in this arena—let alone to cut across the silos of biology, psychology, and education—but this book does so, with admirable breadth and depth. For my laboratory’s work on emotional intelligence, we will refer to it often.”
—Peter Salovey, PhD, President and Chris Argyris Professor of Psychology, Yale University

“It has taken educational researchers and reformers far too long to learn what the public has known all along: in order to make their way in life, there are no more important skills for our children to learn than dependability, persistence, and teamwork. Among the exceptional few who have steadfastly promoted the value of SEL are the editors and contributors of this volume. They have served as voices in the wilderness, gathering evidence for and supporting programs that foster these fundamental skills. As evidence has finally started to move the educational reform movement toward a balanced approach, there is no better map to guide future SEL efforts than this rigorous and humane handbook.”
—Robert L. Selman, PhD, Roy E. Larsen Professor of Human Development and Education, Harvard University

“This is a terrific resource for those interested in researching, implementing, and evaluating SEL programs. The book describes the theoretical foundations of SEL and contains a wealth of practical guidance related to funding, cultural considerations, organizational readiness, assessment strategies, and implementation at various grade levels. It also presents new and exciting ways of thinking about SEL programs, such as considering their health benefits and economic impact. I recommend this book for graduate students in school psychology and counseling, as well as practitioners working to select and evaluate SEL programs.”
—Brian C. McKevitt, PhD, NCSP, Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska Omaha

“The arrival of this authoritative handbook, edited and written by leaders in SEL, is a milestone and a solid indicator of the coming of age of this foundational field. The quite extraordinary breadth of integration it provides—of the history, research base, practice, and policy in SEL—will speak to an extremely wide audience at all levels. Policymakers, professionals, administrators, researchers, students, and indeed anyone who is concerned with the education of our children cannot fail to be both informed and inspired by the picture this volume paints and the challenges it raises. There can no longer be any question of why SEL matters.”
—Katherine Weare, PhD, Professor, School of Education (Emeritus), University of Southampton, United Kingdom

“This is the first-ever comprehensive overview of SEL. It brings together state-of-the-art theory, research, and practice in ways that are of immense relevance for both primary and secondary education. Contributors convincingly demonstrate and substantiate the intimate relationship between social-emotional and academic development.”
—René F. W. Diekstra, PhD, Emeritus Professor of Psychology, University College Roosevelt Middelburg; Professor of Youth and Development, The Hague University of Applied Sciences, The Netherlands

“An impressive, cutting-edge work. With superb breadth and depth, theHandbook showcases theoretical foundations, programming options, implementation specifics, and an optimistic vision for the future. Educators, mental health practitioners, scholars, administrators, and trainees will be motivated to fully explore this volume and discover current, relevant, and highly useful information. It will surely become the go-to resource in the field.”
—Barbara A. Gueldner, PhD, NCSP, private practice, Steamboat Springs, Colorado