Editorial Reviews for Accountability in the Classroom

Dr. Carr tackles a crucial element of modern teaching: the whole child. Schools now work in partnership with the family unit to provide citizens the opportunity to grow socially and emotionally. Since this work is done in partnership with families, school systems prepare students for not only academic achievements, but they also prepare students for life-long success. As Dr. Carr urges, social-emotional learning is the linchpin of a truly well-rounded education that prepares all students for career and life successes. It is time school systems heed this call for holistic learning.

-Helen Babbin, principal, Federal Way Public Schools, Washington

Accountability in the Classroom serves as a roadmap for implementing social-emotional learning at the secondary level from the ground up. As we prepare to send students into the world, it is important that we equip them emotionally and socially as well as academically. This is the key to unlocking our students’ full potential. Not only do the strategies presented in this book have the possibility to raise student achievement, they offer surefire ways to ensure that all students exit high school with the ability to self-analyze and self-advocate. Accountability in the Classroom provides the latest insight on SEL from the point of view of a researcher turned teacher.

-Melissa Nankin, assistant principal, Prince George’s County Public Schools, Maryland

The author presents an excellent case for turning the American educational system toward teaching the whole child, the importance of fostering emotional IQ through SEL, and SEL school assessments to ensure skill-building and student success. I appreciated the thorough breakdown of SEL state standards and their assessments. Dr. Carr spells it out quite plainly: SEL data is needed to inform decisions, now more than ever.

-Kerri Godina, MSW, elementary school counselor, Federal Way Public Schools, Washington

Dr. Renee Carr has developed a timely must-read for all stakeholders in the field of education. Knowing systems with foundational social and emotional learning (SEL) practices produce measurable increases in student achievement, she expounds arguments for the use of SEL in school accountability. Dr. Carr provides clear pathways based on a synthesis of research and experience for understanding the importance of teaching skills such as collaboration, empathy, and decision-making in schools. Systemically, we teach what will be measured and what we are accountable for, and her work will help schools move forward with innovative, evidence-based practices leading to powerful educational outcomes for our students.

-Andie Ahlfors, MEd, third grade teacher/SEL lead teacher, Renton School District, Washington

Editorial Reviews for Kids Before Content

Dr. Carr’s Kids Before Content provides practical advice and research behind every social-emotional learning competency for educators. I enjoyed reading her approach for educators to improve our well-being first and then our students’ well-being. There are few times when educators are considered first in the school culture shift to using SEL. Arguably, educators are the first link to improving SEL in their students. If educators do not have the SEL skills to help their students develop them, then they cannot. I now have the tools I need to address SEL first for myself, and then for my students. I look forward to using these suggestions in my classroom.

—Nina Gomez-Perez, teacher, Prince George’s County Public Schools, Maryland

As I was reading Kids Before Content, I discovered how teachers and school staff can enhance their own SEL competencies, and then improve these competencies in their students. Kids Before Content guides teachers to enhance their own SEL or emotional intelligence. SEL provides teachers an opportunity to effectively connect with each other and with their students. A focus on an SEL culture makes it easier to reach students where they are, and then be able to teach the content. When SEL competencies are the focus for everyone, all are better prepared for learning.

—Maria Papathanassiou, teacher, Fairfax County Public Schools, Virginia

Dr. Carr’s book is a framework about incorporating much needed, social-emotional lessons into the everyday classroom. The book provides ideas for teaching and making connections with students through personal sharing, including displaying some vulnerability. At the end of every chapter, there are questions for reflection, as well as answers to contemplate. While educators may not have control over how a district or school is run, they do have control over what can be taught in the classroom. Feeling empathy and modeling empathy to our students, and even administrators, are ways in which we can create a better world for future generations. As Maya Angelou once said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

—Ying Smith, teacher, Fairfax County Public Schools, Virginia