Social and Emotional Learning and Its Implementation in a Standard 9th Grade English Language Arts Curriculum

The basis of the thesis is to examine effective teacher practices through the research of social and emotional learning, examining both teacher behavior and best teaching practices and how these two influences impact students\u27 reception of the curriculum. The literature review will be divided in three parts: a pedagogical overview, the importance of critical reflection for teachers, and how empathy, in partnership with other thinking operations and qualities of character, effect student\u27s capacity to connect to the curriculum. Following the literature review is a curriculum design. This curriculum design serves to demonstrate an example of how social and emotional learning can be implemented in a standard ninth grade English language arts classroom. It contains an overview of four units with three sample lessons per unit. All units follow the Mississippi Department of Education\u27s College and Career Readiness Standards