Using Social Emotional Learning to Prevent School Violence

Book excerpt: Using Social Emotional Learning to Prevent School Violence is an essential resource that seeks to close the existing gap in literature on ways to mitigate school violence, as well as to advocate for the integration of social emotional learning in schools. In an effort to create culturally responsive, student-centered, and secure school environments, this book outlines strategies that highlight the importance of collaboration between critical stakeholders in identifying and mitigating bullying, assisting students struggling with relationship building skills, grief and loss, and anger; particularly those that demonstrate the need for power and control or the desire for retaliation. Mental health issues are also taken into consideration. Proactive responses and best practices are exemplifed in order to equip struggling students with resources that foster their well-being and success. Dr. Paolini draws upon extensive research in her depiction of school violence in America’s education system and designs lesson plans and activities that address and align with each of the social emotional learning core competencies for both elementary and secondary school counselors. This book will be of interest to critical stakeholders in P-12 settings as well as those in higher education, particularly as a resource for graduate students training to become transformative school counselors.