Teaching with a Social, Emotional, and Cultural Lens: A Framework for Educators and Teacher Educators

Today more than ever teachers need support in learning how to integrate social-emotional skill development and culturally responsive teaching into their academic instruction. The framework offered by Markowitz and Bouffard outlines a pathway for meeting this need. The Anchor Competencies Framework describes a “comprehensive view of social and emotional development by addressing: 1) the needs of the adults in the education system, 2) the context of the system, and 3) the direct links between social-emotional skills, culturally responsive teaching practices, and academic skills in the full range of academic subjects” (p. 7). Written for teachers, school leaders, and teacher educators, this framework recognizes the inadequacy of stand-alone lessons on social skills and instead shows educators how to make the most of our ongoing opportunities to help students grow critical life skills alongside of academic competencies.This book will be valuable to educators seeking answers to our most pressing problem – how to help all students to thrive in school and acquire the understandings and skills needed to lead fulfilling, responsible lives. Markowitz and Bouffard remind us “Developing young people’s social, emotional, and cultural awareness is everyone’s responsibility” (p. 82)