Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (EdD)
Department
Education
First Advisor
Gizelle Luevano
Second Advisor
Evelyn Thomas
Abstract
The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore secondary public school English Language Arts (ELA) teachers’ perceptions of implementing ELA curriculum as it may relate to social and emotional learning (SEL) goals. The problem explored was the rise of adolescents’ mental health concerns (CDC, 2019) and the role of secondary schools in attempting to address these concerns. The literature on this topic explored the mental health crisis for adolescents, the history and philosophy of SEL, and how secondary schools are integrating SEL, and how the ELA curriculum may be effective at meeting SEL goals. Six secondary public ELA teachers shared their perceptions through semi-structured interviews. Data from these interviews were coded and analyzed using a 5-step data analysis process developed by Creswell and Poth (2018). The analysis of the findings indicated that participants had an accurate understanding of the definition and goals of SEL. Participants offered multiple examples of strategies and lessons they used to meet SEL goals within their classroom routines and ELA curriculum and found that the ELA curriculum was a natural fit for meeting SEL goals. Additionally, participants believed that it was most effective for their adolescent students to address SEL without calling it SEL. This study is significant because research on adolescent mental health supported the idea that decreasing stigma by normalizing discussion of mental health can have beneficial outcomes for adolescent students. This research has implications for administrators, educators of all content areas, and secondary students.
Comment
Ed.D. Dissertation
Recommended Citation
Throckmorton, Emilie B., "Perceptions Of Secondary English Teachers On Using English Curriculum To Meet Social And Emotional Learning Goals" (2023). Doctor of Education Program Dissertations. 24.
https://dune.une.edu/edu_diss/24