Drew Himmelstein

With misinformation posing "a threat to our democracy,” panelists lobbied for news literacy to be “embedded in the American education system” and suggested lessons. 

From creating SEL book displays to leading nature outings that help heal historical trauma, SLJ Summit panelists described ways they support students. 

The strains of the pandemic have shown how critical SEL is to school communities, particularly those serving at-risk children.

Motivated by the lack of diversity in the books she saw in Little Free Libraries in her Massachusetts hometown, Sarah Kamya set out to add titles by and about Black and brown people to the boxes. Soon she was creating Little Free Diverse Libraries, getting national attention, and setting goals for this project that will continue beyond the pandemic.

In majority-white regions, librarians are bringing diverse books to kids, even when their efforts meet with resistance. 

A wealth of information is available about the Holocaust, but many students don't know much about it. Educators supplement curricula by exploring patterns of genocide and the power of propaganda.

Tips for self-care can be useful but are not always practical. So proactive administrations and public library management are taking steps to support their stressed-out staff.

In Atlanta, graduation rates among black students went up 17 percent with a new SEL program. Hispanic students showed a 25 percent rise. 

Every educator can play a role in SEL, which has been shown to boost academic achievement and improve educational outcomes.