Social Emotional Learning for Multilingual Learners

"Diane Staehr Fenner and Mindi Teich’s new book, Social Emotional Learning for Multilingual Learners: Essential Actions for Success, is a masterful addition to their robust body of work in support of multilingual learners. It is a call to action for all educators to address the SEL competencies that support all students, with a focus on the unique needs of multilingual learners, the complexity of their experiences, and the long-standing systematic issues impacting this population.  The book is designed for all educators as it provides clear strategies and recommendations for the inclusion of SEL competencies in all our daily work with our students, as it also encourages professionals to become more self-reflective and empathic in our interactions with students and one another." -- Diane Howitt, Executive Director
"Immense thanks to Diane Staehr Fenner and Mindi Teich for writing this book because the topic is so prevalent, yet few books address the specific social-emotional needs of our ML kids and provide professional learning tools for practitioners. Long-term school success is not just about academics, and it’s not just about dealing with ‘learning loss’ or the pandemic effect. This book gives educators, administrators, and school support instructional personnel like school counselors the most comprehensive information, real examples, and actual tools and guidance to best work with our ML students to shape and ensure their well-being." -- Giselle Lundy-Ponce, Director, Educational Rights and Social Justice Initiatives and Policy, American Federation of Teachers
"A critical extension of the CASEL Framework, this book offers educators the most essential understandings of the social and emotional inner lives of multilingual learners, as well as tangible actions they can take to support students in building their SEL competencies. Staehr Fenner and Teich shine a timely light on the need for nuanced and culturally-sensitive SEL programs. Whatever your role in a school community, you will find information and ideas that will transform your practice permanently." -- April Perkins, Director of Multilingual Programs
"While social-emotional learning has become a hot topic across educational circles, not enough attention has focused on the needs of multilingual learners. Teachers are an essential element in addressing their social-emotional needs, but only 30% of the professional development related to SEL addresses MLs specifically. Ideally, teachers and administrators will become well-versed in the concepts and processes put forward in this new book. Immigration can offer hope and new opportunities to families seeking a better life, but the process is too often filled with challenges and uncertainties. Diane Staehr Fenner and Mindi Teich′s work helps all educators empower immigrants and their children to truly make the most of those opportunities." -- Eleni Pappamihiel, Professor
"Dr. Staehr Fenner and Ms. Teich’s book amplifies the urgency of understanding how social-emotional learning approaches address the emotional needs of diverse, multilingual learners in our classrooms, schools, and districts. They share practical educator actions to support MLs’ access to each of the five SEL competencies and create space for educators to reflect on their own experiences with SEL as they navigate their unique learning journey. I highly recommend this timely book to all educators looking to elevate their mindset to implement critical considerations, strategies, and tools to intentionally integrate SEL for MLs into their daily instructional practices, accelerate learning opportunities, and foster MLs′ well-being and academic success." -- Luis-Gustavo Martinez, Senior Policy Analyst/Program Specialist
"Staehr Fenner and Teich bravely approach the naturally sensitive topic of SEL with simple rationale and actionable techniques that should enable all educators and administrators to provide multilingual learners with the environment to thrive." -- Daniel Ward, Editor
"Staehr Fenner and Teich have provided a valuable and especially timely resource that centers on the socio-emotional needs of linguistically diverse learners. By engaging in self-reflection and application, individually or as part of a learning community, readers will increase their understanding of terms, definitions, SEL competencies, and essential practices. The practices described are necessary for all educators to recognize, further develop, and support the well-being of their students. Academically robust, healthy, socio-emotionally empowered learning communities are what all students deserve." -- Ayanna Cooper, Author/Consultant
"Every time Diane and her colleagues write a book, my practice transforms and levels up. While reading this book, I immediately started revising my lesson and unit plans to integrate SEL. I love frameworks, and this book offers a central framework that guides SEL integration. Each chapter shows us how to delicately design instruction so that life-skill development is not an ′extra′ responsibility but actually foundational to working with MLs." -- Tan Huynh, Secondary ELD Teacher
"This urgently needed book guides educators through a framework of practical ways to integrate equitable SEL instruction for multilingual learners throughout the school day. The real-life scenarios, note-taking tools, checklists, and reflection questions will support educators as they collaborate to thoughtfully and systematically implement the recommendations at a classroom and school-wide level. All educators and the multilingual learners they serve will benefit from the affirming practices in this book." -- Beth Skelton, Education Consultant
"One of the areas that has received less attention regarding the education of culturally and linguistically diverse students is social emotional learning. Staehr Fenner and Teich’s work, grounded on an advocacy stand, not only provides clear directions to implement SEL competencies for the benefit of MLs, but also describes the principles and rationale behind each of these competencies." -- David Nieto, Associate Professor
"Diane Staehr Fenner and Mindi Teich combined their decades of field-experiences and produced a much-needed new resource. They not only make an indisputable claim that Social Emotional Learning for Multilingual Learners is an essential component of these students’ education, but they also offer a well-constructed framework and concrete, actionable recommendations. A must-have for today’s complex classrooms!" -- Dr. Andrea Honigsfeld, Author/Consultant, Professor of TESOL Teacher Education
"This book provides a much-needed comprehensive and holistic ′deep dive′ into the multi-layered topic of social and emotional learning with multilingual learners at the forefront. The authors provide numerous hands-on tools and reflection questions to help schools ensure that their SEL efforts and priorities are equitable, inclusive, culturally and linguistically responsive, trauma-informed, and focused on the well-being of all students within the school community." -- Lydia Breiseth, Director
"Social Emotional Learning for Multilingual Learners: Essential Actions for Success could not come at a better time as more and more migrants and asylum seekers are entering our schools. Our emergent multilingual learners face unique challenges when acquiring a new language in a culturally different environment. The strategies in this book will provide them with the necessary tools and skills to effectively navigate those challenges and thrive." -- Ron Woo, Executive Director
"Over the years, when creating professional learning for teachers, I have often referred back to books by Diane Staehr Fenner. Her ability to take research and make it useful for practitioners is impressive. In Social Emotional Learning for Multilingual Learners: Essential Actions for Success by Diane Staehr Fenner and Mindi Teich, she does it again. Both authors bring current understanding of issues around social emotional learning to the  forefront. How can we teach a student that isn′t in a state of mind to learn? This book helps you go beyond just understanding and empathy. It helps teachers and school staff thoroughly understand how to help multilingual learners reach their fullest potential." -- Sam Klein, Supervisor
"Diane Staehr Fenner and Mindi Teich are steadfast advocates for multilingual learners—especially when it comes to supporting their social-emotional well-being. They provide practical tools for building and strengthening multilingual learners’ self-awareness, self-management, awareness of others, relational skills, and responsive decision-making. Whether you′re a new or experienced educator, administrator, coach, or counselor, their valuable contribution is a crucial resource." -- Debbie Zacarian, Founding Director