Using Social Emotional Learning to Prevent School Violence: A Reference and Activity Guide

223 Pages·2022·3.186 MB·English

by  Allison Paolini

Using Social Emotional Learning
to Prevent School Violence
Using Social Emotional Learning to Prevent School Violence is an essential
resource that seeks to close the existing gap in the 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 exemplified 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.
Allison Paolini, Ph.D., NCC, is an Assistant Professor of Counselor
Education and is the Director of the MSE School Counseling Program at
Arkansas State University. She has previously worked as an elementary
school counselor and her main area of research interest is social emo-
tional learning and its instrumental role in mitigating school violence, as
well as the impact of social emotional learning on fostering academic,
social/emotional, career readiness, and success for all students.

Using Social Emotional
Learning to Prevent
School Violence
A Reference and Activity Guide
Allison Paolini
Cover image: SiewHoong (Getty)
First published 2023
by Routledge
605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158
and by Routledge
4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa
business
© 2023 Allison Paolini
The right of Allison Paolini to be identified as author of this work
has been asserted in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or
reproduced or utilised in any form or by any electronic,
mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented,
including photocopying and recording, or in any information
storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the
publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks
or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and
explanation without intent to infringe.
Library of Congress Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalog record for this title has been requested
ISBN: 978-1-032-20096-5 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-032-20095-8 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-003-26218-3 (ebk)
DOI: 10.4324/9781003262183
Typeset in Times New Roman
by MPS Limited, Dehradun
This book is dedicated to my parents, Maris and Steven, for
their unconditional love, mentorship, adoration, support, and
unwavering belief in me. You are my heroes and I am
supremely fortunate to have such exceptional role models.
Thank you for helping me to make my dreams come true. My
gratitude and love for you is immeasurable. To my son, Jordan,
you have taught me what true love is. Everything I do in this
world is for you. Your laughter, brilliance, goodness, humor,
compassion, humility, resilience, and innate abilities are so
admirable and inspire me to be the best I can be. You are my
heart and soul. Thank you for being you and for choosing me to
be your mom. You are pure magic. Always believe in yourself,
work hard to achieve your goals, and never allow anyone to dull
your sparkle; shine like the brightest star you are. Anything
and everything is possible with resilience, faith, and desire for
greatness. To, Coconut and Shalom, thank you for your love,
loyalty, companionship, licks, hugs, and for being the most
incredible fur babies. I love you both immensely. To my
brother, Damien, thank you for your protection, tenacity, and
strength; I love you dearly and miss you every day. To my Aunt
Loris, for your courage, for being an inspiration, and for
motivating me to reach my fullest potential. To my Aunt Stacy
for your intelligence, drive, and adoration; you are an
incredible mom, and beautiful inside and out. To my Aunt
Sandy, thank you for your wisdom, love, compassion, and
encouragement; you are the greatest God Mother a girl could
ask for. To my Aunt Diane and Uncle Abe thank you for
watching over Jordan and me and for your friendship, radiance,
love, and loyalty. I love you endlessly. To my beloved
grandparents, Frank, Helen, Jack, and Renee, who have taught
me to keep moving forward, that after every storm comes a
rainbow, and have demonstrated the importance of hard work,
sacrifice, passion, diligence, perseverance, eternal love,
commitment, dedication, and family above all. Thank you for
being my white light and for always being in my orbit. You are
my forever angels and I love you higher than Heaven.
Contents
Preface xii
Helpful Resources for P-12 Schools xiv
1 The ASCA National Model 1
2 School Counselors Role: Importance of Creating a Safe
School Climate and Fostering Positive Relationships with
Students 4
3 Overview of Bullying 7
Bullying Statistics 7
Effects of Bullying 8
4 Overview of Cyberbullying 10
Cyberbullying Statistics 10
Effects of Cyberbullying 11
5 Parental Involvement 13
Some Challenges that May Impede upon Parents’
Involvement 14
Strategies that Schools Can Use to Maximize Parental
Involvement 14
6 Mental Health Statistics Within Schools 18
COVID-19 and Mental Health 19
viii Contents
7 Background Information: School Violence 23
Leading Causes of School Shootings 27
Perpetrator Characteristics 28
8 Reasons for Increased School Violence 31
School Challenges 34
9 Impact of School Violence on Students and Stakeholders 36
10 Role of Stakeholders in Mitigating School Violence 38
11 Social Emotional Learning Overview 45
SEL Principles 46
SEL Competencies 48
SEL Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Skills 51
12 Significance of Social Emotional Learning 64
SEL and Enhancing College and Career Readiness 68
SEL and Promoting Mental Health 71
13 Social Emotional Learning and Reducing School Violence 77
SEL and Reducing School Violence: Prevention
Strategies 79
Bullying Prevention 80
Creating a Safe School Climate 81
Conducting Needs Assessments 81
Identifying At-Risk Students and Conducting Threat
Assessments 82
Fostering Resilience 83
Increasing Parental Involvement and Monitoring Social
Media 83
Celebrating Diversity 84
Peer Pal System 86
Peer Mediation 87
Visibility and Break Down Codes of Silence 87
Contents ix
14 Social Emotional Learning: School-Wide Programs 91
Positive Behavior Intervention and Support 91
No Place For Hate 91
Olweus Antibullying/Violence Prevention Program 92
Steps to Respect 92
The 4 R’s Program 92
Caring School Community (CSC) 93
Character First 93
Lions Quest 93
Botvin Life Skills Training 94
Responsive Services: Classroom/Small Group/Individual
Counseling 94
Accountability 97
Empathy 98
Decision-Making 100
Emotion Regulation 100
Grief and Loss 102
15 Self-Awareness 106
Secondary Activities 106
Lesson Plan 1: Anxiety 106
Lesson Plan 2: Depression 108
Lesson Plan 3: Self-Esteem 109
Lesson Plan 4: Optimism and Hope 111
Elementary/Primary Activities to Become My Best
Self 113
Lesson 1: Identifying Strengths 113
Lesson 2: Growth Mindset 114
Lesson 3: Goal Setting 116
Lesson 4: Negative Self-Talk 117
Lesson 5: Empowerment 120
Lesson 6: Self-Acceptance 122
16 Self-Management 125
Secondary Activities 123
Lesson Plan 1: Emotion Regulation 125
Lesson Plan 2: Motivation 127
Lesson Plan 3: Stress Management 129