Students Taking Action Together - 5 Teaching Techniques to Cultivate Social Emotional Learning, Civic Engagement, and a Healthy Democracy
By incorporating principles of democratic participation, we help students develop the skills to manage conflict productively, engage respectfully across differences, and persist in working toward community-based solutions. This book study is designed for teachers of all subject areas in grades 5-12. Participants will explore the five STAT - Students Taking Action Together - teaching techniques that include: Norms, Yes-No-Maybe, Respectful Debate, Audience Focused Communication, and PLAN. These strategies are intentionally designed to build students' social, emotional learning (SEL) competencies while equipping them with the tools needed to become active, engaged citizens in our democracy.
As you engage with the instructional strategies, you'll see clear and purposeful connections to the five core SEL competencies. You'll learn how to establish classroom norms that foster a relationship-centered learning environment, and how to guide students through peer opinion-sharing and respectful debate using perspective-taking techniques. Students will practice assuming both pro and con positions, listening to diverse viewpoints, and developing empathy and understanding. You will identify entry points within your existing curriculum to implement STAT with techniques for selecting relevant topics, crafting controversial statements, curating appropriate background materials, forming student groups, and assigning roles.
The book study includes strategies for differentiating instruction, with a focus on strength-based adaptations to support students with diverse learning needs. Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles and tiered-assignments will help you to plan and deliver inclusive STAT lessons. STAT strategies are highly adaptable and can be applied across disciplines including science, technology, math, ELA and even visual and performing arts. Ultimately, this process supports integration of the NYS Education Department's Portrait of a Graduate framework.
FORMAT: Asynchronous online learning
DATES: 10/19/25 - 12/20/25
FACILITATOR: Susan Alviene, Trainer, Project AWARE Rensselaer & Lansingburgh CSD
GCRTC CONTACT: Lorena Hurst, GCRTC Teacher Leadership Coach for Elementary Education
FEE: None. Registration is required.
CTLE HOURS: 15
REGISTRATION: https://tinyurl.com/mp5xtnm8