252 pages · 2025
Lessons in Community
A Teacher’s Guide to Reimagining Classroom Management and Social-Emotional Learning
By Mari Dean
- Published
- December 29, 2025
- Imprint
- Routledge
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- ISBN
- 9781003532941
Overview
About this book
Building an engaging and thriving classroom community is the goal of every teacher. But while conventional classroom management relies on rewards and punishments to create a culture of compliance, teachers know that classroom communities and children deserve more and better. In Lessons in Community, elementary school teacher Mari Dean shares an asset-based and step-by-step process for reimagining classroom management and social-emotional learning. Whether it’s helping students navigate friendship issues, identify their own emotions and learn tools and strategies to regulate, advocate for themselves, or problem solve the day-to-day issues of classroom life, Lessons in Community provides strategies, lessons and stories to get you started or help you take the next step in your journey.
Inside this book you’ll find:
● 24 classroom lessons organized around themes of regulation, relationships, problem solving and agency
● Ready-to-use anchor charts, sample teacher language, role play scenarios, and read-aloud suggestions to accompany the lessons
● A process and seed ideas for creating your own responsive lessons
● Photographs, examples, humor, and humanity from a fellow classroom teacher
Grounded in the pursuit of humanizing schools and classrooms where children experience agency and joy, Mari Dean examines both the classroom management practices we must disrupt and those we must work towards to create these places in our own classrooms.
Subjects
K-12 Resources
Inside the book
Table of contents
Select a chapter to read its abstract.
Chapter Chapter 1Introduction
Pages: 12
In this chapter we think about many commonly used behavior management strategies and the potential negative impacts they can have on children. We examine the inequities with discipline practices and begin to reimagine a new way of supporting students in classrooms by leaving conventional classroom management strategies behind and teaching students social-emotional skills to support them in living in community with one another.
Chapter Chapter 2Laying the Foundation
Pages: 19
In this chapter we explore what beliefs serve as a strong foundation for this work. We examine what it means in action and practice to live these beliefs in our classrooms.
Chapter Chapter 3The Process
Pages: 28
In this chapter we think about a process for teaching social-emotional skills. Then we dig deeper into observing behaviors, analyzing possible impacts, identifying a social-emotional skill to teach, and planning how to effectively teach the skill and support student independence. We explore a variety of strategies that can be used to teach these skills.
Chapter Chapter 4Prelude to the Lessons
Pages: 15
In this chapter we discover what a strategy lesson is and examine the structure and purpose of the various parts of the lessons in the upcoming lesson chapters.
Chapter Chapter 5Regulation—“I Didn't Mean To!”
Pages: 38
In this chapter we learn about what regulation is and the importance of setting up environments and structures that are developmentally appropriate for children. There are various strategy lessons in this chapter that help teach students regulation skills.
Chapter Chapter 6Relationships—“You're Not My Friend Anymore”
Pages: 38
In this chapter we explore relationships and friendships. We learn about the power of boundaries, repair, perspective taking, and how to set up classrooms that cultivate strong relationships. There are various strategy lessons in this chapter that help teach students relationship skills.
Chapter Chapter 7Problem Solving—“I Can't Do It”
Pages: 32
In this chapter we explore problem solving. We explore the importance and benefits of healthy struggles, our mindsets, and how we can empower kids to see themselves as problem solvers. There are various strategy lessons in this chapter that help teach students problem-solving skills.
Chapter Chapter 8Agency—“You're Not the Boss of Me”
Pages: 30
In this chapter we explore the topic of agency and how cries for freedom and power might show up in classrooms. We learn about the importance of embedding choice and differentiating our teaching. There are various strategy lessons in this chapter that help teach students ways to use their agency.
Chapter Chapter 9“But What About…?”: Frequently Asked Questions Around Teaching Social-Emotional Skills
Pages: 18
In this chapter we examine the questions that frequently bubble up when trying out this work. We attempt to provide ideas and ways you might approach challenges that will inevitably arise. The chapter ends with a send-off for teachers to bravely try out this work.