Reading Resources for 9-12
Books.
Create a library for high school students with culturally-diverse literature that teaches SEL skills.
Hover over an image for a description of the book, or click on an image to be redirected to a new page where you can purchase.
Strategies.
Meaningful ways to teach texts to high school students while incorporating SEL.
Click the hyperlinks to be taken to the full article about the strategy.
1. Build Relationships: Students will feel most comfortable speaking up and participating in class if the teacher and their
peers know them, support them, and have modeled what the practice of sharing in class looks like. Be supportive of
students and validate their initiatives to share.
2. Select Diverse Literature: Provide students with stories that have characters from diverse backgrounds and cultures. Let
students see people who are like them in the literature, but also let them read about characters who are different from
them. Read books that make students question their assumptions and allows them to read about places that are different
from their own community.
3. Circle Up: Have class sit in a circle and discuss the characters. If students are comfortable, have them make comparisons
between the characters and themselves. Invite students to step into the character's shoes and imagine themselves in the
character's position (this builds empathy.)
4. Create Book Trailers: Allow students to create a trailer video in which they highlight a character within a novel of their
choosing, specifically talking about the experiences of the character and how that affects the character's emotions, actions,
and outcomes.
peers know them, support them, and have modeled what the practice of sharing in class looks like. Be supportive of
students and validate their initiatives to share.
2. Select Diverse Literature: Provide students with stories that have characters from diverse backgrounds and cultures. Let
students see people who are like them in the literature, but also let them read about characters who are different from
them. Read books that make students question their assumptions and allows them to read about places that are different
from their own community.
3. Circle Up: Have class sit in a circle and discuss the characters. If students are comfortable, have them make comparisons
between the characters and themselves. Invite students to step into the character's shoes and imagine themselves in the
character's position (this builds empathy.)
4. Create Book Trailers: Allow students to create a trailer video in which they highlight a character within a novel of their
choosing, specifically talking about the experiences of the character and how that affects the character's emotions, actions,
and outcomes.
In Action.
Watch the video below to see SEL in action during a literacy circle.