Initially, my inquiry question stemmed from experiences in elementary schools. All of the elementary schools I have worked infuse social and emotional learning strategies into day to day happenings at the school. I have not observed this in secondary schools, with the exception of alternative learning programs.
My question has not changed through the process of inquiry I and II, but after researching pedagogical models, SEL programs that have been implemented in physical education settings, and PHE teachers’ views of SEL and how it relates to their course content, the way that I approach the question has changed. This inquiry project documents my journey into finding out why this disconnect exists between elementary and secondary approaches to teaching and learning, whether there is value in applying SEL approaches at the secondary level, and learning more about which approaches may be most successful or most realistic.