Planning Materials Support Educators
A curriculum guide, educator-to-educator video, letter to readers from Steve Pemberton, discussion strategies, and academic vocabulary list support implementation.
Social and emotional learning (SEL) can positively impact student success. The A Chance in the World SEL curriculum for Grades 8–12, based on the best-selling memoir by Steve Pemberton, reinforces SEL competencies. While studying A Chance in the World, students learn about the life-changing power of empathy and resilience.
A curriculum guide, educator-to-educator video, letter to readers from Steve Pemberton, discussion strategies, and academic vocabulary list support implementation.
Read and discuss A Chance in the World using a weekly schedule. The activities, discussion questions, writing prompts, and related readings strengthen SEL and ELA skills.
Based on educator feedback, we recommend six weeks for an all-school read or a class book study of A Chance in the World. At the end, hold a personal-narrative writing workshop, or celebrate with a school-wide assembly.
Educators can focus on SEL activities and essential questions, or the ELA lessons and writing workshop. Afterward, they might show a video of an interview with Steve Pemberton, or invite a speaker to the class whose life or work is relevant to the curriculum.
A Chance in the World is included on the HMH Into Literature® reading list, or can be purchased separately. An HMH Coaching Membership offers support for educators teaching SEL, plus additional professional development.
HMH Into Literature for Grades 6–12 equips students with the reading, writing, speaking, listening, and SEL skills required for success in tomorrow’s world.
New and veteran teachers alike will benefit from a yearlong instructional coaching experience that provides tools to achieve their goals and put their passion into practice.
A Chance in the World engages students who see their lives reflected in Pemberton’s story. In the video above, the author shares how “human lighthouses” can positively impact the lives of others.
We aren’t measured by what happens to us, but rather by how we respond to it.
Steve Pemberton
Author of A Chance in the World
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Explore SEL articles and resources to support social and emotional learning in the classroom.
Steve Pemberton, the author of The Lighthouse Effect, and Carmen Ortiz-McGhee, Chief Operating Officer at NAIC and one of the lighthouses featured in Steve’s book, explain the Lighthouse Effect principle and how their teacher lighthouses positively impacted their lives.
Introduce your students to the five competencies of SEL with these writing and journal prompts for elementary, middle, and high school.
These five social-emotional learning activities for high school students are based on CASEL's core SEL competencies. This lesson plan will help mold your students into independent and meaningful contributors to society.
Get answers to common questions like "What is social-emotional learning in education?" and "Why is SEL important?"
Check out a few suggestions for empathy activities for middle schoolers and find new ways for teaching empathy in the classroom.
Why is SEL important? In an HMH survey, K-12 educators noted the high importance of social emotional learning in schools today.
2022 National Teacher of the Year finalist Autumn Rivera shares her journey as a middle school science teacher—from supporting social and emotional learning to making the great outdoors her classroom.
Meet Julia Allan, a Kindergarten teacher in Howard County Public Schools. She talks about equity in education, social-emotional learning, the tooth fairy, bus stresses, and the joys of seeing her students grow together.
Garrett Jackson, a special education teacher in Saipan, CNMI, talks about teaching in isolation, supporting students after a natural disaster, and using edtech in occupational therapy.
Learn how the A Chance in the World curriculum inspires positive change in schools.
CORE CURRICULUM
HMH Social Studies, 6-12
SEE ALL SOCIAL STUDIES
AP & ELECTIVES
AP Human Geography
Personal Finance
SEE ALL SOCIAL STUDIES
AP & ELECTIVES
SUPPLEMENTAL
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Keeping It Current For Grades 6–12
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