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Stevenson dance teachers say SEL-focused curriculum boosted student belonging and retention
Summary
Dance teachers at Adlai E. Stevenson High School told the school board that reworking introductory curriculum to emphasize community and risk-taking increased student engagement, retention and classroom climate scores.
Melinda Crigler, Angela Dalton and Takki Van Cleef, dance teachers at Adlai E. Stevenson High School, told the Board of Education on May 12 that reframing Dance 1 to prioritize community and student agency led to measurable improvements in student engagement and course retention.
The teachers said they shifted curriculum after the COVID years to lead with movement and community-building rather than beginning with strict technique. "We wanted them to just try it — just leap," Crigler said, describing the approach that encouraged students to take risks and support peers. Teachers reported that students responded by taking more chances in class and cheering…
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