At Move This World we frequently carve out time to reflect on both our progress and our missteps. By engaging in consistent reflection, we give ourselves the space to appreciate both life and work and to set clear intentions that will contribute to improvement and growth.
Over the past year, we’ve formed new connections and strengthened old, challenged ourselves to question our thinking, developed new programming, and hit major milestones, both personally and professionally. Check out some of our 2017 highlights below.
We’ve continued to evolve and expand.
A new year called for a new set of tools. In late 2016, we began to evaluate and expand our curriculum in partnership with the American Institutes of Research. Based on the feedback we’ve received from our committed teachers, students and administrators, we updated all of our past tools and created double the video content over last year. We expanded our library of social and emotional learning resources, added discussion boards to encourage collaboration between partner schools, and included follow-up questions to supplement each episode. Finally, we’ve improved our implementation process, guides, and the overall usability of the platform.
Outside of the evolution of our product we’ve continued to expand our impact. Move This World’s SEL curriculum is currently being used in 1,012 classrooms across 37 school districts and 12 states. In the past year alone we’ve entered 60 new schools. Each time we turn on the news the need for social emotional learning becomes increasingly apparent. We need citizens who can empathize, navigate conflict and appreciate differences. Move This World is helping individuals flex these muscles and develop those skills.
We’re finding power in evidence.
Over the past several years there have been a variety of research studies focused on the importance and impact of social emotional learning in schools. In the past year alone, we’ve seen new research rolled out by the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) evaluating principals’ perceptions of social emotional learning and the degree to which teacher certification programs are addressing SEL. The National Commission on Social, Emotional and Academic Development released a set of consensus statements drawing from brain science, medicine, economics, psychology, and education research to describe why it is essential to address the social, emotional, and cognitive dimensions of learning.
The Move This World curriculum is rooted in evidence-based research studies and theories of positive psychology and creative expression. Our team has carefully tracked impact data since the creation of the program. This fall we began our first controlled research study in partnership with Metro Nashville Public Schools and the Curry School of Education at University of Virginia. This will not only enable us to further prove the efficacy of Move This World’s program but also help us continue to identify areas of strength and improvement within our curriculum to ensure our partners have continued results year after year.
Our partners are our greatest allies.
As Move This World has evolved over the years, the heart of our mission has stayed the same: to strengthen the social and emotional wellbeing of individuals so that everyone can thrive and reach their full potential. Each and everyday we continue to be motivated by this sentiment. In order for us to truly understand how we can strengthen wellbeing, we first must understand what challenges educators are facing.
It was through the support and feedback of our inspiring partners that we were able to successfully double our curriculum over the past year. Looking into 2018, we look forward to continuing our close knit partnerships by working with Move This World teachers, administrators and students to grow a product that will continue to meet their needs.
Each year brings a new adventure.
Both in and outside of the office, each year brings new and exciting adventures. As our program continues to grow and expand, so does our team. This year we welcomed three new faces in Move This World headquarters. Founder and CEO, Sara, also welcomed her first child, a beautiful baby girl.
One year ago it was difficult to predict what the next year would bring, and there were certainly many surprises, triumphs, and challenges along the way. We look forward to seeing what 2018 has in store as we continue to Move This World.
Sign up for Move This World’s newsletter to stay up to date on social emotional learning.
Enter your email below!
