Together We Can Make Education Whole

Each and every young person learns and develops in settings intentionally designed for them to thrive.

Whole-Child Design

Connects with who each and every child really is

Puts them at the center of their learning experience

Integrates their social, emotional, cognitive, and academic development

Develops learners as full people

THIS ISN’T JUST A LOFTY DREAM

THE SCIENCE BACKS IT UP

Research from the science of learning and development is optimistic about what we can accomplish when we integrate whole-child design into practice in ways that are personalized, culturally-affirming and transformative.

Guiding Principles for Equitable Whole-Child Design

Positive developmental relationships

Positive relationships enable young people to manage stress, ignite their motivation, and fuel the connections that support the development of the complex skills necessary for learning success and engagement. Strong relationships simultaneously promote well-being, positive identity development, and students’ belief in their own abilities.

Environments filled with safety and belonging

Supportive school environments seek to address the distinctive strengths, needs, and interests of students as they engage in learning. By promoting a sense of belonging and physical, emotional, and identity safety, safe environments buffer students from stress and adversity and provide consistency, so they can take risks and explore new experiences.

Rich learning experiences and knowledge development

Students’ beliefs and attitudes have a powerful effect on their learning and achievement. Motivation can be nurtured by skillful instruction that provides meaningful and challenging work, within and across disciplines, that builds on students’ culture, prior knowledge, and experience, and that helps students discover what they can do.

Development of skills, habits and mindsets

Research confirms that social, emotional, and cognitive skills, along with mindsets that support growth, belonging, and purpose, are critical for success in school and beyond. For students to become engaged, effective learners, educators must embed these skills into academically rigorous curricula and empower students to practice them with growing independence.

Integrated support systems

All children experience challenges that need to be addressed to propel their development and well-being. Schools with supports and protective factors intentionally woven into the fabric of the community can nurture well-being and enable agency resilience, and academic recovery for all students.

OUR MISSION

Turnaround for Children advances key insights from educator practice, scientific research and student experience so that together we can create equitable learning environments — settings that affirm the strengths, meet the needs and fully develop the abilities of each and every young person.

Our Strategy

Research and Development Grounded in Science

We create tools and resources so educators can implement whole-child design right now.

Building Educator Capacity

We work with educators to help them create equitable learning environments.

Mobilizing the Educational Ecosystem

We collaborate to build the foundation for a whole-child future, everywhere kids learn.

“If you want a whole-child design, it’s about everything—mental health, social-emotional learning, culturally-relevant teaching. Turnaround is doing incredible, really strategic, thoughtful work. ”
Alexei Nichols, Principal, P.S. 340, New York City

WHOLE-CHILD DESIGN IS MORE THAN A MOMENT

IT’S A MOVEMENT

Together we can make education whole. There are many ways to get started on whole-child design. How will you begin?

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