What are the long-term academic outcomes associated with early participation in SEL programs for elementary students?

Assignment instructions: 

The objective of this capstone is to provide you an opportunity to synthesize your CECI experience in a culminating project. The project requires you to conduct a literature review on a topic that is particularly relevant to you and your practice. Ideas for topics and further feedback will be provided through the Topic Form.

What is a literature review? A literature review is an exhaustive appraisal of the entire body of research (i.e., “the literature”) that exists on a particular topic and/or research question. Typically, in academic settings, a literature review is conducted before one sets out to do their own research. In your case, however, you are conducting a literature review to find out what the “experts” are generally saying about your chosen topic. It is important to know from the start that a literature review, as a type of writing genre, is not a summary of the research.

You need to include 5 peer-reviewed (academic journal) articles to determine what is being said about your topic. Along with resources for finding, evaluating, and citing sources, feedback will be provided through an annotated bibliography assignment.

In this paper, you will be expected to analyze and synthesize what researchers are saying not only through your own professional experiences but also through concepts and ideas taught in this class. The concepts often challenge the normative assumptions we make about schooling while illuminating the ethical dilemmas and challenges of our profession.

Therefore, this final assessment evaluates how well you comprehend that teaching is complex because it is embedded within broader contexts (i.e., social, historical, political, etc.), challenge normative assumptions, and discuss ethical dilemmas in our profession.

Key to writing a proficient paper is developing a strong argument (i.e., the thesis statement) from the analysis of the literature using key concepts/themes/ideas/questions from this course. To assist in this process, you will receive feedback through an outline assignment.

The entire paper should be 7-10 pages, double-spaced (including the cover page and reference page), and formatted in APA style.

NOTE: this is for a capstone course. I am a student teacher in a 4th-grade classroom that will be teaching soon, so my essay should reflect that- I am implementing this research in my future classroom.