For the Culture

Socio-emotional learning researchers acknowledge the positive impact technology has on school aged children. Popular culture is one way to support and extend such learning environments while helping build positive relationships within the classroom. This chapter will focus on the history of pop culture in the classroom, the importance of merging students' primary and secondary discourses, using pop culture to build positive relationships, and provide engaging practitioner examples for a more fulfilling socio-emotional classroom experience. The author believes that when shared within a group of critical friends who own varied perspectives and experiences, creative spaces for learning are opened and activity can abound.