The Power of Cooperation

Perhaps no month is more appropriate to consider cooperation than February 2021: two months into the new year, weeks into a new presidency, and days into Black History Month’s 95th celebration. February offers appreciation for other perspectives and the possibility of new beginnings, all growing from the power of cooperation.

The C.A.R.E.S. Standards define cooperation as the ability to establish new relationships, maintain relationships and friendships, avoid social isolation, resolve conflicts, accept differences, be a contributing member of one’s classroom and community, and work productively and collaboratively with others.

This month we explore cooperation in concrete ways between people and in more abstract ways between cultures, between research and practice, and between standards and instruction. Chip Wood and Janie Cofie each cover the ways that adults in school communities work collaboratively. Maria Paz Galarce Crain and Dr. Patricia Crain de Galarce pair science and self-care to help us understand the impact 2020 had on educators and provide strategies for making 2021 healthier and happier. Angelyn Nichols and Allison Sansone describe what happens when educators collaborate in building their educational community. Dr. Stephanie Jones shares insights from her groundbreaking work in the field of SEL research. Finally, we suggest practical ways to honor Black History Month in February and beyond.

As you read these articles, consider the role cooperation plays in your own life. How can you harness cooperation’s power to connect, learn, and inspire this month?