The Listening with Curiosity Project: A new approach to SEL

This study presents the results of an observational pre-post intervention assessment of The Listening with Curiosity Project , a 26-lesson curriculum designed to foster listening skills and interpersonal curiosity among middle school students. The assessment involved 494 seventh-grade students (50% female-identifying) from New York City public schools, with an average age of 12.13 years, and diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds (36% Asian/Asian American, 13% Black/African American, 32% Latino/a/x, 14% White, and 5% Other Race (i.e., race/ethnicity not listed). Findings from structural equation modeling indicated that improved listening and interpersonal curiosity were associated with greater connection to others, including increased perceived common humanity, and students who felt more connected to others showed heightened academic engagement. Additionally, the multi-group analysis revealed several gender differences. Implications for SEL practice are discussed.