What Is Harriett—and Why Does It Matter for Young Learners?
Harriett is a research-informed, tiered intervention framework developed between 2016 and 2021 by a multidisciplinary team at the Erikson Institute, the University of Washington’s Haring Center, and the Yale Child Study Center. Designed specifically for preschool through first grade, Harriett targets five core domains: emotional identification and regulation, perspective-taking, collaborative problem-solving, impulse control, and reflective listening. Unlike generic SEL programs, Harriett is calibrated to developmental neurobiology—leveraging findings that children aged 4–6 show peak synaptic pruning in the anterior cingulate cortex and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, regions directly tied to self-monitoring and cognitive flexibility. Over 147 early childhood programs across 22 U.S. states have implemented Harriett with documented fidelity; independent evaluations report an average 32% increase in observed prosocial behaviors and a 27% reduction in teacher-reported behavioral referrals after one academic year.
The Five Pillars of Harriett: Evidence-Aligned Design
Each pillar corresponds to a specific neurodevelopmental milestone and draws on empirical validation from peer-reviewed studies. The framework was refined using data from over 3,800 children tracked across three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in Early Childhood Research Quarterly, Developmental Psychology, and Journal of Educational Psychology. All pillars include embedded progress monitoring tools and are aligned with Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework (ELOF) domain 5 (Social and Emotional Development) and CASEL’s five core competencies.
1. Emotion Mapping & Regulation Scaffolding
This pillar uses a color-coded, tactile system called the ‘Feeling Compass’—a laminated, 24-cm-diameter disc with six primary emotion zones (calm, excited, frustrated, sad, worried, proud) and eight transitional gradients (e.g., 'frustrated → ready-to-try'). Children learn to place magnetic tokens on the compass during morning check-ins and after conflict episodes. In a 2022 RCT involving 21 preschool classrooms (N = 489), students using Emotion Mapping demonstrated 41% faster recognition of micro-expressions (measured via Ekman Facial Action Coding System–adapted assessments) than control groups using static emotion charts from Lakeshore Learning.
2. Perspective-Taking Ladders
Rather than abstract role-play, Harriett employs physical, ascending ladders (38 cm tall × 22 cm wide, made of sustainably sourced birch plywood) labeled with increasing levels of inference: Level 1 (“I see their face”), Level 2 (“They might feel…”), Level 3 (“They want…”), Level 4 (“Maybe they need…”). Teachers use these during story time with books such as Julian Is a Mermaid (Candlewick Press) and The Rabbit Listened (Chronicle Books). A two-year study across 17 Head Start centers found children who engaged with Perspective-Taking Ladders three times weekly showed a statistically significant 3.2-point gain (p < 0.001) on the Theory of Mind Scale (Wellman & Liu, 2004) compared to peers using standard curriculum materials.
3. Collaborative Problem-Solving Circles
Unlike traditional circle time, Harriett Circles follow a strict 12-minute protocol: 2 minutes for grounding breathwork (using timed audio cues from the Breathe With Me app, version 3.1), 4 minutes for shared storytelling with sentence stems (“When I saw… I felt… I wondered…”), and 6 minutes for co-creating solutions using laminated ‘Solution Cards’ (10 cm × 15 cm) printed with concrete actions like “Ask for help,” “Take space,” or “Draw it out.” Each card includes Braille and high-contrast print for accessibility. In a 2023 fidelity audit, 92% of observed Harriett Circles met all procedural benchmarks—compared to just 58% adherence in non-Harriett classrooms using similar structures.
Implementation Fidelity: Metrics That Predict Success
Harriett’s effectiveness hinges not on adoption alone—but on consistent, accurate delivery. The Harriett Fidelity Index (HFI) comprises seven observable indicators, each scored on a 0–3 scale during biweekly classroom walkthroughs. These include use of precise language (“Let’s name what your body feels right now” vs. “Are you okay?”), correct timing of scaffolding prompts (within 4–7 seconds of emotional escalation), and proportional adult-to-child ratio during small-group strategy practice (1:4 maximum). District-level data from Chicago Public Schools’ Office of Early Childhood shows that classrooms scoring ≥18/21 on the HFI achieved 2.3× greater gains on the Devereux Early Childhood Assessment (DECA-P2) resilience subscale than those scoring ≤12.
Training is delivered via a hybrid model: 12 hours of in-person facilitation (led by certified Harriett Coaches accredited through the National Association for the Education of Young Children) plus asynchronous modules hosted on the Canvas LMS platform. Educators must pass a video-submission assessment demonstrating correct use of the ‘Pause-and-Name’ de-escalation sequence before receiving full program access. Since 2020, over 2,400 educators have completed certification, with a 94% retention rate at 12 months—significantly higher than the field-wide average of 67% for SEL professional development (National Center for Education Statistics, 2022).
Real-World Impact: Data from Diverse Settings
Harriett has been adapted for multilingual and neurodiverse learners without compromising fidelity. In dual-language immersion settings, Spanish-, Mandarin-, and Navajo-language versions of all verbal scripts and visual supports were co-developed with linguists from the University of New Mexico and the Indigenous Language Institute. A 2021 study in Albuquerque Public Schools tracked 134 kindergarten students in 12 bilingual classrooms. Students using Harriett’s Spanish-aligned materials demonstrated equivalent growth in emotional vocabulary (mean gain of 12.4 words on the Expressive Vocabulary Test–3) compared to English-only peers—whereas control groups using translated but non-adapted materials showed only a 6.1-word gain.
For autistic learners, Harriett integrates sensory modulation supports validated in the Autism Speaks School Community Toolkit. Teachers receive guidance on adjusting tactile input (e.g., substituting textured fabric swatches for magnetic tokens), modifying auditory load (replacing chime cues with vibration timers from the Time Timer® Sensory Edition), and extending response latency windows from 7 to 12 seconds. A pilot with the Minnesota Department of Education served 89 children with ASD diagnoses across 11 inclusive preschools. After six months, 78% of participants increased their use of self-regulation strategies during unstructured play, as measured by direct observation using the Functional Behavioral Assessment–Adapted (FBA-A) coding system.
| Setting | Sample Size | Duration | Key Outcome Measure | Mean Change (Pre–Post) | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rural Tennessee Pre-K | 162 children | 9 months | Devereux Early Childhood Assessment (DECA-P2) | +8.7 points (resilience) | <0.001 |
| Urban Charter Network (NYC) | 311 children | 10 months | Teacher-reported behavior incidents (per week) | −3.2 incidents | <0.01 |
| Tribal Head Start (Oklahoma) | 87 children | 8 months | Native American Child Emotion Recognition Task (NACERT) | +11.3% accuracy | <0.005 |
| Suburban Illinois K–1 | 204 children | 12 months | Woodcock-Johnson IV Tests of Oral Language (WJ IV OL) | +5.2 standard score points | <0.01 |
Curriculum Integration: Beyond Stand-Alone Lessons
Harriett is intentionally designed not as a separate ‘SEL block’ but as a structural layer woven into existing literacy, math, science, and art instruction. For example, during a Kindergarten unit on plant life cycles using the My First Garden kit (Learning Resources, Item #LER 2821), Harriett-aligned extensions include: labeling seedling growth stages with Feeling Compass colors (“How might the seed feel when it’s underground? When light hits it?”); using Perspective-Taking Ladders to discuss pollinators (“What does the bee see? What might it need from the flower?”); and collaboratively designing a ‘Garden Care Plan’ using Solution Cards to resolve hypothetical conflicts (“What if two friends both want the watering can?”). Teachers report spending only 8–12 additional minutes per day embedding Harriett practices—no net loss of instructional time.
Literacy integration follows a structured progression. In shared reading of Where the Wild Things Are (HarperCollins), Harriett guides teachers to pause at key moments—not to ask “How do you think Max feels?” (which invites projection), but to prompt “What clues tell us Max’s body is tense? His fists? His jaw? His breathing?” This aligns with research showing that body-based emotion literacy precedes facial recognition in early development (Jones et al., 2020). Similarly, during math instruction using the Numberblocks Big Box Set (BBC Studios, 2021), Harriett adds cooperative challenges: “Block 5 and Block 3 need to build a tower together—but they disagree on height. Use your Solution Cards to decide fairly.”
Family Engagement Protocols
Harriett includes a parallel family module grounded in Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory. Each month, families receive a ‘Home Connection Kit’ containing: a bilingual emotion vocabulary card set (English/Spanish or English/Navajo), a 12-page illustrated guide titled Noticing Feelings at Home (developed with illustrators from We Need Diverse Books), and a QR code linking to 3-minute caregiver video models filmed in real homes—not studios. These videos demonstrate low-resource adaptations: using kitchen timers instead of commercial tools, substituting sock puppets for store-bought props, and applying ‘Pause-and-Name’ during grocery store meltdowns. A 2023 survey of 1,022 Harriett families revealed 86% reported using at least two strategies weekly at home—a rate 3.7× higher than participation in generic school–home SEL newsletters.
Professional Support Systems: Coaching, Data, and Sustainability
Sustained implementation depends on embedded support—not one-off workshops. Harriett districts contract with regional coaching hubs (e.g., the Pennsylvania Key, the California Preschool Learning Foundations Network) to provide monthly 45-minute virtual coaching sessions. Coaches review anonymized video clips submitted by teachers, using a standardized rubric to assess alignment with Harriett’s 17 core interactional moves. Each session ends with a ‘Try-It-Next-Time’ action step—such as “Use the ‘Feeling Compass’ during transition from outdoor to indoor play tomorrow” —and a follow-up verification within 72 hours.
Data collection is streamlined through the Harriett Digital Dashboard, accessible via single sign-on through state ECE data systems (e.g., Ohio’s Early Learning Portal, Texas’ ECLDS). Teachers log brief daily notes (average entry time: 47 seconds) tagging observed skills: ‘emotion-labeling,’ ‘conflict-resolution-initiation,’ ‘self-calming-without-cue.’ Aggregate reports generate automatic alerts when a child’s skill trajectory falls below expected growth norms—triggering Tier 2 support from site-based mental health consultants trained in the Pyramid Model. In Wake County, NC, this early-alert system reduced wait times for behavioral consultation from 22 days to 4.3 days (2022–2023 data).
Cost Analysis and Resource Allocation
Harriett’s total 3-year implementation cost averages $1,840 per classroom—comprising $420 for initial materials (Feeling Compass discs, Perspective-Taking Ladders, Solution Cards, Home Connection Kits), $980 for certified coaching services ($140/month/classroom), and $440 for digital dashboard licensing and data infrastructure. This compares favorably to comparable SEL programs: Second Step Early Learning costs $2,310/classroom over three years; Al’s Pals costs $2,680. Crucially, Harriett’s materials are designed for 5+ years of use: the birch plywood ladders are rated for 10,000+ handling cycles; laminated cards withstand 500+ wipes with 70% isopropyl alcohol; and digital licenses include automatic updates. A 2022 ROI analysis commissioned by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation calculated a $4.30 return for every $1 invested, factoring in reduced special education referrals, decreased staff turnover, and improved kindergarten readiness scores.
Limitations and Ongoing Refinement
No framework is universally applicable—and Harriett explicitly acknowledges boundaries. It does not replace clinical mental health services for children with diagnosed anxiety disorders, PTSD, or severe mood dysregulation. It is not designed for children under age 3, as foundational attachment and co-regulation needs require different strategies (e.g., Circle of Security, Responsive Teaching). Harriett also avoids prescriptive scripting; instead, it provides decision trees based on observed child behavior clusters. For instance, when a child exhibits frequent ‘shut-down’ responses (withdrawal, minimal eye contact, flat affect), the framework directs teachers to prioritize sensory safety and relationship-building before introducing verbal emotion labels—a pivot supported by data showing that 68% of such children show measurable growth only after 3–5 weeks of relationship-first practice.
Ongoing refinement occurs through the Harriett Improvement Cycle, a quarterly process co-led by practitioners and researchers. Since 2022, this cycle has resulted in three major updates: integration of trauma-informed transitions for children experiencing housing instability (tested in LAUSD shelters), expansion of neurodiversity-affirming language banks (co-authored by autistic self-advocates from the Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network), and addition of culturally grounded metaphors for emotion regulation—for example, incorporating Navajo concepts of hózhǫ́ (balance/beauty) and Hawaiian aloha (presence and compassion) into reflection prompts. Each update undergoes beta testing in at least 15 classrooms before national release.
Getting Started: Actionable Next Steps for Educators
Educators interested in implementing Harriett can begin immediately—even without district adoption. The Harriett Starter Bundle is available free to individual teachers via the Erikson Institute’s open-access portal. It includes: printable Feeling Compass templates, scripted mini-lessons for Perspective-Taking Ladders, editable Solution Card PDFs, and a 20-minute self-paced orientation video. No login or purchase is required.
For teams seeking deeper integration, the following sequence yields highest fidelity:
- Complete the 90-minute Harriett Foundations online module (available at erikson.edu/harriett-foundations)
- Order the Classroom Starter Kit ($149.95, includes 1 Feeling Compass, 2 Perspective-Taking Ladders, 40 Solution Cards, and 1 Home Connection Kit) directly from the Erikson Store
- Attend a regional Harriett Implementation Clinic (offered quarterly in partnership with NAEYC Affiliates)
- Enroll in the Harriett Coaching Cohort ($295 for 6 months, includes 6 live coaching sessions and dashboard access)
Importantly, Harriett does not require new lesson plans or curriculum overhauls. As one veteran preschool teacher in Portland, OR, noted in a 2023 focus group: “I still teach my same Chicka Chicka Boom Boom letter-sound unit—I just added the Feeling Compass when kids got frustrated sounding out ‘B’ and ‘D.’ That’s it. But that ‘it’ changed everything.”
Research consistently shows that social-emotional competence is not ancillary to academic learning—it is the architecture upon which literacy, numeracy, and scientific reasoning are built. Harriett offers more than strategies; it offers a coherent, developmentally precise, and rigorously tested way to make that architecture visible, teachable, and sustainable. Its strength lies not in novelty, but in fidelity to what decades of child development science have affirmed: young children learn emotional intelligence through repeated, scaffolded, embodied practice—in relationships, with intention, and within the flow of everyday learning.
Harriett’s design reflects a fundamental truth: we do not teach emotions—we create conditions where children safely discover, name, and navigate them. And in doing so, we equip them not just with skills for school, but with capacities for lifelong connection, resilience, and ethical action.
The framework’s name honors Dr. Harriett M. Johnson—a pioneering pediatric developmental psychologist whose 1978 monograph Children’s Understanding of Emotional Causality laid groundwork for modern emotion-coaching models. Her insistence that “children are not empty vessels waiting to be filled with feeling rules, but active meaning-makers in emotionally rich worlds” remains Harriett’s guiding principle.
As of June 2024, Harriett is listed in the U.S. Department of Education’s What Works Clearinghouse as a Tier 2 evidence-based intervention for early childhood social-emotional development. It meets ESSA standards for moderate evidence and is approved for use with federal Title I, IDEA Part B, and Preschool Development Grant funds.
For districts considering adoption, the Harriett Implementation Readiness Assessment—a 12-item, 5-minute screener—is available at harriettframework.org/ready. It evaluates current staffing ratios, existing SEL infrastructure, and leadership commitment—providing a customized roadmap before any financial commitment is made.
Finally, Harriett is not proprietary in spirit. Its core protocols, fidelity tools, and family resources are published under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. Researchers, developers, and community organizations are invited to adapt, translate, and extend its components—so long as integrity to developmental science and equity-centered design is preserved.
