This month, students are learning how their feelings can guide the choices they make. They will practice recognizing emotions and using calming strategies to make safe, respectful, and responsible decisions for the good of everyone.

We’ll explore how pausing, checking in with feelings, and thinking about consequences can help students act in ways that support themselves and others.

Key SEL Themes:

CASEL: Responsible Decision-Making
Second Step: Emotion Management
Portrait of a Learner: Critical Thinking & Global Citizen

These lessons help students build thoughtful decision-making skills by noticing their emotions, solving problems, and thinking about how their actions affect others—important steps toward becoming caring, capable members of their communities.

Grown-Up Tips for Home:

• Pause and name the feeling. Help your child stop and notice their emotions:
  “You seem really excited. What’s going on?” or “You look upset—want to talk about it?”

• Think it through together. When your child faces a challenge, guide them with questions like:
  “What are your options?” or “What could happen if you choose that?”

• Model problem-solving. Show how you handle tricky situations with calm thinking:
  “I was feeling frustrated, so I took a deep breath before responding.”

• Talk about impact. Ask:
  “How did your choice help you?” or “How did it affect your friend?”