Embedded Files
The Essential 8
"The Essential Eight" are social emotional learning skills embedded in the everyday learning of our Denton ISD students that provide the foundation needed to be engaged citizens who positively impact their local and global community. One of four out of "The Essential Eight" is covered at least once during each nine weeks' period, with the other four of "The Essential Eight" to be covered during the 2025-2026 school year. The topic covered during each nine weeks' period is the same on all campuses across Denton ISD.
Monthly Guidance/Programming Flow
Monthly Guidance/Programming Flow
Guidance
Guid
1st Nine Weeks Lessons: Self-Management
Pre-K: Self-Management with Zones of Regulation
Texas Model Student Competency Addressed:
I.A.iii-Students will develop self-regulation skills
I.C.iii-Students will develop self-management skills
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills - Positive Character Trait Standard Addressed:
b.2.C- (Responsibility) The student is expected to: define self-control and identify instances in which self-control is important.
Kinder-1st: Self-Managing Our Feelings
Texas Model Student Competency Addressed:
I.A.iii Goal: students will develop self-regulation skills
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills - Positive Character Trait Standard Addressed:
b.2.C Define self-control and identify instances in which self-control is important
2nd-3rd: I'm Happy/Sad Today (with Zones of Regulation)
Texas Model Student Competency Addressed:
I.A.iii Goal: students will develop self-regulation skills
11.B. II. Goal: Students will effectively express themselves Goal: Students will use communication skills to know when and how to ask for help
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills - Positive Character Trait Standard Addressed:
b.2.C Define self-control and identify instances in which self-control is important
4th-5th: Stop- Think- Choose
Texas Model Student Competency Addressed:
1 Aiii Goal: Student will develop self regulation skills
11.B. II. Goal: Students will effectively express themselves Goal: Students will use communication skills to know when and how to ask for help,
b.2.c - Students recognize personal boundaries, individual rights and privacy needs of others
I.C.iii Goal: Students will develop self management skills
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills - Positive Character Trait Standard Addressed:
B.2.c: Responsibility - Identify and demonstrate ways to practice self-control
2nd Nine Weeks Lessons: Social Awareness
Pre-K: Relationship Skills & Diversity
Texas Model Student Competency Addressed:
I.A.ii-Students will appreciate their uniqueness
II.A.i-Students will appreciate their culture
II.A.ii-Students will respect others as individuals and accept them for the cultural membership
II.A.iii-Students will effectively relate with others based on appreciation for similarities/differences
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills - Positive Character Trait Standard Addressed:
2(b) Responsibility: Describe how to make personal choices before speaking and acting
4 (c ) Citizenship: Explain what it means to demonstrate respect and courtesy and why it is important to demonstrate respect and courtesy to others
Kinder-1st: We Are All Connected
Texas Model Student Competency Addressed:
II.E. Student Competency: Students develop healthy relationships
II.E.i. Goal: Students will define healthy and unhealthy relationships
II.E. ii. Goal: Students will identify characteristics of healthy and unhealthy relationships
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills - Positive Character Trait Standard Addressed:
Trustworthiness (b.1.A) Identify and define traits of trustworthiness, including reliability and loyalty
Caring (b.3.B) Explain how one can show patience, consideration, and compassion
2nd-3rd: Friendship & Boundaries
Texas Model Student Competency Addressed:
II.E. Student Competency: Students develop healthy relationships
II.E.i. Goal: Students will define healthy and unhealthy relationships
II.E. ii. Goal: Students will identify characteristics of healthy and unhealthy relationships
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills - Positive Character Trait Standard Addressed:
Trustworthiness (b.1.A) Identify and define traits of trustworthiness, including reliability and loyalty
Caring (b.3.B) Explain how one can show patience, consideration, and compassion
4th-5th: How to Make & Keep Friends
Texas Model Student Competency Addressed:
II.E. Student Competency: Students develop healthy relationships
II.E.i. Goal: Students will define healthy and unhealthy relationships
II.E. ii. Goal: Students will identify characteristics of healthy and unhealthy relationships
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills - Positive Character Trait Standard Addressed:
Trustworthiness (b.1.A) Identify and define traits of trustworthiness, including reliability and loyalty
Caring (b.3.B) Explain how one can show patience, consideration, and compassion
3rd Nine Weeks Lessons: Decision Making
Pre-K: Big Problem vs. Little Problem
Texas Model Student Competency Addressed:
I.B.i Goal: Students will develop effective decision-making skills
I.B.ii: Students will be able to develop a plan of action
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills - Positive Character Trait Standard Addressed:
b.2.B Responsibility: Describe how to make person choices before speaking and acting
Citizenship 4(c): Explain what it means to demonstrate respect and courtesy and why it is important to demonstrate respect and courtesy to others
Kinder/1st: Decision Making with Book: The Strongest Boy
Texas Model Student Competency Addressed:
I.B.i Goal: Students will develop effective decision-making skills
I.B.ii: Students will be able to develop a plan of action
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills - Positive Character Trait Standard Addressed:
b.2.B Responsibility: Describe how to make person choices before speaking and acting
Citizenship 4(c): Explain what it means to demonstrate respect and courtesy and why it is important to demonstrate respect and courtesy to others
2nd/3rd: Size of the Problem
Texas Model Student Competency Addressed:
I.B.i Students will develop effective decision-making skills
I.B.iiStudents will be able to develop a plan of action
I.B.iv Students will be able to engage in effective problem solving
II.D.i Students will be develop and use conflict resolution skills
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills - Positive Character Trait Standard Addressed:
b.2.B Responsibility: describe positive and negative consequences of personal decisions and actions.
4th: Problem Solving
Texas Model Student Competency Addressed:
I.B.i Students will develop effective decision-making skills
I.B.iiStudents will be able to develop a plan of action
I.B.iv Students will be able to engage in effective problem solving
II.D.i Students will be develop and use conflict resolution skills
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills - Positive Character Trait Standard Addressed:
b.2.B Responsibility: describe positive and negative consequences of personal decisions and actions.
5th: Decision Making with Careers/Discussion of 6th Grade Course Selection
Please email Mr. Grant at mgrant@dentonisd.org if you have any questions about this lesson.
4th Nine Weeks Lessons: Personal Responsibility
Pre-K/Kinder: Keeping Our Word and Making Good Choices
Texas Model Student Competency Addressed:
I.A.ii-Students will appreciate their uniqueness
I.C.i-Students will behave in a responsible manner
I.C.ii-Students will take responsibility for their own behaviors
III.A.iii-Students will identify attitudes and behaviors that lead to successful learning
III.B.i-Students will identify career opportunities that allow them to fulfill their potential
III.B.ii-Students will make connections between personal skills, interests and abilities, and career choices
III.C.ii-Students will learn how to apply goal-setting skills in career
III.D.i-Students will demonstrate awareness that education and training is needed to achieve career goals
III.E.ii-Students will understand the relationship between educational achievement and career success
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills - Positive Character Trait Standard Addressed:
(2) Responsibility: (B) Describe how to make personal choices before speaking and acting
(C) Define self-control and identity instances in which self-control is important
1st: Making Mistakes
Texas Model Student Competency Addressed:
I.C.i Students will behave in a responsible manner.
I.C.ii Students will take responsibility for their own behavior.
II.B.iii Students will use communication skills to know when and how to ask for help.
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills - Positive Character Trait Standard Addressed:
(b)(2)(B): Responsibility: accountability, diligence, perseverance, self-control, and self-management.
(b)(2)(C): define self-control and discuss effective self-management skills, including listening to others, managing one's emotions, and setting goals
2nd/3rd: Growing Your Responsibility Spot
Texas Model Student Competency Addressed:
I.C.i Students will behave in a responsible manner.
I.C.ii Students will take responsibility for their own behavior.
II.B.iii Students will use communication skills to know when and how to ask for help.
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills - Positive Character Trait Standard Addressed:
(b)(2)(B): Responsibility: accountability, diligence, perseverance, self-control, and self-management.
(b)(2)(C): define self-control and discuss effective self-management skills, including listening to others, managing one's emotions, and setting goals
4th/5th: Solving the Puzzle to Responsibility
Texas Model Student Competency Addressed:
I.C.i Students will behave in a responsible manner
I.C.ii Students will take responsibility for their own behaviors
II.B.iii. Students will use communication skills to know when and how to ask for help
IV.C.ii Students will demonstrate an appreciation for the rights of others to have a physically, emotionally, and socially safe environment.
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills - Positive Character Trait Standard Addressed:
Responsibility:
b.2.A.Explain what it means to be responsible for personal decisions and actions.
b.2.C Identify and demonstrate ways to practice self-control
b.2.D Describe the relationship between being responsible and being accountable
Citizenship:
b.4.C Discuss the importance of obeying laws and rules
4th/5th: Additional Lesson about Careers
Please email Mr. Grant at mgrant@dentonisd.org if you have any questions about this lesson.
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Other State of Texas Mandated Topics
Other guidance lessons on Texas State Mandated Education Units are presented throughout the year, from a preventative and proactive stance.
September/October: Emotional Wellness
October/November: Bullying & Cyberbullying Prevention
November/December: Healthy Choices
The topic of Anti-Victimization (child abuse prevention) will also be covered via presentations from the Denton County Children's Advocacy Center, which, for the Paloma Creek campus, will take place in September 2024.
For more information, see https://sites.google.com/g.dentonisd.org/prevention-and-intervention/home
Please contact Mr. Grant at mgrant@dentonisd.org or 972-347-7304 if you have any questions or concerns.
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