The Essential 8 and Mandated Topics

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

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

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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