Curriculum

RULER

At Dundee Elementary, we use the RULER approach to help students and adults build strong emotional regulation skills. Developed by the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, RULER is an evidence-based program for social and emotional learning that helps create a positive school climate where everyone can thrive. It teaches social-emotional skills to help students and adults better understand and manage emotions, leading to a more positive and productive learning environment. RULER starts with teachers and staff learning and modeling emotion skills. These skills are then taught to students so the entire school can grow together in emotional awareness and regulation.To learn more, go to rulerapproach.org/

Why RULER Matters

Students feel safe, respected, and ready to learn.
There is less bullying, fewer suspensions, and better attendance.
Students develop stronger focus, leadership, and emotion regulation skills.
Teachers and students feel more connected and supported.

By using RULER, we’re creating a foundation for students to succeed not just in school, but in life.

What Does RULER Stand For?

The acronym RULER teaches five key emotion skills:

Recognizing emotions in yourself and others
Understanding the causes and effects of emotions
Labeling emotions accurately with correct vocabulary
Expressing emotions appropriately for the setting
Regulating emotions with healthy strategies

RULER Tools We Use

RULER includes four simple tools that support emotional growth:

Charter – A class agreement on how we want to feel and treat one another
Mood Meter – A tool to help recognize and describe our emotions
Meta-Moment – A strategy to pause, think, and choose our best response
Blueprint – A guide for resolving conflict with empathy and understanding

Kelso's Choice

https://kelsoschoice.com/free-resources/for-parents/

Kelso’s Choice teaches students how to handle small problems on their own using simple, kid-friendly strategies. Small problems are everyday conflicts that cause mild feelings like annoyance or embarrassment. Big problems—anything scary, dangerous, or unsafe—should always be brought to an adult right away.

Students learn nine choices to solve small problems, including:

Go to another game
Talk it out
Share and take turns
Ignore it
Walk away
Tell them to stop
Apologize
Make a deal
Wait and cool off

Encourage your child to try one or two of Kelso’s Choices before seeking adult help for a small problem. For big problems, they should always go straight to a trusted adult.

Social Detectives

https://www.socialthinking.com/Products/you-are-a-social-detective

This book helps children become better social thinkers by teaching them how to observe, interpret, and respond to social situations. It uses the idea of being a “social detective” to guide kids in learning how to read social cues, understand hidden rules, and connect emotions to behavior.

Key points for parents:

Teaches kids to observe settings, situations, and people to understand expected behaviors
Helps children connect emotions to actions and recognize that all feelings are okay
Builds problem-solving and social skills through engaging stories, activities, and visuals
Introduces and reinforces Social Thinking® vocabulary to support deeper understanding
Offers practical tips and examples for school, home, and community life
Promotes inclusion, diversity, and empathy through updated illustrations and content

This resource empowers children to better navigate the social world with confidence and understanding.

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