Social & Emotional Learning
Integrating SEL in the First Six Weeks
The social-emotional dimensions of teaching and learning are incorporated into the day -- everyday, all year long. At the same time, the first few weeks of school are a unique, powerful time to lay the groundwork for creating a safe, supportive learning community where each child can achieve and thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.  Social Justice lesson overviews coming soon! - Build relationshipsÂ
- Learn classroom routines and procedures
- Become familiar with curriculum routines and structures
- Build independence
- Settle into the daily routine of activities and expectations
- What are our strengths and interests?
- How do we perform classroom and school routines?
- What are our classroom rules and expectations?
- What are logical consequences?
- What are procedures for using materials in the classroom?
- Morning Meeting
- Quiet Time
- Closing Circle
- Hopes & Dreams
- School Rules/Expectations
- Take a Break Space
CARES is a Newton Public Schools created program, consisting of targeted SEL skill-building lessons. - Learn More About Others
- Show Kind Actions to Others
- Work Together to Complete a Project
- Show How to Be a Good Sport
- How does learning more about others help us to be better friends?
- How can we be kind to others?
- How can we work together in our classroom?
- What does being a good sport mean to you?
- Relationship Building
- Problem Solving
- Teamwork
A - Advocacy/Assertiveness
- Identify Their Strengths and Challenges
- Show a Growth Mindset
- Use Their Words to Say What They Need
- Disagree Respectfully and Productively
- What strength of yours are you most proud of? Why?
- When you can't do something yet, what strategy can you use if you're frustrated?
- What is a time your words helped someone?Â
- What is a time your words hurt someone?
- What "I" statement can you use to say how you feel when you don't agree with someone?
- Awareness
- Self-Awareness and Resilience
- Advocating
- Listening for Understanding
- Show Expected Behaviors
- Identify What To Do Based on the Size of the Problem
- Think About How Their Actions Impact Others
- Take Care of Their Environment
- What was a time when it was very hard for you to show expected feelings? What happened?
- At a time when you had a big reaction to a small problem, did it feel like a small problem in the moment? Is there something you could have done differently?
- What is something you could do today that would make someone else feel great? How could your actions change to make them feel confused or upset?
- How can you make your environment better with responsible actions?
- Making Good Choices
- Analyzing Problems
- Resolving Conflicts
- Ethical Behavior
- Identify the Feelings of Others
- Show Concern and Care for Others
- Include People Who Were Not Included Before
- Identify the Perspectives of Other People
- How can you let others know how you feel when you're upset about something?
- When you're sharing something important to you, how do you feel when someone isn't listening/paying attention?
- When someone isn't included, how do you think they feel?
- When have you and someone you know had different experiences doing the same thing?
- Recognizing Others' Feelings
- Showing Care and Support of Others
- Including Others
- Perspective Taking
- Identify Their Emotions in the Moment
- Use Regulation Strategies to Manage Their Emotional State
- Stop and Think Before Acting
- Set and Follow Through on a Goal
- How did you stay in control of your body and actions at a time you felt a big emotion?
- What is something that always helps you feel relaxed and calm? Is there something else that always makes you feel more upset?
- What strategy can you use in a situation when it would be hard to use Stop and Think?
- How will you overcome an obstacle when trying to reach a goal or dream you have for your future?
- Self Awareness
- Self Regulation
- Impulse Control
- Goal Setting