Social Emotional Learning 

School counselors design and deliver school counseling programs that improve student outcomes.  Elementary school counselors balance their program by addressing students’ academic, career, and social/emotional development in addition to balancing the delivery methods; recognizing that students learn in multiple ways. School counseling programs are based on three sets of standards to help improve student outcomes. 

Student Standards – 

Professional Standards –


Social Emotional Learning Curriculum Topics

*including but not limited to*


Schoolwide: CARES Expectations (Cooperation, Assertion, Responsibility, Empathy, Self-Control)

Kindergarten: We Thinkers! Series Social Thinking Curriculum 

First Grade & Second Grade: Choose Love Enrichment Program Component's  



C.A.R.E.S 

 Bakie Student Social Emotional Learning Values, Expectations, & Competencies: CARES 

In order to be successful in and out of school, students need to learn a set of social and emotional competencies-CARES stands for cooperation, assertion, responsibility, empathy, and self-control. These are all key social skill competencies students learn, practice, and reflect on to help them succeed socially and academically. During the first month of school every classroom  focuses on these five skills.

Cooperation—Students’ ability to establish new relationships, maintain positive relationships and friendships, avoid social isolation, resolve conflicts, accept differences, be a contributing member of the classroom and school community, and work productively and collaboratively with others.

Assertiveness—Students’ ability to take initiative, stand up for their ideas without hurting or negating others, seek help, succeed at a challenging task, and recognize their individual self as separate from the circumstances or conditions they’re in.

Responsibility—Students’ ability to motivate themselves to take action and follow through on expectations; to define a problem, consider the consequences, and choose a positive solution.

Empathy—Students’ ability to “see into” (recognize, understand) another’s state of mind and emotions and be receptive to new ideas and perspectives; to appreciate and value differences and diversity in others; to have concern for others’ welfare, even when it doesn’t benefit or may come as a cost to one’s self.

Self-Control—Students’ ability to recognize and regulate their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in order to be successful in the moment and remain on a successful trajectory.





Choose Love Concepts

 The Choose Love Enrichment Program™ teaches 4 character values and Social and Emotional Learning skills that help to cultivate compassion, connection, optimism, personal responsibility and resiliency. Students learn the Choose Love Formula which is Courage + Gratitude + Forgiveness + Compassion in Action = Choosing Love.  Our School Counselors use components from the Choose Love Curriculum to teach students essential concepts and skills to enhance their school climate and experiences.  


The 4 Character Values include:


Courage: Students will learn what it means to have courage in any situation. They will develop a great confidence in themselves to help them strongly face adversity and do the right thing even when it is hard.


Gratitude:  Students will learn what it means to be grateful for all of the good in their lives. They will discover the many people and things they are grateful for and better understand how to express gratitude. This will nurture a positive attitude and inspire them to be kind and giving to others. 


Forgiveness:  Students will understand what it means to forgive someone who has hurt you. They will learn that forgiving does not mean you forget or accept the hurtful actions as OK. But instead, students learn why forgiving is important as it will free them from bad feelings and helps them to have a positive mindset that will help them in school and life. 


Compassion:  Students will understand that compassion is LOVE in action. They will understand what it means to have empathy and be sensitive to the feelings of others. Then they move beyond that to realize the importance of being in service to those who need help or support as well as showing self-compassion.



We Thinkers! Social Explores Social Thinking Concepts

 We Thinkers! Volume 1 Social Explorers, is a Social Thinking® Curriculum for the Preschool and Early Elementary Years! The aim of We Thinkers! series is to help young verbal learners develop the skills they need to be flexible social thinkers and social problem solvers as they begin an exciting adventure in learning more about the social world through school. 

 Through the experiences of four characters in the storybooks and the accompanying curriculum units children will learn about the social mind and social expectations. They will also learn about their own thinking (and that of others) to help them make better decisions when in the midst of social play and interaction. Click here for more information. 

Social Thinking Core Concepts: