Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

Join us each month for a new theme and activities to work with your students!

This month is #DecemberKindness and Action for Happiness is reminding us that even the smallest acts of kindness can really turn a day around or make a frown turn to a smile. Kindness is contagious and with 2021 coming to an end, finish the year strong and do something kind for someone. Time and attention doesn't cost money and those who are close to you will appreciate the moments you spend with them.

#DecemberKindness Quote of the Month:

"No act of kindess,

no matter how small,

is ever wasted."

- Aesop

#DecemberKindness 2021 Weekly Activity Guide

Week #1: Action for Happiness Calendar

Week #2: Kindness Tree

Create a tree and have kids make leaves or hearts and on them, then write random acts of kindness or good deeds on those leaves or hearts. View the Houston PBS page for more information and ideas for the tree.

Week #3: Kindness Bingo

Download, print, and use these 30 different BINGO cards that list small and large acts of kindness that students may have done in 2021. Cards can be laminated for durability and safety and be wiped down after each use. Ensure to print a second set in order to draw blocks out of a hat or call randomly. Upon getting a BINGO, have the kid share how they felt after the acts of kindness.

Week #4: Kindness Notes

Teach kids how to write positive notes of gratitude to friends and family. Encourage kids to be specific in their praise, to show the recipient they were seen and heard. For inspirational ideas or examples of what to write, view the Woo! Kids Activities page.

Week #5: Plan A Year of Kindness

Help kids plan goals around how they can create kindness moments all year long. Have kids brainstorm then plan how they can show kindness throughout the year. Examples of small acts of kindness for all ages are:

Give someone a thoughtful gift (it does not have to be expensive)

Hold the door open for someone

Write someone a thank you note

Send someone an email just to say hello

Call a friend or family member for no reason other than to chat

Pay the toll for the driver behind you

Pay for someone’s groceries at the grocery store

Buy someone a cup of coffee

Let someone cut in in traffic

Help a driver in need fix a flat tire or in some other way

For more ideas, view the Skilled at Life page.

#DecemberKindness Action for Happiness Calendar

SEL Video of the Month: The Power of Kindness - with Dr. Kelli Harding

What is Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and how can I be part of this?

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

What is Social-Emotional Learning and why does it matter?

Per CASEL, Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) reflects the critical role of positive relationships and emotional connections in the learning process and helps students develop a range of skills they need for school and life.

SEL Resources

I Am Poem Template
As the pandemic continues, kids are turning to meditation to manage anxiety

SEL skills include the ability to:

set and achieve positive goals

feel and show empathy for others

establish and maintain positive relationships

make responsible decisions

understand and manage emotions

All of these skills are necessary—both for educators and students—to function well in the classroom, in the community, and in college and careers.

Visit the CASEL Interactive SEL Framework to learn more about the CASEL Wheel (above)

Previous Monthly Themes

November 2021 - #NewWaysNovember
This month is #NewWaysNovember and Action for Happiness is encouraging all of us to learn or try something new. Learning and trying a new activity can be wonderful for our well-being. Keeping our brains active with new and challenging activities can help us get to know ourselves better, challenge our own limits on what we can do, and helps us to create a positive mindset for limitless possibilities.

#NewWaysNovember Quote of the Month:

"Just try new things. Don't be afraid,

step out of your comfort zone and soar."

- Michelle Obama

Week 1: Action for happiness calendar

Some of the most powerful teaching happens during causal interactions with the youth we serve. Listed below are some simple phrases and questions that can help make the most of everyday teaching moments

Phrase to Use:
- It’s okay to not know how to do something.
- Not everything works out the way we think it will, and that’s fine.
- All I want is for you to try.
- You don’t have to get it the first time.
- Being nervous means you’re challenging yourself. Good job.
- Everyone has to learn, even the experts.
- It’s okay to take breaks.
- I believe in you.
Phrase to Ask:
- I see your picture isn’t turning out the way you wanted it to. How can you use it to make something new?
- Oops, that didn’t go as planned. What can we do instead?
- What don’t you like about …?
- What would you say to your friend if they felt this way about …?
- What are you afraid will happen if you try …? What makes you feel that would happen? What is more likely to happen?
- What if I try it with you?
Week #2:

Create a “I Can” Can. The next time kids become stressed, or worried about at task they won’t be able to accomplish a task, remind them of all the things they can do, by having them list those things in their “I Can” can. This help to encourage and motivate youth.

Week #3:

World Kindness Day is November 13, 2021. World Kindness Day is a day observed annually, to celebrate kind people and acts of kindness. The main aim of the day is to promote kindness in all forms, to unite people globally. View the activities for World Kindness Day. Don't forget to head over to Inspire Kindness to check out how you can spread kindness by creating a painted rock.

Week #4:

Try something new - Kids are good at convincing themselves that choosing not to try something new or challenging is okay. And in truth, it is. It’s okay to say no and it’s good for kids to have a chance to feel autonomy over their choices. But what if the people who are afraid to try something new are your parents. Follow a zombie kid, who must try and convince his parents to try something new. Scroll below to the YouTube video embed and Listen to Zombies Don’t Eat Veggies by, Megan and Jorge Lacera at Storyline Online brought to you by SAG-AFTRA Foundation. The book is available in English and Spanish. View the YouTube video.
October 2021 - #OptimisticOctober

This month is #OptimisticOctober and Action for Happiness reminds us to make goals achievable and ensure you have a few short term and long term goals. Give yourself the opportunity to shine by achieve something - even if it is something really small. Give yourself the credit and celebrate it!

#OptimisticOctober Quote of the Month:

"Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement.

Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.”

- Helen Keller

Week 1: Action for happiness calendar

Use one prompt each day to help youth learn how to self- reflect.

Self-awareness - WHAT AM I MOST OPTIMISTIC ABOUT?

Self-management - MIGHT TAKING A MINDFUL BREATH HELP ME TO RELAX AND BE MORE HOPEFUL?

Social awareness - HOW MIGHT KNOWING THAT I’M A PART OF LARGER COMMUNITY HELP ME TO HOPEFUL?

Relationship skills - WHO ELSE CAN HELP ME TO THINK THIS THROUGH?

Responsible decision making - HOW MIGHT KNOWING THAT MY HAPPINESS AFFECTS OTHERS BE HELPFUL?

Week 2: 531

This activity allows youth to practice optimistic thinking. This activity will use used over three days.

If youth feel comfortable, have youth close their eyes, and place both feet flat on he floor and have them inhale deeply and hold for 4 seconds. Repeat this 3 times before beginning the activity.

Day 1 - Youth reflect and jot down 5 things that makes them FEEL happy.

Day 2 - Youth will reflect and jot down 3 things they are grateful for.

Day 3 - Youth will reflect and jot down 1 realistic optimistic goal.

Week 3: Famous Failures Activity - This can be an activity or interactive bulletin board

Whether you have a tendency to give up before you start or just give up … don’t. Some of most successful people are the best inspiration when it comes to overcoming fear of failure and overcoming discouragement because of failure.

Show students the photo. Discuss the failure. Why do we know them?

Week 4: Growth Mindset

Having a growth mindset, allows students to believe that intelligence and abilities can improve with effort and the right strategies. Having a growth mindset helps students to be self-aware of their emotions, as well as being able to self-manage themselves in a crisis.

With students complete the growth mindset activity by Understood.

Then guide students into completing a growth mindset action plan.

Visit the main pages for more information about #OptimisticOctober and Action for Happiness.
September 2021 - Self-care September!

Self-Care September at Action for Happiness

Week of Sept. 6-10 Self-Care Plan

Help students to create their own self-care plan. Created by Social Work Teach, this simple self-care plan allows students to identify their needs for mental, physical and spiritual self and name those who can help them achieve their goals.

Week of Sept. 13-17 Self-Compassionate Letters

(This activity is appropriate for high school students/adults) Help students to write self- compassionate letters to themselves. Stop beating yourself up for flaws and mistakes. Write a letter of compassion to yourself and focus on your positive attributes.

Week of Sept. 20-24 Monster Meditation

Engage in meditation using I-Sense, connecting your five senses to meditation. Practice Meditation with Cookie Monster and use your five senses to connect to the present.

Week of Sept. 27-30 Emotion Cards

Use the emotion cards to help students connect with their feelings. Randomly select an emotion card and ask students when would that emotion be appropriate and why? Another use of the cards can be used to have students act out the emotions on the cards, and have other students guess what the emotion is. (think Charades)