KG1 Social Emotional Learning

Social Studies

Objectives

  • Demonstrates knowledge about self

  • Shows basic understanding of people and how they live

  • Explores change related to familiar people or places

  • Demonstrates simple geographical knowledge

Cognitive

Objectives

  • Regulates own emotions and behaviors

    • Manages feelings

    • Follows limits and expectations

    • Takes care of own needs appropriately

  • Establishes and sustains positive relationships

    • Forms relationships with adults

    • Responds to emotional cues

    • Interacts with peers

    • Makes friends

  • Participates cooperatively and constructively in group situations

    • Balances needs and rights of self and others

    • Solves social problems

Social Emotional Learning

Objectives

  • Demonstrates positive approaches to learning

    • Attends and engages

    • Persists

    • Solves problems

    • Shows curiosity and motivation

    • Shows flexibility and inventiveness in thinking

  • Remembers and connects experiences

    • Recognizes and recalls

    • Makes connections

  • Uses classification skills

  • Uses symbols and images to represent something not present

    • Thinks symbolically

    • Engages in socio-dramatic play

Units Taught by the KG Counselor

At ACS, our counselors teach regularly-scheduled SEL classes to all students in the elementary school. For students in KG1 and KG2, a 40-minute class is provided every week. Students attend this class in the Dance and Drama room, allowing for flexibility and versatility in the learning engagements. Students in Grades 1 to 5 are provided with a 30-minute class every other week in their homeroom setting. Each quarter a specific core value is a focus of the lessons. Counselors are also mindful of being responsive to the needs that have arisen, and adjust lesson plans accordingly. Below you will find additional details regarding the focus of each quarter for Social-Emotional Learning.

Getting Ready to Learn

Unit Sketch

In the beginning of the school year students learn transition skills, get to know each other and learn about different emotions.

Enduring Understandings

Students will understand...

  • That school counselors help students transition into a school year.

  • What a school counselor is, how to transition into a new school year, get to know each other as a group, learn about different feelings, and begin to understand how to relax and calm their bodies in a range of situations.

Skills

Students will be able to...

  • Remember names

  • Describe what it means to be brave, frustrated, (range of feelings taught)

  • Demonstrate active listening

  • Demonstrate breathing to relax

  • Identify different Kimochis and feelings

  • Respect boundaries of other people's spaces

Communication Skills

Unit Sketch

In the second quarter of the year, students are learning more specifically, the tools of good communication, such as: I statements; Positive Self-Talk and Calming Down; Handling Mistakes and Do-Overs (includes apologies) and continue to learn about how understanding feelings and personalities, including acknowledging and accepting differences support positive relationships. We also continue to focus on the core value of Compassion and how empathy is a critical link in building friendships. We also do mindful breathing, movement and practicing skills.

Enduring Understandings

Students will understand that...

  • It is important to develop self-awareness and self-management skills.

  • Feelings are linked to behavior.

  • Feelings can be expressed safely.

  • Relationships are made and built through social awareness.

Skills

Students will be able to...

  • Recognize emotions (bossy, cranky, sensitive, nurturing, peaceful, proud, thankful, grateful, for example)

  • Identify one's likes and dislikes, needs and wants, strengths and challenges

  • Calm self when upset

  • Recognize that others may experience situations differently from oneself

  • Use listening skills to identify the feelings and perspectives of others

  • Describe the ways that people are similar and different

  • Begin to care for others

  • Identify a range of decisions that students make at school

  • Understand problem solving options (saying sorry, using words not hands)

  • Follow basic rules

  • Make good choices and control impulses (beginning to explore)

Problem-Solving

Unit Sketch

In this unit we begin to emphasize more on empathy and the power of words - how we can become friends with people we haven't yet, that we can try new friendships out, that put-ups/put-downs have impact. The unit focuses on making and keeping friends (includes sharing), problem solving steps, independence, inclusion, making positive choices, and taking responsibility for behavior. We continue to learn about feelings and personalities, including people are different and react differently to the same situation (assume the best in others); and an ongoing commitment to breathing, movement and practicing skills.

Enduring Understandings

Students will understand that...

  • Emotions and behavior can be identified and managed.

  • It is important to be able to recognize the feelings and perspectives of others.

  • Individuals and groups have similarities and differences.

  • People make choices in how they behave in response to feelings, situations, and the behavior of others.

Skills

Students will be able to...

  • Demonstrate control of impulsive behavior

  • Identify family, peer, school, and community strengths

  • Recognize that others may experience situations differently from oneself

  • Use listening skills to identify the feelings and perspectives of others

  • Describe the ways that people are similar and different

  • Describe positive qualities in others

  • Explain why unprovoked acts that hurt others are wrong

  • Identify social norms and safety considerations that guide behavior

  • Identify a range of decisions that students make at school

  • Make positive choices when interacting with classmates

Positive Self Identity

Unit Sketch

In this final unit, the core value is Integrity and the focus is on bringing together a synthesis of learned skills. Students are learning to cooperate with a wide range of people, including accepting difference and building tolerance. They are able to show confidence in their ability to stay safe, and make good choices and transition to the next year's growth and learning.

Enduring Understandings

Students will understand that...

  • Emotions and behavior can be identified and managed.

    • Feelings are linked to behavior.

    • Feelings can be expressed safely.

  • Relationships are made and built through social awareness.

  • It is important to be able to recognize the feelings and perspectives of others.

  • Individuals and groups have similarities and differences.

  • People make choices in how they behave in response to feelings, situations, and the behavior of others.

Skills

Students will be able to...

  • Manage feelings and frustrations

  • Use listening skills to identify the feelings and perspectives of others

  • Solve problems

  • Explain why unprovoked acts that hurt others are wrong

  • Make positive choices when interacting with classmates

  • Invite kids to play and play fair and have fun

  • Handle not getting their way and name calling