12 interactive and fun games to teach self-control and build self-regulation skills for kids and teens. Strong skills for self-control are the foundation for success in and outside of the classroom.

Are you on the lookout for engaging and fun ways to foster social-emotional learning (SEL) skills in your students? Well, you're in the right place! Whether you're a seasoned teacher or a fresh-faced educator, I've included a treasure trove of games that will transform your classroom into a hub of self-awareness, self-management, relationship building, social awareness, and responsible decision-making. These games are not only a breeze to implement, but are sure to have your students begging for more. These activities aren't just about learning; they're about making SEL skills an integral part of your classroom culture. So, let the games begin! Self-Awareness: Game 1: Empathy Chairs This game is similar to musical chairs, but it has a social-emotional learning twist. Start the music as students rotate around a circle of chairs with emotion cards on the seats. When the music stops, they'll need to grab a seat. Based on the card at their seats, students will share experiences that they have had related to that emotion. For ready-made cards and detailed directions, click here. Game 2: Feelings Charades Get ready to break the ice with a classic game of charades, but with a twist! Instead of acting out movie titles or animals, students will express various emotions using only their facial expressions and body language. This not only hones their emotional awareness but also creates a safe space for open communication about feelings. Game 3: Emotion Journaling Equip your students with journals and encourage them to express their daily emotions through words, drawings, or a combination of both. This simple yet effective exercise fosters self-awareness by helping students identify and reflect on their emotions. Bonus: It's a fantastic tool for tracking emotional trends over time. Find my favorite journal prompts for building self-awareness here. Self-Management: Game 4: Mindful Minute Challenge Kick off each class or session with a mindful minute challenge. Set a timer for 60 seconds and guide students through a brief mindfulness exercise, such as deep breathing or visualization. This routine cultivates self-management skills by teaching students to center themselves, promoting focus and emotional regulation. You can also practice mindfulness with these FREE finger labyrinths. Game 5: Goal-Setting Bingo Turn goal-setting into a game! Create bingo cards with various self-management goals (e.g., completing homework on time, staying organized, managing time effectively). As students achieve each goal, they mark it off their bingo card. The first to get a bingo enjoys a small reward. It's a playful way to instill discipline and responsibility. Or turn goal-setting into a group bulletin board. Grab the FREE goal-setting materials here. Game 6: Popcorn Game Play a game called "Popcorn." Have students get into a circle. Explain that the goal is for them to each take a turn popping into the air and clapping at the same time. The only catch is that they must go in a random order. If they "pop" up at the same time as a classmate, they should all start again. This is great way to promote impulse control. Grab detailed directions to play this game and four others here. Relationship Skills: Game 7: Collaborative Storytelling Fuel creativity and teamwork by having students work together to create a story. Each student contributes a sentence, building on the narrative created by their peers. This not only strengthens relationships but also enhances communication and cooperation skills. Plus, it's a blast to see where the story takes unexpected twists and turns! (These reading passages based on SEL learning skills are fun, too!) Game 8: Group Challenges Help students develop their relationship skills as they complete a series of fun challenges as a team. Have teams of students work together to solve 5 different challenges that focus on teamwork, collaboration, and leveraging individual strengths to emphasize the power of working together. Make planning these challenges easy with these ready-made stations. Game 9: Peer Appreciation Circle Form a circle and have students take turns expressing appreciation for the person on their right. This simple yet powerful exercise builds positive relationships within the class and reinforces the importance of acknowledging each other's strengths and contributions. Social Awareness: Game 10: Perspective Puzzles Print or draw pictures of various situations and scenarios. Have students work in pairs to discuss and understand the emotions and perspectives of the people in the pictures. This game sharpens social awareness by encouraging students to consider different viewpoints and practice empathy. I've created a set of cards for this game here. Game 11: Community Connections Scavenger Hunt Create a list of community-related items or tasks that students can complete outside of the classroom, fostering a sense of connection to the broader community. This activity enhances social awareness by encouraging students to explore and appreciate the world beyond their immediate surroundings. Responsible Decision-Making: Game 12: Decision Dilemmas Present students with real-life scenarios that require responsible decision-making. Engage them in thoughtful discussions about the potential outcomes of each choice. This game equips students with the skills to analyze situations, consider consequences, and make informed decisions—a crucial aspect of responsible decision-making. Need some scenario cards to share with students? Grab them here. Game 13: Consequence Connect Four Create a Connect Four game board with spaces featuring different consequences of actions. As students play, discuss the potential outcomes associated with each move. This visually engaging activity reinforces the concept that every decision has consequences and helps students develop a sense of responsibility. Game 14: Decision Making Prompts Get students thinking about how they might respond to situations with targeted writing prompts. Share prompts that challenges students to make a decision. Then, give them opportunity to write how they might respond. Let students share their responses with peers or small groups. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- And there you have it, a bunch of games designed to infuse your classroom with social-emotional learning! These activities are not just about learning; they're about creating an environment where students flourish emotionally, socially, and academically. So, why wait? Dive into the world of SEL games and watch your students grow into self-aware, emotionally intelligent, and socially adept individuals. Your classroom is about to become the epicenter of SEL success—game on! Wishing you lots of fun in your classroom, Mary Beth P.S. Find 15 MORE social-emotional learning activities HERE.

Social-emotional activities have never been more important for younger kids.

This collection of social emotional learning games is designed to cultivate SEL skills through the magic of play! In this resource, you’ll find five carefully crafted games that integrate fun and learning to help your students develop their social awareness, decision-making abilities, and interpersonal skills. These games encourage collaboration, critical thinking, and emotional resilience in students. Let the games (and learning) begin! Great news! The games included in this resource address 5 different social and emotional learning competencies. These include: Self-Awareness Self-Management Relationship Skills Social Awareness Responsible Decision-Making Purpose of SEL GAMES Using games to teach social emotional learning (SEL) skills offers several benefits for students, including… Hands-on learning A safe and controlled learning environment Collaboration Communication Increased motivation Active engagement Critical thinking Immediate feedback Experiences with various learning styles Positive interactions with peers Social Emotional Learning Games Included: EMPATHY CHAIRS: Students will rotate around a circle of chairs and they land on an emotion card that will prompt sharing. POPCORN: As a class, students will “pop” into the air in a random order. This no-prep, no-copy game is a great way to practice impulse control. TEAM CHALLENGES: Working in teams, students will rotate to 5 different stations and solve challenges. MATCH UP: Students will work on perspective-taking as they try to match situations to corresponding emotions. WHAT WOULD YOU DO?: Students engage in a scenario-based game where they need to make decisions. IDEAS: You can use the games in a variety of ways and in many different settings. The SEL games are very versatile. They can work in a variety of ways! Warm-Ups Community-Building Activities Targeted SEL Lessons Extensions to SEL reading passages Enrichment Activities This resource includes: Detailed teacher guide SEL Games Overview with skills and time Detailed Lesson for each SEL game – Includes objective, materials, set-up, game, discussion points, and debrief Materials needed for each game including activity cards, tasks, station directions, and record sheets All Answer Keys You might also like... Social Emotional Learning – Reading Passages and Writing Prompts Classroom Community Posters and Activities Self-Awareness Social Emotional Learning Activities Following is Fun! Get the inside scoop on all store discounts, free products, and product launches. Just click the green “Follow Me” star under my store name on this page or click the green “Follow Me” star on my store homepage. Let’s Stay in Touch! Blog Pinterest Facebook Instagram *** Click HERE to receive the Brain Waves Instruction Newsletter filled with exclusive FREEBIES and Teaching Tips! Thanks! Brain Waves Instruction

Are you on the lookout for engaging and fun ways to foster social-emotional learning (SEL) skills in your students? Well, you're in the right place! Whether you're a seasoned teacher or a fresh-faced educator, I've included a treasure trove of games that will transform your classroom into a hub of self-awareness, self-management, relationship building, social awareness, and responsible decision-making. These games are not only a breeze to implement, but are sure to have your students begging for more. These activities aren't just about learning; they're about making SEL skills an integral part of your classroom culture. So, let the games begin! Self-Awareness: Game 1: Empathy Chairs This game is similar to musical chairs, but it has a social-emotional learning twist. Start the music as students rotate around a circle of chairs with emotion cards on the seats. When the music stops, they'll need to grab a seat. Based on the card at their seats, students will share experiences that they have had related to that emotion. For ready-made cards and detailed directions, click here. Game 2: Feelings Charades Get ready to break the ice with a classic game of charades, but with a twist! Instead of acting out movie titles or animals, students will express various emotions using only their facial expressions and body language. This not only hones their emotional awareness but also creates a safe space for open communication about feelings. Game 3: Emotion Journaling Equip your students with journals and encourage them to express their daily emotions through words, drawings, or a combination of both. This simple yet effective exercise fosters self-awareness by helping students identify and reflect on their emotions. Bonus: It's a fantastic tool for tracking emotional trends over time. Find my favorite journal prompts for building self-awareness here. Self-Management: Game 4: Mindful Minute Challenge Kick off each class or session with a mindful minute challenge. Set a timer for 60 seconds and guide students through a brief mindfulness exercise, such as deep breathing or visualization. This routine cultivates self-management skills by teaching students to center themselves, promoting focus and emotional regulation. You can also practice mindfulness with these FREE finger labyrinths. Game 5: Goal-Setting Bingo Turn goal-setting into a game! Create bingo cards with various self-management goals (e.g., completing homework on time, staying organized, managing time effectively). As students achieve each goal, they mark it off their bingo card. The first to get a bingo enjoys a small reward. It's a playful way to instill discipline and responsibility. Or turn goal-setting into a group bulletin board. Grab the FREE goal-setting materials here. Game 6: Popcorn Game Play a game called "Popcorn." Have students get into a circle. Explain that the goal is for them to each take a turn popping into the air and clapping at the same time. The only catch is that they must go in a random order. If they "pop" up at the same time as a classmate, they should all start again. This is great way to promote impulse control. Grab detailed directions to play this game and four others here. Relationship Skills: Game 7: Collaborative Storytelling Fuel creativity and teamwork by having students work together to create a story. Each student contributes a sentence, building on the narrative created by their peers. This not only strengthens relationships but also enhances communication and cooperation skills. Plus, it's a blast to see where the story takes unexpected twists and turns! (These reading passages based on SEL learning skills are fun, too!) Game 8: Group Challenges Help students develop their relationship skills as they complete a series of fun challenges as a team. Have teams of students work together to solve 5 different challenges that focus on teamwork, collaboration, and leveraging individual strengths to emphasize the power of working together. Make planning these challenges easy with these ready-made stations. Game 9: Peer Appreciation Circle Form a circle and have students take turns expressing appreciation for the person on their right. This simple yet powerful exercise builds positive relationships within the class and reinforces the importance of acknowledging each other's strengths and contributions. Social Awareness: Game 10: Perspective Puzzles Print or draw pictures of various situations and scenarios. Have students work in pairs to discuss and understand the emotions and perspectives of the people in the pictures. This game sharpens social awareness by encouraging students to consider different viewpoints and practice empathy. I've created a set of cards for this game here. Game 11: Community Connections Scavenger Hunt Create a list of community-related items or tasks that students can complete outside of the classroom, fostering a sense of connection to the broader community. This activity enhances social awareness by encouraging students to explore and appreciate the world beyond their immediate surroundings. Responsible Decision-Making: Game 12: Decision Dilemmas Present students with real-life scenarios that require responsible decision-making. Engage them in thoughtful discussions about the potential outcomes of each choice. This game equips students with the skills to analyze situations, consider consequences, and make informed decisions—a crucial aspect of responsible decision-making. Need some scenario cards to share with students? Grab them here. Game 13: Consequence Connect Four Create a Connect Four game board with spaces featuring different consequences of actions. As students play, discuss the potential outcomes associated with each move. This visually engaging activity reinforces the concept that every decision has consequences and helps students develop a sense of responsibility. Game 14: Decision Making Prompts Get students thinking about how they might respond to situations with targeted writing prompts. Share prompts that challenges students to make a decision. Then, give them opportunity to write how they might respond. Let students share their responses with peers or small groups. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- And there you have it, a bunch of games designed to infuse your classroom with social-emotional learning! These activities are not just about learning; they're about creating an environment where students flourish emotionally, socially, and academically. So, why wait? Dive into the world of SEL games and watch your students grow into self-aware, emotionally intelligent, and socially adept individuals. Your classroom is about to become the epicenter of SEL success—game on! Wishing you lots of fun in your classroom, Mary Beth P.S. Find 15 MORE social-emotional learning activities HERE.

Social-emotional activities have never been more important for younger kids.

Engage your students and learn more about them with this Video Game SEL Slideshow Activity! Pique your students' interest with video game themed slides and questions about themselves. Learn about their favorite video games and characters, their strengths, and their real-life conflicts. This is an easy way to get students to open up and feel like they're being heard. If you're looking for a time-filler that still requires students to write and apply their computer literacy skills, this resource is for you! THIS RESOURCE INCLUDES: –1 title slide –1 "Character Name" slide –1 "Customize Avatar" slide –1 "Strengths" slide –1 "Catchphrase" slide  –1 "This or That" slide –1 "Villain Origin Story" slide –1 "Favorite Games" slide –1 "Million Coins" slide –1 "Game Over" slide

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Quick, fun, no-prep SEL lesson activities that are perfect for before and after breaks or any time you need an extra fun guidance lesson

Instead of playing the preschool memory game, just use the cards as a conversation starter. Kids pull a card, tell what the chore is and then tell if they like it, ever did it, etc.

Use these ten kindness games to teach kindness and kindness concepts in a fun, silly, hands-on way that kids will love to play.

Are you on the lookout for engaging and fun ways to foster social-emotional learning (SEL) skills in your students? Well, you're in the right place! Whether you're a seasoned teacher or a fresh-faced educator, I've included a treasure trove of games that will transform your classroom into a hub of self-awareness, self-management, relationship building, social awareness, and responsible decision-making. These games are not only a breeze to implement, but are sure to have your students begging for more. These activities aren't just about learning; they're about making SEL skills an integral part of your classroom culture. So, let the games begin! Self-Awareness: Game 1: Empathy Chairs This game is similar to musical chairs, but it has a social-emotional learning twist. Start the music as students rotate around a circle of chairs with emotion cards on the seats. When the music stops, they'll need to grab a seat. Based on the card at their seats, students will share experiences that they have had related to that emotion. For ready-made cards and detailed directions, click here. Game 2: Feelings Charades Get ready to break the ice with a classic game of charades, but with a twist! Instead of acting out movie titles or animals, students will express various emotions using only their facial expressions and body language. This not only hones their emotional awareness but also creates a safe space for open communication about feelings. Game 3: Emotion Journaling Equip your students with journals and encourage them to express their daily emotions through words, drawings, or a combination of both. This simple yet effective exercise fosters self-awareness by helping students identify and reflect on their emotions. Bonus: It's a fantastic tool for tracking emotional trends over time. Find my favorite journal prompts for building self-awareness here. Self-Management: Game 4: Mindful Minute Challenge Kick off each class or session with a mindful minute challenge. Set a timer for 60 seconds and guide students through a brief mindfulness exercise, such as deep breathing or visualization. This routine cultivates self-management skills by teaching students to center themselves, promoting focus and emotional regulation. You can also practice mindfulness with these FREE finger labyrinths. Game 5: Goal-Setting Bingo Turn goal-setting into a game! Create bingo cards with various self-management goals (e.g., completing homework on time, staying organized, managing time effectively). As students achieve each goal, they mark it off their bingo card. The first to get a bingo enjoys a small reward. It's a playful way to instill discipline and responsibility. Or turn goal-setting into a group bulletin board. Grab the FREE goal-setting materials here. Game 6: Popcorn Game Play a game called "Popcorn." Have students get into a circle. Explain that the goal is for them to each take a turn popping into the air and clapping at the same time. The only catch is that they must go in a random order. If they "pop" up at the same time as a classmate, they should all start again. This is great way to promote impulse control. Grab detailed directions to play this game and four others here. Relationship Skills: Game 7: Collaborative Storytelling Fuel creativity and teamwork by having students work together to create a story. Each student contributes a sentence, building on the narrative created by their peers. This not only strengthens relationships but also enhances communication and cooperation skills. Plus, it's a blast to see where the story takes unexpected twists and turns! (These reading passages based on SEL learning skills are fun, too!) Game 8: Group Challenges Help students develop their relationship skills as they complete a series of fun challenges as a team. Have teams of students work together to solve 5 different challenges that focus on teamwork, collaboration, and leveraging individual strengths to emphasize the power of working together. Make planning these challenges easy with these ready-made stations. Game 9: Peer Appreciation Circle Form a circle and have students take turns expressing appreciation for the person on their right. This simple yet powerful exercise builds positive relationships within the class and reinforces the importance of acknowledging each other's strengths and contributions. Social Awareness: Game 10: Perspective Puzzles Print or draw pictures of various situations and scenarios. Have students work in pairs to discuss and understand the emotions and perspectives of the people in the pictures. This game sharpens social awareness by encouraging students to consider different viewpoints and practice empathy. I've created a set of cards for this game here. Game 11: Community Connections Scavenger Hunt Create a list of community-related items or tasks that students can complete outside of the classroom, fostering a sense of connection to the broader community. This activity enhances social awareness by encouraging students to explore and appreciate the world beyond their immediate surroundings. Responsible Decision-Making: Game 12: Decision Dilemmas Present students with real-life scenarios that require responsible decision-making. Engage them in thoughtful discussions about the potential outcomes of each choice. This game equips students with the skills to analyze situations, consider consequences, and make informed decisions—a crucial aspect of responsible decision-making. Need some scenario cards to share with students? Grab them here. Game 13: Consequence Connect Four Create a Connect Four game board with spaces featuring different consequences of actions. As students play, discuss the potential outcomes associated with each move. This visually engaging activity reinforces the concept that every decision has consequences and helps students develop a sense of responsibility. Game 14: Decision Making Prompts Get students thinking about how they might respond to situations with targeted writing prompts. Share prompts that challenges students to make a decision. Then, give them opportunity to write how they might respond. Let students share their responses with peers or small groups. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- And there you have it, a bunch of games designed to infuse your classroom with social-emotional learning! These activities are not just about learning; they're about creating an environment where students flourish emotionally, socially, and academically. So, why wait? Dive into the world of SEL games and watch your students grow into self-aware, emotionally intelligent, and socially adept individuals. Your classroom is about to become the epicenter of SEL success—game on! Wishing you lots of fun in your classroom, Mary Beth P.S. Find 15 MORE social-emotional learning activities HERE.

By Connie Bergstein Dow, author of From A to Z with Energy! 26 Ways to Move and Play Children love to move! As a dance educator, I enjoy engaging young children in playful and fun movement explorat…

How can I prepare my child for kindergarten? These listening games are a fun way to start working on kindergarten readiness!

Elementary End of Year Activity & Reflection Bundle: Reflect, Craft, Connect, and Recognize! Includes: End-of-Year & Summer Scavenger Hunts: Two themed scavenger hunts for reflection and anticipation. Students connect and reflect positively on the past year while looking forward to summer adventures. "This Year Was Sweet" End of Year Reflection Craft: Engaging ice cream cone craft with reflection prompts. Students create a keepsake while reflecting on achievements and growth. End-of-Year Memory Brochure: Capture precious memories with 13 reflection prompts. Perfect for expressing gratitude and reflection. Includes autograph space for classmates and teachers. "What I Want My Next Teacher/Counselor to Know About Me" Worksheet: Smoothly transition to the next school year by sharing important information with future teachers or counselors. Promotes self-awareness and ownership of learning journey. 75 Unique Certificates: Elevate classroom celebrations with a collection of certificates covering a spectrum of achievements and traits. Perfect for recognizing and highlighting student accomplishments. Features: Engaging activities for reflection, connection, and celebration. Promotes social-emotional learning and self-awareness. Perfect for grades 2-5 and elementary classrooms. Ideal for teacher-counselor collaboration and transition planning. Easy-to-use print-and-go formats for end-of-year and summer activities. Download now and make your end-of-year celebrations unforgettable for your students!

Elementary End of Year Activity & Reflection Bundle: Reflect, Craft, Connect, and Recognize! Includes: End-of-Year & Summer Scavenger Hunts: Two themed scavenger hunts for reflection and anticipation. Students connect and reflect positively on the past year while looking forward to summer adventures. "This Year Was Sweet" End of Year Reflection Craft: Engaging ice cream cone craft with reflection prompts. Students create a keepsake while reflecting on achievements and growth. End-of-Year Memory Brochure: Capture precious memories with 13 reflection prompts. Perfect for expressing gratitude and reflection. Includes autograph space for classmates and teachers. "What I Want My Next Teacher/Counselor to Know About Me" Worksheet: Smoothly transition to the next school year by sharing important information with future teachers or counselors. Promotes self-awareness and ownership of learning journey. 75 Unique Certificates: Elevate classroom celebrations with a collection of certificates covering a spectrum of achievements and traits. Perfect for recognizing and highlighting student accomplishments. Features: Engaging activities for reflection, connection, and celebration. Promotes social-emotional learning and self-awareness. Perfect for grades 2-5 and elementary classrooms. Ideal for teacher-counselor collaboration and transition planning. Easy-to-use print-and-go formats for end-of-year and summer activities. Download now and make your end-of-year celebrations unforgettable for your students!

This circle of control activity teaches students the difference between what is inside their control and what is outside of their control.

An in-depth look at the mind+heart Social-Emotional Learning Curriculum available for K-2 and Grades 3-5 for teachers and school counselors.

These following directions drawing activity ideas will teach kids to listen carefully to instructions and interpret them.

Escape rooms are not only the latest craze, but a tool that can help kids work towards their learning goals. An escape room is a challenge that allows kids to work together solving a variety of puzzles in order to "break out" of a room. There are different "reasons" for why kids are locked it. Somet

Kids and young adults need to be able to problem-solve on their own. Every day, kids are faced with a huge number of social situations and challenges. Whether they are just having a conversation with a peer, working with a group on a project, or dealing with an ethical dilemma, kids must use their s

two fun games to use in classroom guidance lessons or small group counseling to teach and practice self control strategies -Counselor Keri

Welcome to our series on social emotional learning in the elementary classroom! We are going to be chatting about some effective strategies and procedures you can easily and quickly apply to your classroom for improvement in student self-awareness, self-control, and social skills. During the month of January, we will cover four different SEL topics. January has always been my favorite month to teach, because I was always able to do a reset with the students I already had a relationship with. We could then really hone in and improve SEL skills to in turn take a deep dive into instruction. The less you are having to stop and redirect student behavior, the more time you have to teach. We know that is more important now than ever. This month, we will cover four topics that I felt were most needed right now that could cover the most behaviors: listening, making good choices, kindness, and resilience. Let's talk LISTENING and FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS. Why is listening important? Active listening is a vital skill in the classroom, as well as in life. You listen to directions, announcements, instruction, conversation, and more. As a student, I was not always the best listener. I tried really hard to listen, but I lacked the strategies to comprehend what was being said. I was more of a visual learner, so auditory was difficult for me. I think we sometimes forget that our students need to be explicitly taught the strategies and skills we expect them to apply. I have found that students need explicit SEL instruction all throughout the year. The problem is that we don't have the time to do that. I tried to think of ways you could easily and quickly incorporate it into your day, because it's so important to keep your classroom running smoothly and to decrease undesirable behaviors. The best time I feel to teach these, if you can, is first thing in the morning, during morning meeting. I have come up with some quick mini lessons, along with quick and fun activities, to teach each SEL topic. This week, we are going to look at some strategies to increase active listening in your classroom. Listening Strategies and Tips Call and Response The first thing you need to have in place is a call and response. I would only do one or two at a time. One that I always do is: Teacher: 1, 2, 3 Eyes on Me Students: 1, 2 Eyes on You When I teach this, I practice it a ton. It is important that students STOP AND LOOK AT YOU. Do not let them continue what they are doing. They will not be actively listening if they are still doing something else or talking while you are talking. Be firm about that expectation and wait until everyone is focused on you. We want to establish a muscle memory of them stopping, looking at you, and listening until you are finished. It's so important to have high expectations here. There are many different call and responses out there to choose from. Just be consistent with one or two for a while before changing to a different chant. Voice Volume and Tone If you know me, you know that I am not loud at all! Ha! I am pretty quiet so I use that to my advantage in the classroom. The lower I talk, the more they have to really listen. I also make sure that I keep a calm tone when I speak. This is also very important to have a calming environment because they tend to mirror what they are seeing. Something that I have found that has helped a ton with listening is buying a microphone headset and speaker. I just got one off of Amazon. It saves my voice and my energy, and I can use a calm tone that students are more likely to listen to. Keep Directions Short and Direct Stick to one-step instructions. Be direct and clear with your instructions, as well. If you can also add a visual, that will greatly help students. As students get better with one-step instructions, begin to slowly introduce more steps. Echoing One of my favorite and most effective ways to give instructions is through echoing. I will say the instruction in a sing song voice. The students know to echo me when I use that voice. Not only does it help them better comprehend the instructions, they also are busy being engaged which cuts down on opportunities to get off task or misbehave. Read Aloud Books The best way to begin a discussion with students about an SEL topic is through a read aloud. We want them to understand why listening is important. It helps us to be a better friend, we learn more, we are more caring, we understand what to do next, etc. I really love the book, The Worst Day of My Life Ever! by Julia Cook. The character in the story is having a very bad day because he chose not to listen to others. Students get to follow along on how those choices affected his day. His mom gives him tips on how to be a better listener and how to follow instructions that students can also apply. (I have made a resource that contains all of the mini lessons for teaching students to be better listeners, along with quick activities for a week focused on this topic.) Two other good ones are Lacy Walker, Nonstop Talker and My Mouth is a Volcano. Songs and Videos I love to incorporate music to help students better remember a strategy. You will get a song I wrote in the unit call "I Am Listening", but I have also linked some classroom approved videos you can show before or during your mini lesson about listening. Be a Whole Body Listener I Am a Good Listener (begin at 1:00) Why is Listening Important? Listening Game The Dance Freeze Song The Listening Game: Cosmic Kids Listening Mini Lessons Incorporate mini lessons into your morning meeting devoted to listening. I like to focus on one topic or skill per week. These lessons are quick and to the point. I also like to create an anchor chart with my students so that they have a visual reminder to refer to. Students also make a mini anchor chart to add to their SEL notebooks. Listening and Following Directions Activities Practice the Strategy For each lesson, I review the anchor chart and sing the listening song to open the lesson and review what we have learned. I then read a portion of the read aloud, The Worst Day of My Life Ever! I do this similar to an interactive read aloud, including text dependent questions that also start discussions about listening. After the story, I teach a new strategy that we then practice. I will take you through each day of this unit. We already covered day one and the anchor chart, so let's move on to day two. On day two, we learn a new listening strategy and then students listen to the story Go Away Big Green Monster. I do not show them the illustrations; they have to draw the monster by listening to the description. This is a fun way to practice active listening! They love to share their monsters with one another. On day three, we learn another listening strategy and play Listen, Draw, Check. You can use this game in all content areas for review. The game is very similar to Battleship. They have to be really great listeners and follow the directions to match my game board, which we check at the end. On day four, I introduce the students to an SEL animal character. Each character is a different animal and has a poem. For this activity, students have to follow the oral coloring instructions and color their Listening Lion. They also get a copy of the poem to trace. Finally on day five, we read the whole story and then discuss what lesson the author was trying to teach the reader. I then assign a writing activity (differentiated sheets included) in which they have to apply what they have learned about listening and following directions. This is a great way to wrap up the unit and assess their understanding. Listening and following instructions are skills that apply to so many parts of the school day, so they are vital to a smoothly run classroom. When you are having to stop and address behaviors, it is draining. Let's set our students up for success by giving them the tools they need to thrive in the classroom. I would love to hear and share with others if you have any great listening strategies! Thank you so much for stopping by this week! Be sure to come back next week for our next SEL skill, MAKING GOOD CHOICES. The following two weeks will be all about KINDNESS and RESILIENCE. You can grab the Listening and Following Directions Activities below or by clicking on any of the photos!

25 Turn-Taking Activities & Games for Kids + How to Teach Kids to Take Turns ( with these 5 Turn-Taking Strategies)

From teaching tips and parental strategies, to anti-bullying activities and games, these ideas offer great inspiration to help kids stand up to bullying!

We want to create an environment in our classroom that encourages and teaches empathy. Children tend to be egocentric and need to be explicitly taught to recognize others' feelings and how to respond to those feelings. This will build classroom community and foster an environment of kindness in your elementary classroom. In this unit of mini lessons, we will teach students what empathy is, how to identify and respond to feelings, and why having empathy is important. Each activity is meaningful and engaging, which will lead to a classroom of empathetic students and learners. I use the book Empathy is Your Super Power by Cori Bussolari as the read aloud for the week. I like that it takes students through different scenarios and how to apply empathy to those different situations. You can then model using empathy in different situations throughout your day. When you see students modeling empathy, be sure to point it out to the class. The more you do this, the more these behaviors will be embedded into your classroom community. If you see a situation in which a student could have used empathy, address that with that student. Let them have a do over so that they can build that into their muscle memory! We read the whole text on Monday and Friday, and read only small portions on the other days of the week, much like an interactive read aloud. I include scripted mini daily lesson plans, as well as questions to ask during the read aloud to spark those important discussions. We want to teach students what empathy is, the understanding of the feelings and experiences of another. I like to tell them that it's like putting yourself in someone else's shoes. We make this anchor chart together, and I teach students four questions to ask themselves when they are in a situation in which they can apply sympathy. 1. What emotions is that friend feeling? 2. Why do they feel this way? 3. How would I feel if I were in that situation? 4. What can I say or do to help? Students get their own mini anchor chart to add to their own Social Emotional Learning Notebooks that they can always refer to later. You can also teaching students this Empathy Song. It also helps them to remember the steps of applying empathy. One of the most important skills you can teach your students is being able to recognize others' feelings or emotions. Show students a picture of an emotion and have them name the feeling. You can then ask them to give examples of times when they might have this emotion. Then, have them describe how they could respond if someone else has this feeling. We also make this Empathy Glasses to remind them that we are viewing a situation through another's eyes! They can use these when looking at the emotion on the cards. On Wednesday, we play a game, and this week is the In Your Shoes Empathy Game. You can play this in small groups or divide the class into two teams for a whole group game. The shoes are the game pieces and the cards each contain a scenario. They roll the dice to see how many spaces to move. If they land on draw a card, they choose a card and have to answer the empathy question. This gives students lots of practice responding to situations in which empathy should be applied. Our SEL animal character for the unit is Empathy Elephant. His poem reminds students to see a situation through someone else's eyes. On the last day of the unit, students will apply what they have learned. In the text, the author says that empathy is contagious. They have to explain what that means. Hopefully, their empathetic acts will also be contagious in your classroom! Empathy is one of those skills that can have a major impact on your whole classroom. We need to encourage our students to be empathetic and generous so that they will carry on those acts outside of the classroom and into adulthood. Can you imagine how much better our world would be if everyone showed empathy?! If you are in need of some quick but meaningful activities for teaching empathy, you can grab them HERE or by clicking any of the photos. Thank you so much for reading!

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Work with all of your counseling case load with tons of activities, SEL (Social-Emotional Learning) Videos list (over 180+ organized videos), lessons, and worksheets! Everything is printable. Games can be laminated for multiple uses. Counseling Activities Packets included Topics:6 + Weeks of Social ...

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My daughter wanted to create a family night game together that would be both fun and teach a lesson. We created The Choose Kindness Game.

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Welcome back to our series on social emotional learning in the elementary classroom! We are going to be chatting about some effective strategies and procedures you can easily and quickly apply to your classroom for improvement in student self-awareness, self-control, and social skills. During the month of January, we will cover four different SEL topics. January has always been my favorite month to teach, because I was always able to do a reset with the students I already had a relationship with. We could then really hone in and improve SEL skills to in turn take a deep dive into instruction. The less you are having to stop and redirect student behavior, the more time you have to teach. We know that is more important now than ever. This month, we will cover four topics that I felt were most needed right now that could cover the most behaviors: listening, making good choices, kindness, and resilience. Let's talk MAKING GOOD CHOICES this week. This post may contain affiliate links. Often times, students can be impulsive and make choices without stopping to think. The goal of these lessons and ideas is to provide students with the strategies they need to stop, think, and make a good choice. By teaching them these, students will begin to develop self control and self discipline. I have found that students need explicit SEL instruction all throughout the year. The problem is that we don't have the time to do that. I tried to think of ways you could easily and quickly incorporate it into your day, because it's so important to keep your classroom running smoothly and to decrease undesirable behaviors. The best time I feel to teach these, if you can, is first thing in the morning, during morning meeting. I have come up with some quick mini lessons, along with quick and fun activities, to teach each SEL topic. This week, we are going to look at some strategies to practice making good choices in your classroom. Provide Your Students with Opportunities Provide students with choice throughout the day. Have discussions about those choices and if they are the right or wrong choice in that situation. You might do so during independent work time by discussing how different choices could extend that time or not help us focus. During centers, you can provide them with choice in choosing the best activity to fit their current needs. You can give them different scenarios during morning meeting. Have them sort the scenarios by happy and sad choices, or good and poor choices. Have a discussion about what makes a choice good and what makes one poor. Visual Checklist Students, especially in the beginning, need a visual reminder in place. You could print this as a poster or make a mini one for students' desks. Remind them before making a choice, it's important to stop and calm down so that they can think before acting. Teach them how to weigh the positives and negatives. How can this choice affect me or others around me? What might happen next? Then, they are more equipped to make a good choice. Practice Making Choices within a Story The What Should Danny Do? series is perfect for practicing making choices within a text. In each of the stories, the reader get to make choices for Danny for a whole day. The choice that is made determines what happens next in the story. Students get to see in real time the consequences that choices can have. After reading the story, read it again and have students make different choices to see how his whole day can change just by making one choice. They also learn that just because you made a bad choice does not mean that you can't correct it. Students learn that you can turn your day around by making better choices. The way that the story stops at each choice allows students to also practice that stop and think time, as well as weighing the positives and negatives of each choice. Read What Should Danny Do? School Day as an interactive read aloud during the week you teach making choices. You can read through several choices each day and then go back and make different choices. I have made sticky note questions that you can ask each day as you read to help lead student discussions on the topic of making good choices. You can also bring in the other books from the series to give students even more practice at making choices. What Should Darla Do? is super fun, as well! You can also get these fun dolls that you can use in your classroom. There is a Darla doll and a Danny doll. These would be fun to let students hold for a given amount of time if they are caught making a good choice. Songs and Videos Choices Sesame Street Making Choices How to Make Good Choices Making Tough Choices with Kid President Making Good Choices Mini Lessons I am going to take you through the five days of mini lessons that you can do to teach students strategies for making good choices. On day one's lesson, you and your students will make this anchor chart in which you will sort different school situations into two different columns. Discuss the consequences of each choice and how they can affect others. Students will make their own and add it to their SEL notebook. I would ask students to draw and label 2-3 different choices each that might happen at school that are good choices and poor choices. On day two, students will learn that the choices you make can come from the heart. Get them in the practice of asking themselves how a specific choice can affect others. I call these choices "good hearted choices." One of our goals in these SEL lessons to transform students' hearts. We want them to make good choices because they know it's the right thing to do for themselves and for the good of those around them. Appealing to their hearts is very powerful. Go through some different situations that could happen in the classroom and talk through some of the choices they might make. Discuss how those choices might make them feel. For practice, students will be given two different scenarios in which they will have to explain what choice they will make. Hopefully, it's a good hearted one! Day three is always game day! This game gets students up and moving during your lesson. Divide your carpet or an open area in your room to have two sides. Hang the THIS or THAT signs up on each side so students can see which side to stand on. Read one of the questions and have students move to the side that they believe is the right choice. It can be either side, so they will be moving and making choices! Day four is the day in which we meet our new SEL animal friend, this week being Good Choices Cheetah. Today, you will focus on making good choices at recess during your mini lesson. Students will get a cheetah face to color and the Good Choices Cheetah poem to trace and attach. Finally on day five, we read the whole story and then discuss what lesson the author was trying to teach the reader. I then assign a writing activity (differentiated sheets included) in which they have to apply what they have learned about making good choices. This is a great way to wrap up the unit and assess their understanding. Let's set our students up for success by giving them the tools they need to thrive in the classroom. I hope these activities help your students become successful choice makers at school and in the community! Thank you so much for stopping by this week! Be sure to come back next week for our next SEL skill, KINDNESS. Last week was all about LISTENING AND FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS and the next week will be all about RESILIENCE. You can grab the Making Good Choices Activities below or by clicking on any of the photos!