Summer SEL for Grades 3-5

Keep your kids’ emotional health in tip-top shape this summer! Every Respectful Ways course comes with a Home Connects printout (in English and Spanish) to help parents and guardians engage directly with their students’ social-emotional learning.

We invite you to save and use some of most popular Home Connects. (We also have versions for students PreK-Grade 2 and Grades 6-12.)
Click the link, then use the icons at top-right to download or print.
 

Let Your Love Light Shine
Students explore what it means to share their “love light” with others. They each have something unique they can give to others – simply by being themselves! Gaining high self-esteem and understanding self-expression are both addressed in this module.

More about this course  |  Download or print PDF in English | En Español

Pride Yourself on Being Courteous
Students explore why courtesy matters and how to show it. They learn that everyone deserves respect. They discover that polite gestures make us feel glad and shares our happiness with the person we’re showing courtesy. By engaging in reflection, discussion, and activities, students develop compassion for others.

More about this course  |  Download or print PDF in English | En Español

Bored? Get Creative!

Students use creative play to enhance the right side of the brain where empathy and compassion live. They learn to step out of their box to battle boredom with creative games and artistic creations. Students begin to feel connected, happy, and healthy through imaginative play.

More about this course  |  Download or print PDF in English | En Español

Giving Up Is Easy, Effort Wins!
Students learn about the power of perseverance, and find the courage to keep going when things get tough. They learn that never giving up – and making an effort – will help them accomplish their goals. The ability to keep trying is the key to winning in life, no matter what challenges they may encounter.

More about this course  |  Download or print PDF in English | En Español

Positive Problem Solvers Rock!

Students become efficient problem solvers and tackle challenging issues head on. They have the opportunity to identify a problem, come up with a plan, and collaborate with others in order to find solutions –> because positive problem solvers rock.

More about this course  |  Download or print PDF in English | En Español

Let’s Be Good Citizens and Role Models

Students learn to model good citizenship in the classroom and in public. They explore why good citizenship begins with care for principles and for people. Students apply this to jobs they might start working soon with a role-playing exercise. Finally, they wrap things up by writing letters to thank, encourage, and help others.

More about this course  |  Download or print PDF in English | En Español

Choose to be Positive
Students learn that although they can’t change what happens to them, responding with positivity is a choice. Through artwork, creative writing, and role-playing exercises, students learn that approaching life with hope makes us happier, more resilient, and successful.

More about this course  |  Download or print PDF in English | En Español

Be the Best YOU You Can Be
Students tackle self work through personal reflection to become their best selves. They learn effective meditation techniques to help them eliminate distractions and concentrate their energy. They then deal with past trauma and consider future aspirations as a means to live well in the present. Students learn that you are always your greatest competition, and they begin to develop a positive self image mindset to empower them throughout life. The Be Your Own Best Friend lesson plan helps students visualize how defiance and defiant behavior can negatively affect their future.

More about this course  |  Download or print PDF in English | En Español

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•    Blog Posts & SEL News

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•    Testimonials

  It has been a pleasure working with Respectful Ways.  They have been extremely supportive and flexible through the implementation process via weekly support meetings with district leadership, quarterly check-ins with building level teams, and responding to teacher needs and feedback.  That level of support has been instrumental in integrating a district-wide SEL program.  

  Scherry Prater
  Director of Student Services, Erie Public Schools, PA

  The students always love the Let’s Chat activity because it gets them talking and they love to talk.

  — Roberta H., Kindergarten Teacher, Lincoln Elementary, Erie, PA

  In Be Yourself Welcome Differences, the students enjoyed the “How I Shine” activity as they were able to talk about what makes them unique, but also get to talk about their differences.  

  — Molly R., 4th Grade Teacher Edison Elementary, Erie, PA

  https://youtu.be/H3_lFHq-YiA
  

  I loved all the activities. The students really loved the memory game in It’s Cool to be Sweet.

  — Haley N., 1st Grade Teacher, Jefferson Elementary, Erie, PA

  Now more than ever, social-emotional learning is an essential component in education. Respectful Ways is such a wonderful social-emotional program. The lesson plans are very easy to follow, and the lessons are age-appropriate and can be tailored to the needs of students. Students love playing the interactive games and listening to the interactive songs. I love that every lesson ends with a respectful wrap and promise. It is always encouraging when students look forward to the lessons as well.

  –Oak Mountain Academy School Counselor

  We’ve seen a lot of self-management and personal responsibility that’s been increasing.

  – School Principal

  Respectful Ways is flexible in that you may only have 5 minutes to work on a lesson in the morning, but you can pick back up where you left off later in the day or the next time you have a SEL block. You don’t have to start a lesson over if you don’t finish on time, so that’s a huge plus.

  – School Counselor

  Our 1st graders loved the Be Kind: It Feels Good course. The Kindness Hunt and bucket filling activities were the best. Very engaging.

                                  — Sheboygan Leadership Academy

   

  The Bored, Get Creative module was perfect for our 4th graders pre-winter break. We talked about things they could do if “bored”.

   — Sheboygan Leadership Academy

  Our 1st and 2nd graders loved the Be Strong and Take it On course because it encouraged a strong mind, and it reminded them that mistakes happen. The IT in Grit was super cute!

   — Sheboygan Leadership Academy

  This is the first year that our school has used Respectful Ways and it’s been a great success. The student survey data backs that up as well. Respectful Ways has been a great character education resource for us, especially since we’ve been remote all year and our students’ mental health is more important than ever. 

  – Cosmo Braico, Vice Principal, Paterson Public School 13

  Pam and her team at Respectful Ways have gone above and beyond in terms of their customer service.  Every promise made has been kept, and they have over delivered in terms of providing quality professional development. The best part has been Pam and her team’s professionalism and availability. I recommend Respectful Ways to everyone.

  – Dr. James Murphy, District Behavior Specialist, Meridian MS Public Schools

  When we have a conflict in the room, they will take their Respectful Ways of handling that conflict, and I don’t have to get into it!

  -1st Grade Teacher

  It’s helped me figure out things with my friends. Let’s say we’re not really getting along much, I can try to use some of the things to make it better.

   – 5th Grader

  Not only is it easy to teach, but it’s very impactful. I feel my time presenting it to the kids is well worth it.

  – Elementary School Teacher

  Respectful Ways (RW) helps take the lesson planning out of the equation as it already provides teachers with a brief overview of each lesson that’s ready to instruct without much effort. RW hits current Georgia and national standards along the way in each module. With the various modules hitting on a wide variety of topics, RW allows us to pinpoint modules for teaching to meet our PBIS goals.

  – School Counselor

  My kids are so excited to see those signs, and they are excited to remind others when they see them. It also gives me clues…I appreciate the visuals to use with the children.

  — Elementary School Educator, GA

  Listen to this program, see it in action. It’s just been a new shining light that we didn’t have last year…and it’s such a difference this year.

  – 1st Grade Teacher

  I like the program because it teaches you lessons for life and it teaches you more ways to be nice to people than what you can already think of.

  – 5th Grader
  

  As we were approaching the testing season, I pulled a small group of 5th graders to work on a module about not giving up. This was to encourage them to push through when things were difficult. At the end of the lesson, each student had the ability to make their own meme. Several students held onto their memes and would remind me of how much they enjoyed that lesson. 

  – School Counselor

  The Respectful Ways music and interactive boards (where they can see their own ideas typed out) is a big draw for my students. Especially in the younger grades, they really enjoy it because it’s so interactive.

  – School Counselor

  I found the discussion very helpful to the students. It allowed them to really think about what the word respect means. Sometimes we use words and we understand them on a surface level but this allowed the kids to really understand what the word “respect” means.

  – School Counselor

  The Post It Note Activity was the most helpful. The students really took to drawing pictures of those they love!

  – School Counselor

  Breaking down the poem was very insightful for me to hear their understanding of the poem. I also feel that they connected more with the poem by understanding it line for line.

   — School Counselor

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