Category: social-emotional-learning

Being Our Best Selves, One Promise at a Time

Over the past two weeks, Saklan’s Kindergarten class spent time reflecting on an important and empowering question: What does it mean to be your very best?

The exploration began with a read-aloud of I Promise by LeBron James, which sparked a thoughtful conversation about doing one’s best at school, in friendships, and in the wider world. Students also learned about the school LeBron James founded and how it reflects a belief in possibility, effort, and caring for others—values that are deeply aligned with the Kindergarten classroom community.

From there, the students took the lead. Together, they created a shared list of promises they might make to better themselves. Ideas flowed quickly and enthusiastically. Many children focused on helping at home, with promises like “I will do the dishes,” “I’ll clear the table,” and “I can help take out the trash.” Others centered their promises on kindness and empathy, committing to helping people who are hurt or feeling sad, actions they already practice each day.

Each student then selected one meaningful promise, illustrated themselves carrying it out, and wrote their words alongside their drawing. This activity supported key Kindergarten goals, including developing responsibility, practicing self-reflection, strengthening writing and drawing skills, and building social-emotional awareness. Just as importantly, it empowered students to name the kind of people they want to be.

The excitement was contagious—some children even asked if they could make more than one promise. As the class continues to revisit these ideas, students cheer one another on and strive to be their best selves, one promise at a time.

Building Self-Discipline

As the new year begins, Saklan’s January social-emotional learning focus is self-disciplined—a skill that supports students in setting goals, managing impulses, and following through with responsibility and care.

Throughout January, students will engage in conversations and activities that encourage them to pause, reflect, and choose actions aligned with their values and goals. By nurturing self-discipline in a compassionate and age-appropriate way, Saklan helps students grow into confident, capable, and self-aware learners—skills that will serve them well far beyond the classroom.

#SaklanSEL

Kind & Courteous Fun in Family Groups

This week, Saklan students gathered in their Family Groups for a joyful, laughter-filled Thanksgiving-themed SEL activity focused on kindness, cooperation, and creativity. With two tasks to complete before the big group sharing time, each Family Group worked together to celebrate our November SEL theme: Kind & Courteous.

Creating a Rhyming Poem

The first task was a poetic one! Students were given six words—Kind, Courteous, Turkey, Stuffing, Grateful, and Saklan—and worked together to craft an eight-line, rhyming holiday poem.

Groups brainstormed opening lines, found creative rhyming pairs, and practiced reading their poems aloud. Once the writing was complete, the fun continued as students came up with movements, gestures, or a mini-skit to bring their words to life. Whether performed as a group or with one reader and several actors, each poem became a cheerful expression of teamwork and holiday spirit.

Newspaper Costume Creations

The second task invited students to transform one group member into a Thanksgiving-inspired character—using only newspaper and masking tape! Creativity soared as students twisted, folded, layered, and shaped newspaper into costumes representing:

  • A turkey
  • Corn
  • A pile of leaves
  • A scarecrow

With laughter and collaboration, each group designed a costume that matched their chosen character or food item, showcasing not only imagination but also teamwork and courtesy in action.

The Grand Reveal

All Family Groups gathered on the sports court for the culminating celebration. Costumed characters stayed hidden behind the art room while groups circled the court. One by one, each group introduced their character, who stepped forward for the big reveal. Afterward, students performed their holiday poem for teachers and peers—earning smiles, applause, and plenty of festive cheer.

This activity beautifully blended creativity, community, and our monthly SEL focus. Students practiced kindness, cooperation, and communication while having a whole lot of fun. A perfect kickoff to the season of gratitude!

#SaklanSEL

Kind & Courteous Students

At Saklan, social-emotional learning (SEL) is an important part of helping students grow not only as learners, but also as compassionate, connected members of their community. Each month, we focus on a different SEL theme that helps students build empathy, self-awareness, and respect for others.

This month’s theme of kind and courteous invites students to reflect on the small, everyday actions that make a big difference in creating a positive school culture.

Through classroom discussions, role-playing, and real-life practice, students will explore what it truly means to be kind and courteous—both in words and in actions. By making kindness a daily habit, Saklan students continue to strengthen the sense of belonging and respect that makes our community so special.

#SaklanSEL #SaklanCommunity #EducatingtheWholeChild

Being Respectful in Family Groups

This week, Saklan students gathered for their second Family Group meeting of the year! These cross-grade groups are a treasured tradition at Saklan—bringing together students from different grades to connect, learn from one another, and strengthen our sense of community.

The Family Groups focused their attention on this month’s social-emotional learning (SEL) theme: being respectful. Together, groups read the “Respectful” posters that have been displayed around campus and discussed what respect feels like, looks like, and sounds like. Students shared thoughtful insights, describing respect as feeling “happy,” “heard,” and “like you matter.” They observed that respect looks like including others, making eye contact, and listening attentively—and sounds like calm voices, kind words, and polite “please” and “thank yous.”

Next came an interactive activity called “Let’s Agree on Respect.” As 8th graders read short scenarios aloud, students decided whether each situation showed respect or not, moving to one side of the room or the other to indicate their choice. The movement and discussion helped bring abstract ideas about respect into a real-world context, giving students the chance to reflect on everyday moments when respect really matters.

Finally, students brainstormed ways they personally show respect: through actions like active listening, apologizing when wrong, waiting patiently, or helping others. Each student then wrote their example on a paper leaf, which became part of their Family Group’s colorful “Respect Turkey.” The leaves, decorated with care and creativity, symbolize the many ways Saklan students contribute to a culture of kindness and consideration.

Through shared conversation, creativity, and connection, this Family Group meeting reminded everyone that being respectful is more than just words; it’s something we feel, see, and hear every day in our community.

#SaklanFamilyGroups