Needing help with creating classroom material

HI NIcholas-  you will probably get some responses here to your question but i also wanted to point you to the ACEs in Education page on ACEs Connection where you can pose that question as well.

I would be careful about this. This idea of lifting people up can be really stressful and narrows the resilience window. (Every student should have a job anyway.) At its essence it is kind of a manipulative way of trying to teach.  What would happen if you just sat everyone in a circle every day and they connected or gave compliments as in responsive classroom circles or Positive Discipline circles. Our experience is that is more effective.

Underneath we are always asking. How can we help students feel safe, connected and valued? How can we help them become more aware?

There are lots of ways to approach this...our favorite is the Positive Discipline curriculum which starts with Agreements, routines, meaningful work (jobs) and then goes to self regulation, communication, respect.... all taught experientially so the students can feel it as well as know it.

Hi, Nicholas:
Please find some links below for your consideration to peruse at your convenience.

https://www.pacesconnection.com/...-hechingerreport-org

https://www.pacesconnection.com/...workout-edutopia-org

https://www.pacesconnection.com/...trauma-informed-lens

May I also suggest your consideration of having service learning projects for your K-3 students. Developing and facilitating Youth Leadership with 3rd-5th grade students at Cherokee Point Elementary (inner-city San Diego) in the school-year long after school youth leadership, they chose service learning projects with a specific aim on social justice. This video clip highlights the Domestic Violence and Gang Violence groups.

https://www.pacesconnection.com/...-diego-summit-050514

My sense is your kindergarten students can still be engaged in service learning through age-appropriate dialog on how they can share their hearts and voice on behalf of others. Service learning is such a powerful practice of building empathy muscles, which build resilience. Strengthening their interpersonal intelligence, they also improve their intrapersonal intelligence.

Thank you so very much everyone for the incredible feedback!