The ability to recognize one’s own emotions, thoughts and values and how they influence behavior. The ability to recognize your strengths and weaknesses. Self-Awareness is an important skill for building self-confidence, self-direction and empathy for others. It's how we understand and reflect on ourselves, our beliefs, and our values.

• Identifying emotions/ labeling one’s feelings

• Social and Cultural Identity

• Recognizing strengths & weaknesses

• Growth mindset

• Self-efficacy

• Examining bias

• Sense of purpose

• Self Awareness Classroom Strategies
• 25 strategies provided by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) to target key elements of self awareness.
• SEL Integrated Lesson Planning Checklist
• Want a cheat sheet on how to add SEL to your daily lessons? Try this checklist from CASEL to incorporate cultural responsiveness, cooperative structures, and reflection in your every day.
• SEL Reflection Prompts
• Morning meeting time or quiet journal time prompts to focus on each CASEL competency.
• Self Awareness Mandala
• Identifying emotions coloring page. Could be used in both advisory for upper grades and post-lunch quiet time for lower grades.
• Growth Mindset Prompts
• Use these to start a discussion with your class, quiet journal time, or blend them into morning meeting/advisory.
• Growth Mindset Posters & Growth Mindset Corner

Have you ever been upset about a student’s behavior, but paused to ask yourself, “Why am I feeling so angry?” You might have run through a quick series of responses in your mind before deciding what to say or do. That is self-awareness. This response may have been instinctual. Or maybe someone taught you self-awareness skills: how to self-reflect, accurately perceive your feelings, and express those feelings to others. It can be hard to maintain that level of self-awareness in a busy classroom. We’re all human. We won’t always be our best selves at every moment of the day. Embracing that reality helps us authentically engage with students, check our biases, question our own motivations, and pause to take stock of our decisions.

Ways to practice self-awareness in the classroom

• Acknowledge your own emotions and how they may play into your reactions.
• Name the skills you’re using (or “think aloud”) for your students as you model them. (It’s important for students to recognize that you’re still learning and practicing these skills, too.)
• View students as partners in developing social-emotional skills.
• Understand that it may take a little longer for some students to learn social-emotional skills as they develop self-confidence.

*Garcia, S. N. (2023). How SEL Helps you as a Teacher. Understood. https://www.understood.org

Expected start November 6th

• Doran (Fridays)
• Viveiros (Thursdays)
• Watson (Tuesdays)
• Additional schools TBD

One day per week, four week session with a culminating parent night at Ultimate Defense Fall River for students to receive white belts.

Mindful Martial Arts is a social-emotional program geared toward students in grades K-3 that combines martial arts practice and training with the development of mindfulness skills. The goal of the program is to support students in physical and emotional wellness by teaching skills such as focus, perseverance, respect, and self-control by fostering awareness of the mind-body connection.

Lessons will be run by Sensei Ernie Thivierge and masters-level clinicians and clinical interns during the school day. Teachers will be provided follow-up open and go social emotional lesson plans to use during the week to reinforce learned skills. Families will also be provided a tip sheet outlining how to support their children’s social emotional development at home.

Visiting Letourneau, Watson, and Morton starting November 8th

Want Richard to visit your school? Reach out to cicosta@fallriverschools.org to see if there are any available time slots.

Saturday, December 2nd

Kick-Off @ Kennedy Park 1:00

#ShowUpFRPS for our annual participation in the Fall River Children’s Parade!

In honor of Unity Day, Fall River lit it up orange! The Braga Bridge, Saint Anne's Hospital, Children's Museum, and the Boys and Girls Club were just some of our many participants.

Share your school's October SEL activities, photos, and successes to vamaral@fallriverschools.org