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This book is a great resource for teaching students that everyone has special talents.

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Amy Krouse Rosenthal (Author), Scott Magoon (Illustrator)

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Amazon.com: Spoon (The Spoon Series, 1): 9781423106852: Rosenthal, Amy Krouse, Magoon, Scott: Books

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My students really enjoy this book. It teaches perseverance and has diverse illustrations.

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LeBron James (Author), Niña Mata (Illustrator)

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I Am More Than [James, LeBron, Mata, Niña] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. I Am More Than

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This video teaches students the importance of self-control and offers some skills they can practice to manage impulsive urges!

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Self Control for Kids - Impulse Control Skills | Elementary and Middle School Students

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This book teaches students the importance of perseverance and not quitting when things are difficult.

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I Choose to Try Again: A Colorful, Rhyming Picture Book About Perseverance and Diligence (Teacher and Therapist Toolbox: I Choose)

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I Choose to Try Again: A Colorful, Rhyming Picture Book About Perseverance and Diligence (Teacher and Therapist Toolbox: I Choose) [Estrada, Elizabeth] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. I Choose to Try Again: A Colorful, Rhyming Picture Book About Perseverance and Diligence (Teacher and Therapist Toolbox: I Choose)

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Global Game Changers. FREE and AMAZING!

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Bring the magic of the classroom home! Every copy supports our free educational programs — and helps even more children discover their inner superhero.

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Read aloud- A young girl who prides herself on never making mistakes learns a valuable lesson about the importance of embracing imperfections and enjoying life's journey.

-N.Kramer

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The authors present ways to advocate for gifted education; help gifted underachievers, perfectionists, and twice-exceptional students; and provide all gifted kids with a safe, supportive learning environment. -N. Kramer

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Davidson Institute is great for highly gifted students.

I like this resource:

Dabrowski's Theory and Existential Depression in Gifted Children and Adults - Davidson Institute

This site has a number of resources. They have a lesson here where students create their own shield/coat of arms that my students enjoy.

https://www.davidsongifted.org/gifted-blog/dabrowskis-theory-and-existential-depression-in-gifted-children-and-adults/

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This group is dedicated to the social and emotional needs of the gifted. They have a 2e book that you can download for free. They offer parent groups and so many resources.

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With Understanding Comes Calm - Compassionate guidance. Durable strategies. For the 2e Community.

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Why SENG? - With Understanding Comes Calm

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Discover how SENG transformed my life as a parent of twice‐exceptional kids—and why you can’t miss the July 23–24, 2025 SENG conference in Alexandria, VA.

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Shanna Inclan

Pen Pals in the 21st Century | Edutopia

I love the idea of "Bringing back" pen pals. This resource discusses how technology has sort of done away with the traditional pen pals of the past. However, I think even utilizing online pen pals could have great benefits! This could benefit gifted students because it gives them a chance to connect with strangers, people of different backgrounds, and someone they would not normally come into contact with. They get to learn about different cultures, customs, ways of living-while honing their letter writing skills-another art lost to technology.

https://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/profdev/profdev012.shtml

This resource is about having a classroom that is a democratic environment. The teacher "established a format for class meetings that enabled her students to share their thoughts and solve classroom issues on their own. In Styles's model, students take turns acting as a discussion leader, while the teacher promotes a respectful atmosphere and participates as a group member." This would be a great resource to utilize in the classroom. Many gifted students question the way the classroom is ran- this gives them an opportunity to decide how it is run and take some responsibility/ownership. This lesson would be best used at the start of the year-as classroom rules and expectations are being explained and created. Students love getting to make decisions. She also suggests regular "class meetings". She does supervise and intervene when necessary, but primarily the students run the meetings-they decide what changes may be needed and discuss how to fix problems.

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As they enter the room, I wave the big yellow envelope in the air. They know what it is, and the room comes alive with excitement. They can barely wait until I open the envelope and pass out the contents. Their pen pal letters have arrived!

With Tech, Who Needs Pen Pals?

With the introduction of technology in the classrooms, I felt as though pen pals had become a thing of the past. That was a disappointing feeling. In my humble opinion, no matter how many times you Skype, FaceTime or share YouTube videos, there is nothing like a letter. No form of technology-based communication produces the excitement on my students' faces like the arrival of a letter from their pen pal. Watching them devour their letters, with intermittent shouts of, "Mrs. Mims, you know what my pen pal said?" is something to be savored.

Pen pal letters provide the opportunity to break down classroom walls. Whether the class you connect with is in another state or another country, it serves the same purpose. It gives your students a chance to see a world outside of their walls. My classes have connected with other classes as close as Georgia and as far away as Russia.

This year, I took advantage of Skype in the Classroom and connected with a class in Spain. So far, we have exchanged letters and videos, and plan on much more collaboration throughout the school year, including a Skype session.

Pen pal letters also provide an avenue to create better writers via an authentic audience. My students know that not only is someone actually going to read their letter, but also respond to it. This encourages students to write with meaning, to write with a sense of purpose. As the year progresses, there is always a vast improvement in their writing.

Many states have implemented Common Core, and letter writing is not a part of the Common Core standards. However, it is very easy to create projects that classes can share through letters. For example, classes that are connected via the Global Read Aloud project can write letters to each other about their reaction to the same book. Students can share narratives about their lives, and then compare and contrast with the lives of their pen pals. The possibilities are endless!

Making Connections

When I joined Edmodo in 2010, I used it as an opportunity for reaching out to teachers who would be interested in connecting with my class. A teacher answered me, and our kids wrote each other at least once a month. We also connected our classes via Edmodo, but the most important connection was through letters. Not only did our students connect, but this teacher and I connected as well, and even met in person at an ISTE conference.

In 2011, I created a Pen Pal group on Edmodo named Pen Pals Who WRITE. I wanted to share my enthusiasm for pen pals by providing a forum where teachers could connect their classes. Over 100 teachers signed up, and it is still presently open.

After reading an article about a class that had connected with a local university, I decided to do the same with my students. I am currently in the third year of my partnership with the Wilmington University women's basketball team. The students and basketball players write each other once a month, the ladies bring them goodies on the holidays, and one day in the year, we stay after school in order to attend one of their games. My students are full of questions about college, basketball, etc., and these young ladies, who are great role models, willingly answer them in their letters.

Skype in the Classroom makes it so easy to connect, although it does require a Skype account. Once connected, you can set up your own Skype lesson and connect with teachers around the world. I posted that I was interested in being pen pals with a fifth grade class outside of the United States, and chose from the responses I received. The great part is that, although we are writing letters, we will still use Skype as a form of communication.

How to Begin

I always require my students to begin with a letter of introduction. They write at least two paragraphs, one talking about themselves, and the other asking any questions they may have for their pen pal.

It's always a good idea to read the letters that are sent to your students. My students are made aware of the type of conversations they are allowed to have, and I always read their letters. They do not write their last name and may not disclose personal information.

Written permission should be obtained from the parents. I always do this because some parents might not want their child to correspond with someone they don't know. Again, I have been fortunate and have always had 100 percent participation.

Pen pal letters may be a thing of the past to many people, but they will continue to be a part of my classroom's future!

Have you brought pen pals to your students? How have they responded? What tips would you share for others?

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As they enter the room, I wave the big yellow envelope in the air. They know what it is, and the room comes alive with excitement. They can barely wait until I open the envelope and pass out the contents. Their pen pal letters have arrived!

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1. Hoagies’ Gifted Education Page — Social & Emotional Support Section

How it addresses social & emotional needs:

This page offers research-based information about the unique affective profile of gifted students (intensity, asynchronous development, overexcitabilities, perfectionism, social isolation).

It includes strategies for teachers/parents to support emotional regulation, self-advocacy, and healthy peer interaction.

The resource normalizes gifted “depth of feeling” and gives practical language adults can use with learners.

How I would use it:
I would share this with students during advisory or socio-emotional check-ins to help them name what they’re experiencing, and with families as a common language tool for conversations about intensity and expectations. I would also use it as a planning tool when designing lessons that intentionally build self-awareness and coping strategies for perfectionism and anxiety.

2. “Personal Strengths Inventory for Gifted Students” Lesson/Worksheet

How it addresses social & emotional needs:

This lesson helps gifted students identify their strengths and challenges, which builds self-awareness and supports a growth mindset.

It encourages reflection on how strengths show up socially and academically, and can strengthen self-esteem and internal motivation.

It also provides a framework for conversations between students and adults about goals and emotional needs.

How I would use it:
I would integrate this lesson at the start of the school year or semester in a gifted advisory group. We would complete it together, discuss patterns, and use students’ identified strengths as a springboard for goal setting and peer collaboration activities. It would also inform how I differentiate socio-emotional support throughout the year.

Additional Resources to Add to the Padlet (Not Listed)

Post #1 — “The Social & Emotional Development of Gifted Children” (Article + Strategies)

Link: https://www.hoagiesgifted.org/socio_emotional.htm

Why it’s useful:
This comprehensive article outlines research on the affective development patterns of gifted learners, including intensity, sensitivity, imagination, and self-expectations. It provides:
✔ teacher and parent strategies for supporting emotional regulation
✔ examples of classroom practices that build empathy, resilience, and belonging
✔ insights into common challenges (e.g., frustration tolerance, peer relationships)

How it supports gifted learners:
I would use portions of this article as mini-lesson content in SEL groups, and also share excerpts with families during conferences so they understand why gifted students think and feel differently and how to nurture their emotional strengths.

Post #2 — “Mindset for Gifted Learners” by Dr. Joshua Davis (Video + Classroom Activities)

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWv1VdDeoRY

Why it’s useful:
Dr. Davis’s work connects Carol Dweck’s growth mindset research with the affective experiences of gifted learners (e.g., fear of failure, high standards). The video + downloadable activities help students:
✔ differentiate between effort vs. ability
✔ reframe challenges as learning opportunities
✔ practice self-talk that reduces anxiety and perfectionism

How I would use it:
I would show segments of the video during SEL class circles, followed by structured discussion prompts. Then students would complete reflection journals and set growth-oriented goals. These activities directly support self-awareness, perseverance, and emotional regulation.

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Growing Up Gifted The Book! A read aloud book for gifted kids to truly understand themselves.

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While gifted kids grow up being told they are so smart, their lives are far from easy. Living with intensity, curiosity, and creativity, the world doesn't always understand how it feels to live "outside-of-the-box," with very few people (if any at all) who know what it is like "Growing Up Gifted".

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Gifted Associations across the country work to support those who enhance the growth and development of gifted and talented children through education, advocacy, community building, research, testing, professional development for educators, and resources for families.

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This is a book that has had great effects on my students' resiliency and compassion. We discuss the emotional learning that the character goes through, and we relate it to our own lives. The predominant themes are that putting any small act of kindness in the world is worth, and that our actions determine who we are--both great lessons for middle school students!

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I love reading this book with my class. There are so many lessons to be learned about perspective taking, compassion, and standing up for beliefs.

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Welcome to our supplemental Social Emotional Learning Activities page!

As you will see below, many of the supplemental SEL activities and lesson plans include characters from our game-based, social emotional learning interventions. And when you use the online programs with your students, these activities will reinforce the learning that occurs during game play.

These supplemental resources - lessons, activities, and worksheets - are in the following SELskill areas: Communication, Cooperation, Emotion Regulation, Empathy, Impulse Control, and Social Initiation.

These resources are age-appropriate for elementary and middle school students and are typically used in a classroom or a small group setting. And in most cases, if materials are required for the activity, they are items that you already have in your classroom or office.
Note: Please share this page on your school website so other educators may also benefit.
Social Emotional Learning at Home

Additional Resources for Social Emotional Learning

Our classroom management plan is a step-by-step guide and includes proven strategies, tips and printables for elementary school teachers, and it covers four key components for establishing a successful, well-managed classroom.

These free downloadable posters will decorate your classroom and be great teaching resources, reinforcing social and emotional skills in your classroom and reminding students to practice their skills like emotion regulation, impulse control, empathy, and more.

Social Emotional Learning Quotes

For each of the topics below, we have curated a list of quotes. You can incorporate these quotes in your social emotional learning lessons, add them to social media images, create classroom posters, or write one on your whiteboard each day.

Need Something More Engaging And Effective For A Few Students?

Simply request a FREE Centervention educator account and start using our online programs!

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95 Free Social Emotional Learning Activities

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95 free social emotional learning activities, worksheets, and lessons to help students in elementary and middle school. Most are no-prep and ready to go.

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K-12

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Social And Emotional Development | PBS LearningMedia

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Find lessons on Social And Emotional Development for all grades. Free interactive resources and activities for the classroom and home.

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CBS News and CHARACTER COUNTS! are proud to present Kindness 101, a collection of complimentary K-12 lessons to teach character, social-emotional, and academic skills.

Each lesson features a short video originating from CBS News’ On the Road series with Steve Hartman. Students and educators easily connect to the heartwarming and inspirational stories featured in the videos.

Along with the video, we’ve provided activities, discussion and journal prompts, family connections, and a Google Slides deck. You may even find lessons written by teachers at schools near you!

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Welcome to Kindness 101. Choose from a variety of K-12 videos and activities to teach character, social-emotional, and academic skills.

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Social and Emotional Curriculum for Gifted Students: Grade 3, Project-Based Learning Lessons That Build Critical Thinking, Emotional Intelligence, and Social Skills

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The Social and Emotional Curriculum for Gifted Students series provides the gifted resource specialist, regular classroom teacher, or counselor with the tools they need to help gifted students in grades 3-5 develop interpersonal skills, reflect on their often intense emotions, and express their creativity. The grade 3 book: Contains five units and more than 50 hours of instruction. Shares helpful directions for implementing lessons and connecting content across the curriculum. Addresses psyc

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Integrating Social and Emotional Learning with Content: Using Picture Books for Differentiated Teaching in K-3 Classrooms

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Integrating Social and Emotional Learning with Content builds a framework for creatively and effectively using picture books to integrate social and emotional learning (SEL) with teaching across content areas.
Thoughtful book choices in mixed-ability early elementary classrooms have the power to not only support gifted students as they develop academically, but also to provide an opportunity to address their unique social and emotional needs, such as asynchronous development and an early awaren

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Emotional Resiliency

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Copy of Emotional Resillience WHEEL WORKBOOK

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Executive Functioning (ADHD 2E) Activities

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ADHD Executive Functioning Skills Strategies

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Impulse Control Lessons

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Gifted Choice Menu With Success Criteria (3)

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K-1 No into Woah- JZ Lesson Mentor Text Writing (1)

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Growth Mindset Activities for Secondary Students

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Show short clips based on topic from this website. (screen for age appropriateness!) Think about what video you may show and what discussion questions you would have with the child around that video.

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Now you can view inspirational movie clips from many of your favorite films. These WingClips™ can also be downloaded to use in your school, church or other organization.

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Now you can view inspirational movie clips from many of your favorite films. These WingClips™ can also be downloaded to use in your school, church or other organization. Darkest Hour British prime minister, Winston Churchill, must decide whether to negotiate with Hitler or fight on...

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Social Emotional Curriculum from NAGC https://nagc.org/store/viewproduct.aspx?id=21022773

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Social-Emotional Curriculum with Gifted Students - National Association for Gifted Children

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Social-Emotional Curriculum With Gifted and Talented Students provides a thorough introduction to methods for developing social-emotional curricula for use with gifted and talented learners in the school setting.

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Growth Mindset for Teens Book Study

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The Growth Mindset Workbook for Teens: CBT & DBT Skills to Grow in Self-Confidence, Build Resilience and Overcome Life’s Challenges (Self-Help Books for Teens)

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Amazon.com: The Growth Mindset Workbook for Teens: CBT & DBT Skills to Grow in Self-Confidence, Build Resilience and Overcome Life’s Challenges (Self-Help Books for Teens): 9798859217113: Teens, Empower: Books

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A great book for students to discuss issues that are real to the gifted child

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The Survival Guide for Gifted Kids: For Ages 10 & Under (Survival Guides for Kids)

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The Survival Guide for Gifted Kids: For Ages 10 & Under (Survival Guides for Kids) [Galbraith, Judy] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Survival Guide for Gifted Kids: For Ages 10 & Under (Survival Guides for Kids)

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Im not Just Gifted Social Emotional Learning Curriculum for Students Grades 4-7

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I’m Not Just Gifted: Social-Emotional Curriculum for Guiding Gifted Children (Grades 4-7)

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Amazon.com: I’m Not Just Gifted: Social-Emotional Curriculum for Guiding Gifted Children (Grades 4-7): 9781618214256: Fonseca, Christine: Books

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A program that includes conversational activities between adults and children that builds kids’ capacities to care for self, others, their relationships and their environments.

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Wondergrove K-3 Habits of Mind Animations and Activities for Social Emotional Skills

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The Habits of Mind, identified by Dr. Bena Kallick and Dr. Art Costa, are 16 critical thinking, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills that 21st-century students will need to build tomorrow's world. Each skill is modeled to students through relatable animated stories and built upon with printable extension lessons.