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Summary: FamilyStrong (CharcterStrong) offers SEL conversation guides, activities, and short videos to strengthen family-school connections. Please read your monthly ParentSquare family character dare post! Please participate and let us know if you have any questions!

Rationale: Promotes families practicing self-awareness and empathy with their children, extending classroom lessons to improve emotional safety and student achievement.

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Summary: This site offers professional learning and curriculum resources to help teachers embed social-emotional learning (SEL) and character virtues like empathy, perseverance, and respect into daily instruction. Staff: You must log in first using your district email.

*Check out the new podcast offerings under "Resources."

Rationale: Character Strong's offerings strengthen instructional alignment with our PBIS expectations (“Safety, Respect, Responsibility”) and ensure staff consistently model character. By explicitly teaching virtues, educators foster trust, reduce behavioral disruptions, and improve classroom engagement.

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Harvard Graduate School of Education – Making Caring Common Project

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Harvard Graduate School of Education – Making Caring Common Project

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Summary: This site offers practical strategies and research-backed frameworks that promote ethical decision-making and caring relationships between educators and students.

Rationale: Making caring common promotes staff reflection on how everyday decisions influence classroom belonging and equity. Integrating these strategies into PLC discussions strengthens the school’s culture of inclusion and ongoing growth.

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Darkness & Harmony: Exploring Challenges and the Power of Connection through KPop Demon Hunters

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Educators – Programs + Resources — Making Caring Common

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Making Caring Common is a project of the Harvard Graduate School of Education. We help families, educators, and communities raise kids who care about others and the common good.

Our vision is a world in which children have the moral and social capacities to care about and value the humanity in others — particularly those who are different from them — and engage with their communities, sacrifice for the greater good, and treat people well day to day. We believe that children with these capacities have the power to uplift our culture and heal the wounds of divisiveness.

We use research, the expertise of practitioners, and the insights of caregivers and youth to develop effective, scalable, low-burden approaches to promote these key capacities in children. Our approaches seek to both motivate parents and educators to take action and also fit into busy home and school routines.

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Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI): Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Training

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Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI): Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Training

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Summary: This site provides evidence-based professional training on de-escalation, communication, and safety strategies to prevent and manage crises respectfully. Check out the resources tab. Our district utilizes CPI, so please log in using your district email.

Rationale: Although originally developed for clinical and behavioral settings, CPI’s techniques are highly adaptable to schools. Training teachers in calm, respectful de-escalation models demonstrates the virtues of self-control, empathy, and dignity, all of which are essential for maintaining safe and ethical learning environments.

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Certified Instructors

Sign in to document training, access training resources, explore professional development opportunities, and more.

CPI Learners

Sign in to access your online modules, manage your classes, preview courses, and more.

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Homepage | Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI)

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Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) is an international training organization that specializes in the safe management of disruptive and assaultive behavior through the use of verbal as well as restrictive de-escalation strategies and techniques.

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CASEL: Fundamentals of Social and Emotional Learning

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CASEL: Fundamentals of Social and Emotional Learning

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Summary: This page introduces the five SEL competencies — self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. Please use the search bar to find resources on the requested topics.

Rationale: CASEL recognizes the importance of every adult's role on campus in fostering positive behavior. Support staff who understand SEL principles help ensure consistent, virtue-driven messages that promote respect and accountability throughout the school.

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We define social and emotional learning (SEL) as an integral part of education and human development. SEL is the process through which all young people and adults acquire and apply the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to develop healthy identities, manage emotions and achieve personal and collective goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain supportive relationships, and make responsible and caring decisions.

SEL advances educational equity and excellence through authentic school-family-community partnerships to establish learning environments and experiences that feature trusting and collaborative relationships, rigorous and meaningful curriculum and instruction, and ongoing evaluation. SEL can help address various forms of inequity and empower young people and adults to co-create thriving schools and contribute to safe, healthy, and just communities.

New to Social and Emotional Learning? Start here (2 min. read).

Think of a young person in your life. What skills will they need to achieve their hopes and dreams?

Chances are, you just named social and emotional skills - like staying motivated, communicating effectively, practicing curiosity, and working with others to solve problems. Social and emotional learning, or SEL, helps develop the skills we need for life.
Hear why students, parents, and educators want SEL in schools. Here are 3 things to know about social and emotional learning:

1. Social and emotional learning is a foundation for many of our most pressing priorities: SEL helps young people - and adults - learn and practice skills that set them up for academic success, fulfilling careers, healthy relationships, and responsible civic engagement.

2. The research is clear: Social and emotional learning in schools leads to positive outcomes, including better academic performance, and decreases in stress and anxiety.

3. There's no one-size-fits-all approach: Social and emotional learning brings families, schools, and communities together to make sure every child has caring relationships and what they need to learn, grow, and thrive.

Subscribe now for our expertly curated 3-part email series delivered straight to your inbox. We'll roundup the key facts from our website on SEL is, it matters, and it shows up in schools.

By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: . You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact

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SEL can help all young people and adults thrive personally and academically, develop and maintain positive relationships, become lifelong learners, and contribute to a more caring, just world.

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National Association of School Psychologists (NASP): Creating Positive and Safe School Environments

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National Association of School Psychologists (NASP): Creating Positive and Safe School Environments

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Summary: This site provides resources and podcasts focused on communication, crisis prevention, and student well-being. Explore the "Resources and Publications" tab.

Rationale: Improves associates' and health aides' ability to recognize early signs of conflict and respond empathetically, supporting our commitment to student safety and inclusion

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National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)

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Information and resources on topics relevant to the practice of school psychology.

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Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI): Verbal De-Escalation Strategies

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Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI): Verbal De-Escalation Strategies

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Summary: This page offers accessible strategies for defusing conflict using a calm tone, reflective listening, and empathy.

Rationale: Provides front-line staff (office, cafeteria, custodial, playground) with clear, respectful communication techniques that prevent escalation and uphold dignity. These methods exemplify ethical professionalism and help foster safer, more supportive daily interactions.

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TED-Ed Video – The Power of Yet (Carol Dweck)

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TED-Ed Video – The Power of Yet (Carol Dweck)

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Summary: This site teaches resilience and a growth mindset through self-talk and positive goal setting.

Rationale: Promotes perseverance and optimism by demonstrating how ethical self-management enhances lifelong learning and personal development.

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The power of yet | Carol S Dweck | TEDxNorrköping

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Search Institute: 40 Developmental Assets for Families

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Search Institute: 40 Developmental Assets for Families

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Summary: This site highlights essential supports and experiences that promote moral growth and resilience in children. Check out the RESOURCES HUB!

Rationale: Offers families practical ways to strengthen character and empathy at home, aligning with school values and encouraging shared responsibility for student development.

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Developmental Assets Framework for Youth Development | Search…

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An introduction to Search Institute’s Developmental Assets Framework, a foundational framework in positive youth development and the most frequently cited…

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Pathful Explore: Career and Character Connections

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Pathful Explore: Career and Character Connections

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Summary: Log in to Pathful through your Clever account. Pathful Explore engages students in career exploration through interactive lessons and videos that connect academic learning, personal interests, and character strengths such as perseverance, teamwork, and integrity.

Rationale: This resource empowers students to link character virtues to real-world goals, helping them see how ethical decision-making, responsibility, and self-awareness influence college and career readiness. Using Pathful during advisory or College & Career Pathways supports student agency and long-term success.

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Share your career expertise with students through virtual engagement

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PBS Kids – It’s My Life: Friends and Conflict

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PBS Kids – It’s My Life: Friends and Conflict

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Summary: This is an oldie but goodie PBS Kids webpage that teaches elementary- and middle-school students healthy ways to handle disagreements and emotions through videos.

Rationale: The kid-friendly tone and visuals make it accessible for grades 3–8. Students can explore scenarios that address empathy, communication, and fairness: virtues that directly connect to character education and conflict-resolution goals.

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“It’s My Life” is the PBS Kids website for “tweens” age 9 to 13 that deals with (you guessed it!) life and the stuff young people have to face every day. Whether it’s handling divorce or getting teased by bullies; fighting with friends or learning about drugs, alcohol, and smoking; depression and grief or dealing with a pesky younger sibling, other kids are going through the same thing you are. On IML, you can get info and advice, share your stories, play games and activities, take quizzes and polls, watch videos, and shout out on our safe and moderated “You Said It” message boards.

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Greater Good in Action (UC Berkeley) – Family Activities

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Greater Good in Action (UC Berkeley) – Family Activities

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Summary: A collection of science-based practices for families that foster kindness, gratitude, and emotional regulation. Check out "Discover New Practices."

Rationale: Developed by UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, these evidence-based tools support emotional well-being and virtue development in both adults and children, aligning with ethical decision-making and conflict resolution values.

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Summary: Please explore the "Family Resources" tab. There are many family engagement articles, materials (such as this podcast), and wellness guides that support communication and connection.

Rationale: Encourages collaboration and shared responsibility between parents and schools, supporting holistic student success.

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Guides, publications and materials to help build a learning environment at home, in your community and at school for your children. Learn about the immense impact that family involvement can have upon a child's growth.

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Summary: Character.org is a national framework outlining effective principles for implementing character education across organizations.

Rationale: Provides a shared foundation for community partnerships to align with school character goals, ensuring consistency and integrity across collaborative efforts.

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"The most powerful experience we had as a campus was developing our core values!
We involved all of our stakeholders in the process and built a common language for our foundation.
These values are our expectations and way of life which has united our community
behind a shared message and shared goal."- Lauren Boyer, School Counselor

The 11 Principles Framework is a guide
to cultivating a culture of character in a school.

Based on decades of research on effective schools, the 11 Principles serve as guideposts for schools to plan, implement, assess, and sustain their comprehensive character development initiative.

Many school leaders also use the 11 Principles as a school improvement process. The 11 Principles focus on all aspects of school life, including school culture and climate, social and emotional learning (SEL), student engagement and academic achievement, as well as MTSS, PBIS, RTI, restorative practices, teacher morale, and parent engagement.

We encourage you to learn more about our 11 Principles Framework.
Let us know how we can support your school's commitment to character development.

Schools that effectively emphasize character development bring together all stakeholders to consider and agree on specific character strengths that will serve as the school's core values. These basic values transcend religious and cultural differences and express our common humanity. Ideally, a balance of moral, performance, intellectual, and civic character strengths, these "shared values" represent the school's highest priorities and deeply held beliefs. A school committed to its students' character development uses a common language to teach, model and integrate their core values into all aspects of school life. When Principle 1 is fully integrated, all staff, students, and parents can explain how their "shared values" are a distinctive feature of their school.

The "core values" of a school serve as touchstones that guide and shape a student's thinking, feelings, and actions. Principle 2 focuses on how a school helps its students understand, care about, and consistently practice the core values that will enable them to flourish in school, in relationships, in the workplace, and as citizens. Students need opportunities to study and discuss each core value, to connect their social and emotional skills to the patterns of behaviors associated with each core value, and ultimately to internalize and express in their own words why they want to consistently practice these character strengths.

Schools committed to character development look at all they are doing through a character lens. They weave character into every aspect of the school culture. Teachers embed the core values into their curriculum, instructional practices, and classroom activities. All sports and school club programs emphasize the core values as well as other areas of school life (the cafeteria, halls, playground, library, and buses). The school also intentionally integrates the core values into the adult culture of the school. Schools that have developed a comprehensive approach to character development have put in place intentional opportunities for students to identify, understand, and effectively manage their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

"The 11 Principles Framework has guided our school's character initiative and provided a roadmap for our improvement. Our school culture and all of our practices are founded on our core values.
We are a more proactive, intentional, and purposeful learning community in regard to character,
social-emotional learning, practices, and supports due to the guidance of the framework."
- Matt Jansen, Principal

Learn more about the 11 Principles

Purchase the complete 11 Principles of Character - Guidebook

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"The most powerful experience we had as a campus was developing our core values!We involved all of our stakeholders in the process and built a common language for our foundation.These values are our expectations and way of life which has united our communitybehind a shared message and shared goal."- Lauren Boyer, School Counselor The 11 Principles Framework is a guideto cultivating a culture of character in a school.

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Arizona Department of Education: Safe and Supportive Schools

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Arizona Department of Education: Safe and Supportive Schools

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Summary: Offers statewide initiatives and data-driven tools to strengthen SEL, PBIS, and school safety programs. Check out the "Mental Health and Wellness" box!

Rationale: Encourages alignment between district partners and state priorities, supporting systemic improvement and equity.

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Edutopia: Building Community Partnerships for Character Education

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Edutopia: Building Community Partnerships for Character Education

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Summary: This article highlights effective collaborations between schools and local organizations to reinforce shared virtues.

Rationale: Strengthens civic engagement and shared responsibility between schools and the wider community, extending character education beyond the classroom walls.

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The Secret to Creating Effective Community Partnerships

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A former elementary school principal describes how her school integrated community volunteers to enhance students’ academic growth.