Strong Kids: Middle - A Social and Emotional Learning Curriculum for Students in Grades 6-8 (Strong Kids Curricula)

Social-emotional competence—it's a critical part of every child's school success, and just like any academic subject, children need instruction in it. Developed by a top expert, these proven curricula will help promote the social-emotional competence and resilience of children and adolescents.

Divided into four age levels from kindergarten through high school, these innovative social and emotional learning curricula are filled with engaging, thought-provoking class activities that help students develop vital skills they'll use for the rest of their lives: understanding emotions, managing anger, relieving stress, solving interpersonal problems, and much more. Each Strong Kids curriculum is

• Easy for non-mental-health experts. Each highly structured, partially scripted curriculum is ready for any professional to pick up and start using.
• Evidence-based. Field testing shows that these curricula generate positive responses from students and teachers and really help increase students' knowledge of healthy social-emotional behavior.
• A great way to boost academic skills. Lessons help improve critical literacy, listening skills, and memory skills while they promote social and emotional health.
• Brief enough to fit into any program. Lessons take just 30 to 45 minutes, and each curriculum is used for a maximum of 10-12 weeks.
• Age-appropriate. Choose from four curricula, each carefully tailored to the specific needs and experiences of its targeted age group.
• Effective for all children in any setting. Use Strong Kids with children across ability levels in settings like classrooms, group counseling sessions, and youth treatment facilities.
• Low-cost and low-tech. Strong Kids costs far less than similar programs and requires few extra resources.

Lessons in each curriculum include optional, easily adaptable scripts, sample scenarios and examples, creative activities, and "booster" lessons that reinforce what students learned.

Every school and early intervention program will benefit from the lasting effect of these four curricula: strong, resilient students with fewer mental health and behavior problems and better academic outcomes.

Learn more about the Strong Kids series.

Kenneth W. Merrell, Ph.D. is a professor of school psychology in the Department of Special Education and Clinical Sciences at the University of Oregon. He has served as School Psychology Program Director and Co-director as well as Department Head.

Dianna Carrizales-Engelmann, Ph.D., is currently Assistant Dean in the College of Education at the University of Oregon supporting the administration of the college that is ranked 3rd in the nation for Special Education, and 5th overall for public colleges of education. Dr. Carrizales-Engelmann uses her background in policy, leadership, assessment, and administration to provide insight and recommendations on any policy or practice that materially impacts operations in the College. Providing senior leadership with assessments of emerging budgetary and/or operational problems or concerns, working closely with administration, faculty, and staff to resolve technical and confidential issues, and representing the college to local, regional, and national partners. Dr. Carrizales-Engelmann has provided consultation on the development of national assessments, and on accommodations for assessments.

Dr. Laura Feuerborn is a Professor at the University of Washington Tacoma (UWT), a Faculty Fellow in Social Emotional Learning, and a Nationally Certified School Psychologist . Dr. Feuerborn is a co-author of several SEL-focused programs, peer-reviewed research articles, and books . Dr . Feuerborn is also a co-developer of the Staff Perceptions of Behavior and Discipline (SPBD ) and the Student Perceptions of Behavior and Discipline (StPBD) , assessment tools that help school-based teams create, implement, and sustain culturally and contextually relevant school-wide practices. Feuerborn has been a core faculty in the School of Education at UWT since 2006 and works primarily with practicing educators seeking graduate degrees. Feuerborn teaches courses such as SEL, positive behavior supports, consultation, and systems change.

Barbara Gueldner, PhD, MSE, NCSP is a licensed psychologist who specializes in working with children, families, and community agencies to facilitate assessment, intervention, and program development approaches and practices that promote social-emotional-academic wellness. She has worked in several community settings including public and private schools, a university-based child and family clinic, two major pediatric primary care clinics, inpatient and outpatient medical and psychiatric clinics at Children's Hospital Colorado, a private practice, and served as visiting assistant professor at the University of Oregon. Dr . Gueldner's work focuses on social and emotional learning (SEL), childhood mental health and prevention approaches via a variety of community settings, internalizing problems, and working with adults and organizations to facilitate children's social, emotional, and academic development through evidence-based strategies . She is the co -author of peer-reviewed articles and book chapters on these topics, as well as the SEL programs Merrell's Strong Kids and Merrell's Strong Teens, and the book Social and Emotional Learning in the Classroom. Dr. Gueldner frequently presents and conducts workshops for local, state, and national audiences, and serves as a council member of First Impressions of Routt County in Colorado.

Dr. Oanh K. Tran, is a Professor in the School Psychology Program at California State University, East Bay. Dr. Tran received her Ph.D. from the University of Oregon in 2007 and joined the CSUEB faculty in the Department of Educational Psychology where she has been teaching and mentoring graduate students. She also works as a school psychologist and consultant in the San Francisco, Bay Area. Her career focus is on promoting children's academic development and emotional well-being. Dr. Tran's research and professional interests include childhood mental health assessment and interventions, social and emotional learning (SEL), special education law and assessment, multi-tiered systems of supports/response to intervention, and parent-training. She frequently presents her work at conferences and has published articles, book chapters, and prevention curricula aimed at promoting emotional health for success in school-aged children. She is co-author of Merrell's Strong Kids and Merrell's Strong Teens Social-emotional Learning Curriculum (1st and 2nd Editions).

Hill M. Walker Ph.D. is Director of Center on Human Development, College of Education, University of Oregon