HEALTHY FEELINGS AND

RELATIONSHIPS FOR 1ST-3RD GRADE

Children’s social and emotional development, like their physical development,
is a key component of overall health and well-being.

I’M NEW HERE SEL Competency:

Written and illustrated by Anne Sibley O’Brien SELF-MANAGEMENT
The ability to regulate one’s
emotions, thoughts, and
Three students from different countries must start over in a behaviors effectively in
new school. This story follows them as they learn to make different situations.
friends and find their place in their new environment.

CONVERSATION STARTERS
 How do the new students feel at first? How do you know? How would you feel if you had to start school in a new
country? If you have had this experience, what was it like?
 What was something that each of the students could do well at their old school? How does it make them feel to
not be able to do that thing well yet at their new school? How do you know?
 How do each of the new students use their interests to make connections with their new classmates? How do
you think the new students felt when they first tried to make new friends? What was the result?
 What helped the new students in this story to feel more comfortable in their school? How can you help new
students to feel more welcome in your school or community?

One Goal, Many Ways

TRY THIS

Ask students to identify something that they don’t like to do or do not do well. Help them to identify the
purpose of this activity, and to brainstorm other ways they could reach that goal. For example, maybe
they do not play basketball well. What is the purpose of basketball? One purpose could be to engage in
healthy, physical activity. Another purpose could be to learn to work together as a team. What are two
other things they could do instead of playing basketball to engage in healthy, physical activity and learn
to work together as a team? Talk about using this strategy to find alternative ways of reaching one’s goals
when one way isn’t working.

Let’s Work Together!

Pair students together with someone they do not generally work or play with. Have them spend a few
minutes talking with one another in order to find two things that they have in common. Keep time, letting
the group know when they have one minute left and when their time is up. Have the pairs share with the
group what they learned that they have in common, with each person from the pair sharing one of the two
commonalities. Discuss how it felt to work with someone new. What did it feel like to share what you have
in common? This activity requires students to self-manage their actions when they are asked to work with
someone other than their current friends. It also provides an opportunity for discovering that we often
have lots of things in common with people who initially appear different from us.

This tip sheet was created by First Book and CASEL, with generous support from Molina Healthcare.
For additional reading guides and other educational resources, visit www.fbmarketplace.org
HEALTHY MIND, HEALTHY BODY
 HEALTHY FEELINGS AND
RELATIONSHIPS FOR 1ST-3RD GRADE
Children’s social and emotional development, like their physical development,
is a key component of overall health and well-being.

Dear Family,

Learning is about more than just letters and numbers. Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
includes knowing how to handle emotions, set goals, and make good decisions. Social,
emotional, and physical development are all important to your child’s health and well-being.

We recently read the book I’m New Here. Three new students arrive from other countries.
They have to learn how to make friends and succeed in their new school.

Self-management is the ability to control one’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in

different situations. Adults can encourage children’s growth of self-management at home!

Set up a friendly contest with your child

WORDS TO KNOW around doing something positive. Examples are:

• How many pages in a book can you each read in a week?

To help your child grow his or her
• How many minutes do you exercise per day?
SEL vocabulary, check out our
“Words to Know.” Talk about what • How many servings of fruits and vegetables do you eat per day?
the words mean.
A positive contest can motivate children to develop healthy habits.
1. Motivation –
Being able to motivate oneself helps children to grow self-management.
The condition of being eager to
Self-management is an important part of SEL.
do something
2. Regulate – Caring adults play a big role in the lives of children! Thank you for all
To bring something under control you do to support your child’s health and well-being.

This tip sheet was created by First Book and CASEL, with generous support from Molina Healthcare.
For additional reading guides and other educational resources, visit www.fbmarketplace.org
HEALTHY MIND, HEALTHY BODY
 SENTIMIENTOS Y RELACIONES
SALUDABLES PARA 1ER-3ER GRADO
El desarrollo social y emocional de los niños, como su desarrollo físico,
es un componente clave de salud y bienestar en general.

Estimada familia:

El aprendizaje va más allá de solo letras y números. El Aprendizaje Social y Emocional

(SEL, por sus siglas en inglés) incluye saber cómo manejar las emociones, implementar
metas y tomar buenas decisiones. El desarrollo social, emocional y físico son todos
importantes para la salud y el bienestar de su hijo.

Recientemente leímos el libro I’m New Here. Tres nuevos estudiantes llegan de otros
países. Ellos tienen que aprender cómo hacer amigos y tener éxito en su nueva escuela.

El autocontrol es la habilidad de manejar nuestras emociones, pensamientos y conductas

en diferentes situaciones. ¡Los adultos pueden fomentar el desarrollo del autocontrol en el
hogar!

Haga un concurso amistoso con su hijo haciendo algo positivo. Los

PALABRAS POR CONOCER ejemplos son:

• ¿Cuántas páginas de un libro puede leer en una semana?

Para ayudar a su hijo a desarrollar • ¿Cuántos minutos al día hace ejercicios?
su vocabulario ESL, revise nuestras
“palabras para conocer”. Discutan el • ¿Cuántas raciones de frutas y vegetales come al día?
significado de las palabras.
Un concurso con metas positivas puede motivar a los niños a
1. Motivación – desarrollar hábitos saludables. Ser capaz de motivarse uno mismo
La condición de tener ganas ayuda a los niños a desarrollar el autocontrol, el cual es una parte
de hacer algo importante del aprendizaje social y emocional.
2. Regular –
Tener algo bajo control ¡Los adultos comprensivos juegan un papel importante en las vidas
de los niños! Gracias por todo lo que hace por cuidar la salud y el
bienestar de su hijo.

Esta hoja de consejos fue creada por First Book y CASEL, con el generoso apoyo de Molina Healthcare.
Para guías adicionales de lectura, y otros recursos educativos, visite www.fbmarketplace.org
HEALTHY MIND, HEALTHY BODY