SEL Spark Joy eBook - Begin the Year with Social Emotional Learning

Sep 16, 2026

Uploaded by Oliver

Begin the year with Social Emotional Learning through a joyful, family-partnered kindergarten approach designed to build lasting emotional skills. The guide frames learning around meaningful relationships, daily routines, community building, arts, and a growth mindset language. It includes step-by-step ideas for a back-to-school night and family scavenger hunt, literacy gifts and resources, classroom culture activities, and supportive materials such as learning calendars and parent reading logs to strengthen home-school connection.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryPresentations

FormatPDF

Pages83

Reading Time29 min

AccessFree to download

We Learn from Whom We Love

Back to School Night and Scavenger Hunt

The Kindergarten Giving Tree

10 Memorable Traditions That Build Community and Enhance Literacy

Sample Book: A Story About Teacher

Hola Mis Amigos/Hello My Friend with QR Code

Reading Is Fun Rhyme with QR Code

I Can! c-a-n with QR Code

Kindness and Good Behavior Can and Must Be Taught

Families Welcome Monthly Learning Calendars

Parent Letters and Reading Log

Support Family Literacy

Settling-In Time Sets the Emotional Tone for the Day

Build a Happy Classroom: Teach Gratitude

Thank You Chant with QR Code

Begin the Year with Social Emotional Learning Spark Joy All Year Long! Let‛s give our friend A “WOW”! Wow Another gift of joyful literacy from Nellie Edge | Begin the Year with Social Emotional Learning: Spark Joy All Year Long!
Table of Contents
We Learn from Whom We Love ......................................................................................... 1
Back to School Night and Scavenger Hunt......................................................................2
The Kindergarten Giving Tree ............................................................................................6
10 Memorable Traditions That Build Community and Enhance Literacy ................ 15
Sample Book: A Story About Teacher ............................................................................ 21
Hola Mis Amigos/Hello My Friend with QR Code........................................................ 22
Reading Is Fun Rhyme with QR Code ............................................................................. 23
I Can! c-a-n with QR Code................................................................................................. 24
Kindness and Good Behavior Can and Must Be Taught............................................... 25
Families Welcome Monthly Learning Calendars ........................................................... 33
September and October Family Learning Calendars .................................................. 36
Parent Letters and Reading Log ...................................................................................... 38
Support Family Literacy .................................................................................................... 40
Settling-In Time Sets the Emotional Tone for the Day ............................................41
Build a Happy Classroom: Teach Gratitude................................................................... 48
Thank You Chant with QR Code ....................................................................................... 53
I love you: Build First Circle of Writing Mastery....................................................... 54
I Love You Template........................................................................................................... 60
L-o-v-e Spells Love with QR Code.................................................................................... 61
Where to Find Free ABC Phonics Resources................................................................ 62
ABC Phonics: Sing, Sign, and Read! ................................................................................. 63
How to Create a Culture of Book Lovers ....................................................................... 66
Poetry Notebooks and Songs and Poems for Social Emotional Learning............... 72
WOW!..................................................................................................................................... 76
How to Bind Your Book....................................................................................................... 79
| | | --- | --- | | | | Begin the Year with Social Emotional Learning Spark Joy ALL YEAR LONG! "We Learn from Whom We Love" It has been my delight over several decades to work with passionate, caring kindergarten teachers who are deeply bonded with their students and families. Our authentic, joyful approach to teaching social-emotional skills honors childhood and naturally involves families as partners. We teach through the lens of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) by intentionally weaving community building, the arts, and growth mindset language into the daily life of our classroom. Learning is meaningful, social, and memorable as we nurture social-emotional skills that will last a lifetime! Special thanks to Shanda Lung, Katie Nelson, Diane Bonica, Celeste Starr, Jamie Corliss, Laura Flocker, Becky

FAQs

What is the central learning idea presented for kindergarten SEL?

The approach emphasizes that relationships between children and their teachers are central to learning, and learning happens within real relationships.

What activities are included in the Back-to-School Night family scavenger hunt?

Families practice key classroom routines such as signing in with name tickets, building literacy routines, sorting school supplies, selecting first books, exploring centers, and practicing bathroom routines.

How do the materials support home-school partnership?

The guide provides family learning calendars, parent letters, a reading log, and take-home resources like ABC phonics charts to extend social-emotional and literacy routines at home.

Sep 16, 2026

Uploaded by Oliver