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EDUCATION / BEHAVIORAL MANAGEMENT

Grades 6-8

“The series is highly recommended and will prove invaluable to school professionals with structured lesson plans and supplementary materials to help all students succeed.”
—Lori Ernsperger, Ph.D., BCBA-D, Executive Director of Behavioral Training Resource Center

“My colleagues and I have conducted several studies on the curricula in the Strong Kids series and have been impressed with how easily public school educators have been able to implement these with fidelity. We have also documented improvements in students’ internalizing symptoms (e.g., anxiety and depression) following implementation of Strong Kids.”
—Paul Caldarella, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Brigham Young University

Each social-emotional competence—the foundation of school and social success—with the NEW edition of the Strong Kids—Grades 6–8 curriculum! STRONG KIDS help your students develop the social-emotional skills they need to manage their challenges and succeed in school and life. Developed by a team of educational and mental health experts, this evidence-based, age-appropriate curriculum is low cost and low tech.

Other programs in Strong Kids™:

• Merrell’s Strong Start—Pre-K: A Social & Emotional Learning Curriculum, Second Edition
• Merrell’s Strong Start—Grades K–2: A Social & Emotional Learning Curriculum, Second Edition
• Merrell’s Strong Kids—Grades 3–5: A Social & Emotional Learning Curriculum, Second Edition
• Merrell’s Strong Teens—Grades 9–12: A Social & Emotional Learning Curriculum

About the Authors

• Dianna Carrizales-Engelmann, Ph.D.: University of Oregon
• Laura L. Feuerborn, Ph.D.: University of Washington, Tacoma
• Barbara A. Gueldner, Ph.D.: Successful Kids Today
• Oanh K. Tran, Ph.D.: California State University

Chapter 1 - About Strong Kids

Strong Kids™: A Social and Emotional Learning Curriculum is a social and emotional learning curriculum that consists of five brief and practical social and emotional learning (SEL) programs designed for the purpose of teaching social and emotional skills and assets that promote resilience and mitigate risk in children and adolescents. These introductory chapters provide information on the following:

• The importance of promoting children’s mental health and doing so in the context of SEL
• The design of the Strong Kids program
• Evidence of the program’s effectiveness
• Tips for using the curriculum effectively and with confidence
• Updates to the second edition.

Strong Kids—Grades 6–8 is designed specifically for use with children in Grades 6–8, or those who are approximately ages 11–14 years. These students experience significant developmental changes, and therefore, the program can be effectively used as an early intervention (EI) program to manage emotional and social complexities. The Strong Kids curriculum also offers other programs targeted at different age groups.

Promoting Children’s Mental Health

Research has shown that many children face behavioral, social, and mental health problems. According to various studies, a significant percentage of children and adolescents experience severe mental health issues, emphasizing the urgent need for effective early responses such as mental health prevention curricula in educational settings. Teaching young people social, emotional, and behavioral skills is critical for academic and life success.

Social and Emotional Learning Framework

A framework called social and emotional learning (SEL) has guided efforts to teach young people social and emotional health and resilience, emphasizing that specific skills need to be taught throughout students’ academic tenure. The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) identifies five essential competencies for cognitive, social, and emotional development:

• Self-awareness
• Self-management
• Social awareness
• Relationship skills
• Responsible decision making

The implementation of SEL programs, including Strong Kids, has shown efficacy in improving emotional skills, academic performance, and reducing conduct problems while benefiting both students and teachers alike.

Implementation Guidelines and Lesson Structure

The Strong Kids curriculum has been designed for feasibility, making it accessible for educators with varying levels of experience. Lessons follow a structured format, including sections such as purpose and objectives, materials needed, instructional content, practice activities, and closure activities, aimed at making the program not only effective but also easy to implement.

Evidence

Strong Kids curriculum has been studied extensively, confirming its effectiveness in increasing knowledge of social and emotional content, reducing internalizing problem symptoms, and enhancing students’ social and emotional skills. Continuous evaluation highlights its significance in promoting mental health and resilience among school-aged children.