## 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 helps 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.
- **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.

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### About the Authors
#### Dianna Carrizales-Engelmann, Ph.D.
**Affiliation:** University of Oregon, Eugene  
*Specializes in performance assessment for teacher preparation.*

#### Laura L. Feuerborn, Ph.D.
**Affiliation:** University of Washington, Tacoma  
*Associate Professor who has taught graduate-level courses for educators in both general and special education.*

#### Barbara A. Gueldner, Ph.D.
**Affiliation:** Successful Kids Today  
*Licensed psychologist specializing in promoting wellness and resilience through SEL program development and implementation.*

#### Oanh K. Tran, Ph.D.
**Affiliation:** California State University, East Bay  
*Teaches in the Child Clinical/School Psychology Program.*

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# About Strong Kids
*Strong Kids™: A Social and Emotional Learning Curriculum is designed to teach social and emotional skills that promote resilience and mitigate risk in children and adolescents. It aims to:
- Promote children’s mental health in the context of SEL.
- Support students in grades 6-8 as both a prevention and early intervention program based on cognitive-behavioral approaches.*

## SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING
*A framework that promotes the social and emotional health and resilience of young people across educational settings.*  
*CASEL has endorsed five core competency areas: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.*

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### MODEL FOR PREVENTING BEHAVIORAL AND EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS
*The three-tiered prevention model serves all students:*  
1. **Primary Prevention:** Positive school climate.
2. **Secondary Prevention:** Specialized interventions for at-risk students.
3. **Tertiary Prevention:** Individualized assessment and intervention for students with significant difficulties.

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# Implementation Guidelines and Lesson Structure
*The Strong Kids curriculum consists of lessons that include:*  
- **Social and Emotional Competency Areas**  
- **Purpose and Objectives:** Describes skills to be learned.
- **Materials Needed:** For preparation.
- **Instructor Reflection:** Opportunity for instructors to reflect on lesson content.
- **Activities:** Include key terms, content practice, and mindfulness strategies.

All lessons are designed to be structured, sequenced, and utilize evidence-based strategies for promoting mental health.