About Resilient SELF
Resilient SELF is a 4-lesson program that teaches youth mindfulness and social & emotional concepts. Cultivating mindfulness and developing social and emotional learning skills helps individuals of all ages cope with stress and live life more fully. The 4 core lessons of Resilient SELF emphasize:
- Self-awareness
- Reflection
- Emotional understanding
- Pausing before reacting
- Responsible decision-making
Two optional lessons provide additional opportunities to strengthen relationship skills, gratitude, and leadership.
Each of the 4 lessons is designed to last 40 minutes. Resilient SELF provides repeated exposure to key self-management skills. while continued practice strengthens long-term growth, the sequenced format gives students a meaningful foundation in 1) recognizing emotions, 2) reflecting before reacting, and 3) making responsible choices. The optional components allow facilitators to increase reinforcement and practice time when needed
The program is delivered by Extension agents or trained teachers/school staff.
Program Components
- 4 core lessons with optional activities/lessons
- Lesson 1: Self-Awareness — Dream It. Plan It. Do It.
- Lesson 2: Emotional Awareness — Mirror, Mirror: Understanding Your Emotions
- Lesson 3: Learning to Pause — Understanding Strong Reactions (Triggers) and Choosing Your Response
- Lesson 4: Forward Choices — Thinking Before You Act
To host a program, schools will need to provide the following:
- Space for lessons and mindful movement exercises
Alignment with TEKS
A full summary for the TEKS by lesson is included in the curriculum. Below, the TEKS are highlighted for each grade level.
- 6th Grade: Link to 6th Grade TEKS
- 7th & 8th Grade: Link to 7th & 8th Grade TEKS
Additional Resources
Interested educators should connect with their county AgriLife Extension office for more information. Find their contact information here: https://counties.agrilife.org/
Evidence for Resilient SELF includes:
- Resilient SELF integrates mindfulness with social and emotional learning concepts from the Collaborative for Academic Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) framework. The CASEL framework encompasses five key dimensions: Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Responsible Decision Making, Relationship Skills, and Social Awareness.
- The program includes a post-evaluation that uses validated measures and some open-ended questions to measure program impacts.