What is the Choose Love Enrichment Program™?
A no cost infant, toddler and pre-K through 12th grade, evidence-based Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) program which gives students the skills to become more self-aware, to develop a positive attitude, and to choose love in any circumstance. Students learn that while we can’t always choose what happens to us, we can choose how to respond in every situation. The program also includes character development, neuroscience, mindfulness and positive psychology. Students and their educators are empowered with an understanding that gives them self-control, personal responsibility and enables them to choose a loving path.
The curriculum contains the universal teachings of courage, gratitude, forgiveness, and compassion in action – the foundational concepts of Social and Emotional Learning. The program helps children and adults acquire and apply knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary to manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy and compassion for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.
What standards are followed?
- Common Core
- CASEL’s five core competencies (self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision-making)
- American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Mindsets and Behaviors
What is the impact of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)?
The goal of the Choose Love Enrichment Program is to teach SEL and provide children with the knowledge, attitude and skills they need to choose love in any situation. These abilities include:
- Understanding and managing emotions (self-awareness and self-management)
- Setting and achieving positive goals
- Feeling and showing empathy and compassion for others (social awareness)
- Establishing and maintaining positive social relationships, and
- Making responsible decisions
More than 30 years of scientific research proves that children who had access to SEL curricula grow into more successful and healthy adults. Overall they have a deeper sense of self, commitment to community and learned compassion for others. This results in lower violent crime and incarceration rates, alcohol and drug abuse, and instances of mental illness.
Who can use this program?
This program is for all educators who want to positively impact their students’ lives and improve their teaching practice and classroom climates. Our program has been used by regular classroom teachers, special area teachers (art, music, homeroom/advisory), school counselors, school social workers, school psychologists, intervention and support personnel, and other paraprofessionals.
It has been taught in individual classrooms, across grade levels as well as school-wide. It has been taught in regular classroom settings, through classroom guidance lessons, as well as in small groups. School counselors, social workers and psychologists may also find it useful to incorporate lesson content and skills taught in individual sessions with students. The Choose Love Enrichment Program can also be used in homeschool settings.
If you have questions or would like to adapt the program, please contact us at info@jesselewischooselove.org.
How do I access the program?
The program is all accessible online. You will register for the program online by giving us some basic information so we can track, communicate with, and support our users. After this, you will create a login so that you may easily access all materials now and in the future. By signing up for our program, you will receive notifications/updates on changes to the program, educator newsletters, and other exciting news!
What is included in the download?
You will gain access to a wealth of materials which includes: the Choose Love Curriculum for the grade level(s) you are interested in, Educator Guide, Best Practices for school/classroom, a Supplementary Resources & Practices Guide, and supplemental materials.
What does the program and resources, including videos, cost?
This complementary and value-packed program is about 2000 pages worth of infant, toddler, and pre-K through 12th-grade materials. But that doesn’t mean it’s lacking in value. Altogether it’s about 2000 pages worth of infant, toddler and pre-K through 12th grade materials. The program is quite comprehensive giving you the tools and support to implement the program in your class(es) and at your school very easily and fully. Whether you are implementing in one class, several classes, or school-wide, you are given the information and tools to do so easily and effectively.
What lessons are taught in the Choose Love Enrichment Program?
The lessons were written for educators, by educators, and are evidence-based. The content of the lessons is based on research on emotional intelligence, resilience, posttraumatic growth, neuroscience, mindfulness/focused attention, and SEL. Special attention is paid to how our physical bodies (nerves, muscles, etc.), minds (the triune brain), and hearts (emotions) work in collaboration to promote health, learning, connection, and life success. The whole child—mind, heart, and body—is supported through these lessons.
There are four units: Courage, Gratitude, Forgiveness, and Compassion.
The units are taught in this order and all lessons fall under those four character values. Students will gain insight, information and essential skills in these four areas that will improve their confidence, promote positive decision-making, create and enhance communication, connection and relationships. Students learn skills that increase resiliency and promote their overall well-being and success, personally, socially, emotionally and academically.
Through these four units the following CASEL competencies are addressed:
- Self-Awareness: recognizing one’s emotions and values as well as one’s strengths and limitations;
- Self- Management: managing emotions and behaviors to achieve one’s goals;
- Social Awareness: showing understanding and empathy for others;
- Relationship Skills: forming positive relationships, working in teams, dealing effectively with conflict;
- Responsible Decision-Making: making ethical, constructive choices about personal and social behavior.
The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) is the world’s leading organization advancing the practice of promoting integrated academic, social, and emotional learning for all children in preschool through high school.
How long are the lessons?
In Elementary School, there are 14-16 lessons per unit. Elementary lessons are 20-30 minutes, but can easily be shortened or broken down into two lessons, or expanded to fit longer time frames. We also have supplementary materials that can be utilized to lengthen a lesson, add to a unit, and extend learning.
The Middle School program consists of a 6th, 7th and 8th grade curriculum. There are 35 lessons for each of the four units in the Middle School Program, for a total of 140 lessons. Middle School lessons are between 10 and 20 minutes. This program was designed to be implemented in a daily homeroom/advisory period. However, we understand that some schools don’t have this dedicated time to teach it daily and cover all lessons. At the very least, we recommend you teach all of the brain blast lessons. Then, you can pepper in the power surges that best meet the needs of your students and schedule.
The High School Program consists of a 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade curriculum. There are 28 total lessons for each grade level of the High School Program. High school lessons are approximately 10-15 minutes long, but can easily be extended as time allows.
We pride ourselves on having a comprehensive and impactful program that is easy to implement and adaptable to varying schedules, environments and uses.
How much teacher preparation is required?
The lessons are very user-friendly, and were designed to be easy to teach with minimal prep and materials. We have provided you with all that you need to implement this program, which includes the curriculum as well as supplementary resources.We also provide online training where you can learn more about our character values that are the foundation of our program: Here is where you can sign up.
Educators who have used the program found that teaching the Choose Love Enrichment Program was for them and their students, the favorite part of the day. You will find that you are learning essential skills right along with the students through lessons and discussions that are open, supportive, nurturing, and empowering.
What have the outcomes for other schools been?
- 99% said that they have seen an improvement in classroom climate and in the students’ overall behavior
- 73% said that their students get along better
- 81% said their students have a more positive attitude
- 62% have seen an increase in academic performance in their students
- 99% said they enjoyed teaching the program
- 96% said their students enjoyed the program
- 95% rated the program “good”, “very good”, or “excellent”
Equally exciting feedback, is that educators are overwhelmingly reporting they are experiencing as much benefit personally as their students!
Is there follow up?
Once you register for the program, you will have ongoing access to the program resources through a secure login. We encourage you to visit the website to find updates, information and additional resources. You will also receive periodic emails/newsletters with information pertinent to the program which may include updates, support, or new resources.
What other support/communication tools do you offer for educators?
We have a private Facebook group for educators to ask questions, share their experience with the program, and gain insights and best practices to use in their classrooms.
We also encourage you to follow us on all of our social media channels (facebook, twitter, instagram) for updates on our program, events/speaking engagements, and inspirational messages. Additionally, we offer a podcast where you can learn more about our program, extension programs, and where you also have the opportunity to ask questions and receive answers to pertinent questions that you and your fellow educators may have.
Can I share information on the program with other colleagues and/or my school?
Absolutely! And we encourage you to do so! You can send any interested educators and colleagues to the website to see what we are all about and register for the program. We highly recommend that every user registers for the program and creates a log-in so they have immediate access to the most updated information via the website and also receive newsletters and other updates. Our program has spread largely through word of mouth and we thank you for sharing it with educators and students all over the country and world!
