Resources for K-5 SEL Educators
Guides, articles, and practical insights to help you bring social-emotional learning into your classroom.
Evidence-informed articles for teachers, counselors, and families supporting K–5 SEL.
Showing 39 of 39 articles
Free Bilingual SEL Activities for K-5
Ready-to-use bilingual SEL activities in English and Spanish. Download printables and try interactive projector activities for your K-5 classroom.
What Is Social Emotional Learning (SEL)?
A clear explanation of SEL and why it matters in elementary classrooms.
Understanding the CASEL Framework
A simple guide to the five CASEL competencies and how teachers use them.
SEL Activities for K-5 Classrooms
Practical, classroom-ready SEL activities aligned to CASEL standards.
Why Bilingual SEL Matters
How bilingual SEL supports inclusion, comprehension, and engagement.
How Music Supports SEL
Using music as a developmentally appropriate tool for social emotional learning in K-5 classrooms.
Why Teachers Struggle With Traditional SEL
Common implementation challenges and what helps SEL succeed in real classroom conditions.
SEL by Grade Level: K-5 Guide
What K-5 students actually need at each developmental stage for effective SEL instruction.
How to Handle Tattling in Elementary Classrooms (K-5)
A teacher's framework for the tattling vs reporting distinction. Six-step response, student decision checklist, grade-band expectations, and common anti-patterns to avoid.
Harmony SEL vs Be The Buffalo: K-5 SEL Comparison
Harmony SEL vs Be The Buffalo Classroom head-to-head. Free vs subscription, intergroup contact theory vs character education, evidence base, bilingual support, and prep time.
Panorama Education vs Be The Buffalo: K-5 SEL Comparison
Panorama Education vs Be The Buffalo Classroom head-to-head. Assessment platform vs instructional curriculum, Playbook resource library, evidence, and district fit.
Move This World vs Be The Buffalo: K-5 SEL Comparison
Move This World vs Be The Buffalo Classroom head-to-head. Video-based vs projector-led delivery, evidence base, bilingual support, and pricing.
CharacterStrong vs Be The Buffalo: K-5 SEL Comparison
CharacterStrong PurposeFull People vs Be The Buffalo Classroom head-to-head. Delivery model, evidence base, prep time, bilingual support, and pricing.
CharacterStrong Alternatives for Elementary Schools (2026)
Comparing CharacterStrong to other K-5 SEL and character education programs. Delivery model, prep time, cost structure, and classroom fit.
Second Step vs Be The Buffalo Classroom: K-5 SEL Comparison
A head-to-head comparison of Second Step Elementary and Be The Buffalo Classroom. Delivery model, evidence base, prep time, bilingual support, and pricing.
Best SEL Curriculum for Elementary Classrooms (2026 Guide)
A practical guide to choosing SEL curriculum that actually works in real K-5 classrooms—without adding more prep time.
SEL Without Screens: Phone-Free Classroom Curriculum
How teacher-led, no-device SEL curriculum aligns with the phone-free classroom movement sweeping K-12 education.
How to Choose an SEL Curriculum for Elementary School
A practical guide for school counselors and administrators on what to look for, what to avoid, and the right questions to ask.
Character Education vs. SEL: What’s the Difference?
Character education and SEL are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same. Learn where they overlap, where they diverge, and why the best programs do both.
Why Your SEL Curriculum Shouldn’t Need Student Accounts
Student data privacy, recent breaches, and the case for account-free classroom tools. Every student account is a data liability.
Teaching School Safety Without Causing Fear
How to prepare K-5 students for emergency drills using age-appropriate, trauma-informed approaches. Self-regulation is a safety skill.
Teaching Internet Safety Without Putting Kids Online
How to build digital citizenship skills in K-5 using discussion, stories, and projector-led instruction. No student devices required.
School Bus Safety for Elementary Students
A practical guide to teaching bus safety skills in K-5, including the danger zone, age-appropriate instruction, and accommodations for students with disabilities.
SEL Read-Alouds for Elementary Classrooms
A practical guide to using picture books for social-emotional learning in K-5, organized by CASEL competency with discussion prompts you can use tomorrow.
Why School Safety and SEL Should Not Be Separate Programs
When schools silo safety and social-emotional learning, both programs underperform. Research shows SEL’s largest measured effect is on school climate and safety.
Teaching Growth Mindset in Elementary School
A practical guide to building growth mindset in K-5 classrooms through SEL instruction. Neuroscience-backed strategies aligned to CASEL’s self-awareness competency.
SEL Curriculum for Elementary Schools: A Research-Backed Guide
A complete guide to understanding elementary SEL curriculum: what it teaches, how it fits into the school day, what the research says, and how to evaluate whether a program will work.
Best Character Education Curriculum for Elementary Schools
What to look for in a K-5 character education program that actually works: research-backed features, what to avoid, and how the best programs combine character development with SEL.
Weekly SEL Lessons for Elementary Teachers
How to structure SEL instruction as a weekly practice across 40 weeks. A yearlong approach covering all five CASEL competencies with minimal prep and maximum consistency.
Elementary SEL Scope and Sequence
How to build a K-5 SEL scope and sequence that covers all five CASEL competencies, progresses from internal to external skills, and gives teachers a clear 40-week roadmap.
SEL Curriculum for Neurodivergent Elementary Students
How to choose and adapt SEL instruction for students with ADHD, autism, learning disabilities, and sensory processing differences.
SEL Curriculum for Special Education
How to choose, adapt, and implement SEL curriculum that aligns with IEP goals, works across service delivery models, and produces measurable outcomes for students with disabilities.
SEL Curriculum for Upper Elementary (Grades 3-5)
What third, fourth, and fifth graders actually need from SEL. Developmental shifts, age-appropriate topics, and what to look for in a grades 3-5 program.
Empathy Lessons for Elementary Students
How to teach perspective-taking, emotional understanding, and compassion in K-5 classrooms. Research-backed empathy instruction by grade level.
Conflict Resolution Activities for Elementary Students
Practical strategies for recess disputes, classroom disagreements, and everyday peer conflicts in K-5. A repeatable process students can actually use.
Teaching Perspective-Taking Through Conflict Scenarios in K-5
How to use dual-narrative conflict activities to build empathy, reduce peer disputes, and teach students that every story has two sides.
Self-Regulation Activities for Elementary Classrooms
Practical strategies for teaching students to manage emotions, control impulses, and stay focused in K-5. Self-regulation as a learnable skill.
CASEL-Aligned Printable Activities for K-5
Free CASEL-aligned printable activities for K-5 classrooms. Print-and-go SEL resources mapped to specific competencies. No account or signup required.
Free SEL Activities for Elementary Classrooms
Free SEL activities you can use tomorrow. Download printables and try interactive projector activities aligned to CASEL competencies. No signup required.
Ready to bring SEL into your classroom?
Be The Buffalo provides 40 weeks of CASEL-aligned, bilingual SEL curriculum designed specifically for K-5 teachers.