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 19 of 19 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.
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.
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.