What is My Best Me

What Are the Five Main Concepts of My Best Me

In today’s fast-paced world, we often forget to focus on our own personal growth, emotional intelligence and development. The My Best Me curriculum is designed to address this issue by providing a framework for students to explore and develop their sense of identity, health, community, environment, and economics (IE their emotional intelligence). Let us take a closer look at the five components of this powerful curriculum and how they can help students become their best selves.

1. Identity:

The first component of the My Best Me curriculum is identity. This component is designed to help students understand and develop a positive sense of self. Through this component, students will explore their own personal values, strengths, and weaknesses, and learn how to build their self-confidence and self-esteem.

2. Health:

The second component of the curriculum is health. This component is designed to help students develop a healthy lifestyle that promotes physical and mental well-being. Through this component, students will learn about the importance of exercise, nutrition, stress management, and sleep.

3. Community:

The third component of the curriculum is community. This component is designed to help students develop a sense of belonging and social responsibility. Through this component, students will learn about the importance of community service, volunteerism, and social activism.

4. Environment:

The fourth component of the curriculum is environment. This component is designed to help students understand and appreciate the natural world. Through this component, students will learn about the importance of sustainability, environmental conservation, and eco-friendly practices.

5. Economics:

The fifth and final component of the curriculum is economics. This component is designed to help students understand the importance of financial literacy. Through this component, students will learn about budgeting, saving, and investing.

Overall, the My Best Me curriculum is a powerful tool for promoting personal growth and development in students. By exploring and developing their sense of identity, health, community, environment, and economics, students will be better equipped to face the challenges of the world and become their best selves. Whether in the classroom or at home, this curriculum is a valuable resource for anyone looking to cultivate personal growth and wellbeing.

SAMPLE OUR MY BEST ME CURRICULUM

Emotional Intelligence

Why is Emotional Intelligence an Essential Skill?

Emotional intelligence is an essential skill that can help students succeed in the classroom and in life. Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize and manage your own emotions and the emotions of others. In the classroom, emotional intelligence can help students develop stronger relationships with their peers and teachers, improve their academic performance, and enhance their overall well-being.

How can teachers cultivate emotional intelligence in their students?

Creating a Safe and Supportive Environment

The first step in cultivating emotional intelligence in the classroom is to create a safe and supportive environment. Students who feel safe and supported are more likely to be open and honest about their emotions. Teachers can create a safe and supportive environment by:

  • Encouraging open communication
  • Celebrating diversity and individuality
  • Addressing and resolving conflicts in a respectful manner
  • Providing opportunities for students to share their thoughts and feelings
  • Modeling positive emotional behaviors

Teaching Emotional Literacy

Emotional literacy is the ability to recognize and understand your own emotions and the emotions of others. Teachers can teach emotional literacy by:

  • Identifying and labeling emotions
  • Exploring the causes and consequences of emotions
  • Recognizing the difference between emotions and actions
  • Encouraging empathy and perspective-taking

Encouraging Self-Reflection

Self-reflection is an essential component of emotional intelligence. Teachers can encourage self-reflection by:

  • Providing opportunities for students to reflect on their own emotions and behavior
  • Encouraging students to identify their own strengths and weaknesses
  • Helping students set goals for self-improvement
  • Encouraging students to take responsibility for their own emotional reactions

Fostering Positive Relationships

Positive relationships are essential for emotional well-being. Teachers can foster positive relationships by:

  • Encouraging collaboration and teamwork
  • Providing opportunities for students to work together on projects and assignments
  • Celebrating successes and achievements
  • Recognizing and addressing negative behaviors and conflicts

Emotional intelligence is a critical skill that can help students succeed in the classroom and in life. Teachers can cultivate emotional intelligence in their students by creating a safe and supportive environment, teaching emotional literacy, encouraging self-reflection, and fostering positive relationships. By helping students develop emotional intelligence, teachers can equip them with the skills they need to navigate the challenges of the classroom and beyond. My Best Me is a tool that can help support student and teachers in learning emotional intelligence and hope. Sample Curriculum Today

Child sitting at the bottom of a slide.

The Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences

“My Best Me” curriculum’s primary goal is to help reduce the negative impacts of Adverse Childhood Experiences and promote a positive and healthy connection between families and the community. 

What is an Adverse Childhood Experience?

Adverse Childhood Experiences or ACE are potentially traumatic events that occur in a child’s life.(0-17 years of age) This may be in the form of violence, neglect, experiencing the death of a loved one, or abuse. ACE can also be categorized as experiences of elements within their life that may jeopardize their sense of safety, binding, or stability. Examples can range from parental separation to substance abuse. 

What impact can Adverse Childhood Experiences have on a child?

ACE’s are linked to mental illness, chronic health issues, and substance abuse in adults and teenagers. In addition ACE’s have shown to have an impact on a child’s academic journey and in latter years job opportunities and earning potentials.

How to prevent the impacts of ACEs?

It is important to nurture relationships and environments for all children and families to help prevent ACEs and help children reach their highest potential. According to the CDC, teaching skills that have been identified as Social Emotional Learning is a strategy to prevent the negative effects of ACEs.

Did you know that 

In the United States, 64% of adults have an ACE score of 1. This means they have experienced at least one ACE in their lifetime. This subsequently increases the chances that that individual will experience a second ACE. 

How the “My Best Me” curriculum can help

15 Easy Ways For Children To Give Back to the Community

Raise kids who give back. 

Why is it important to give back to the community?

Giving children the opportunity to give back to the community helps them build empathy and a strong connection to their community. The process of giving back also builds many life skills, such as teamwork, goal setting, communication, time management, etc. 

“My Best Me”  emphasis on community:

The “My Best Me” curriculum dedicates an entire section to community. Helping children build the skills to interact with their community, ask for help when needed and give back when possible. Learning about community helps children learn more about themselves, how to tackle challenges, and most importantly it helps them feel a sense of belonging. Learn more about the features and benefits of the My Best Me curriculum.

15 Easy Ways For Children to Give Back to their Community:

  • Holiday Food Drive
  • Organize a community Clean up 
  • Clothing Donation – donate clothes that no longer fit
  • Start a School Recycling Program 
  • Make a handmade card for a kid’s in hospital 
  • Write a note to send to an old age home
  • Write a message of thanks to a community hero
  • Help raise money for a charity by holding a bake sale
  • Raise awareness about issues within your community 
  • Help at a community garden 
  • Write letters to the troops 
  • Set up a charity for your local animal shelter
  • Gather and donate old toys you have outgrown 
  • Donate used books or create a book exchange at your school
  • Build a window display the entire community can enjoy 

Teaching Children How to Ask for Help

Social Emotional Learning covers many topics and skills, including growth mindset, emotional order, setting goals, managing self + environment, increasing students’ hope, and much more. In this post, we will be discussing a skill that is the foundation of social-emotional learning, growth, and goal setting. HOW TO HELP PROMOTE ASKING FOR HELP

Asking for help can be difficult for both adults and students alike. Sometimes the simple ability to admit that you may need help can be hard. The truth is EVERYONE will need help at one point or another. This lifelong skill will not only help educators and students in the classroom but it is a skill that will be carried through life. 

Everyone needs help, so why is it so hard to ask for it?

What gets in the way of asking for help:

  • don’t believe asking for help will make a difference
  • prefer to do things themselves 
  • may be embarrassed or ashamed
  • view asking for help as a sign of weakness

As adults and educators we set the tone and are an example to students on whether seeking help is ok. It is important that we make sure we send a positive message about asking for help

How to empower children to ask for help:

  1. Normalize asking for help:

This means you must also accept that you may need help at times as well. View asking for help as a normal part of life and an important life skill. Be open with students about times you have struggled and asked for help. 

  1. Asking for help is a strength: 

Make sure to frame asking for help as a strength and acknowledge that it takes courage. 

  1. Give alternative ways to ask for help

Some students may be introverted, shy, or just not yet comfortable asking for help verbally or directly. Create tools in your classroom that encourage students to share when they struggle. 

  1. All questions are good question

Make sure to respond positively when a student asks for help. It is important that when a student asks for help you give them your undivided attention. If this isn’t possible at a particular time, set a time when you can do so. 

  1. Ask for professional help

As you promote asking for help within your classroom make sure to refer students who may need more in-depth help to a more appropriate source. When you feel out of your element or not qualified, seek professional help. 

All of these tools are great ways to create an environment that promotes asking for help. This in conjunction with promoting emotional intelligence can make a world of difference to a child. The My Best Me curriculum helps promote many skills needed to have a growth mindset and a healthy relationship with success and failure. If we are able to realize that failure is part of the success we can help children realize that asking for help can be part of success as well.