SLL Monthly Newsletter
August 2025
October 2025
October SLL Themes
This month we will kick off our second SLL unit on "Being Resilient". Students will learn that things in life don’t always go as expected. During the first part of this unit, students will learn that challenges can serve as opportunities for growth as well as the importance of staying focused and motivated to accomplish a goal or task. They will learn that when faced with a problem they can use the steps of a problem solving process to solve it or when they need to ask for help. In addition, students will learn how expressing gratitude can strengthen relationships and improve their overall health and happiness.
- September 29 - October 3: Identifying Strengths & Areas for Growth (Self-Awareness): Strengths are the skills and abilities that are easy for us. Areas for growth are the skills and abilities that don’t come easy to us. Knowing our own strengths and opportunities for growth gives us a better understanding of ourselves.
- October 6-10: Having a Growth Mindset (Resiliency)-When you have a growth mindset you believe that you can learn whatever it is you are trying to learn. You see challenges as opportunities to grow. Positive self-talk is linked to having a growth mindset.
- October 13-16: Setting & Achieving Goals (Resiliency)- A goal is a statement about something you want to get better at. Setting goals provides you with a focus and helps you stay motivated.
- October 20-24: Staying Focused & Motivated (Resiliency)- Completing tasks and achieving your goals is not always easy. This is why it is important to know how to work through stress and stay focused and motivated. This will help you stay on track to reach your long term goals. Practicing mindfulness strategies and positive self-talk can help you stay motivated and focus your attention on the task.
- October 27 - October 31: Flex Week/Red Ribbon Week- You may want to use this week to review any SLL themes and/or Red Ribbon Week Campaign activities. In grades 6-12, you may want to teach the skills as outlined in the 6-12 FLDOE’s Substance Use and Abuse Health Standards.
SDPBC educators can find lessons and resources to support these SLL Themes on our SLL Resource Center under the "Elementary", "Middle School", and "High School" tab. To access the SLL Resource Center, log in to your District portal and search "SLL". Click on the SLL Heart Tile.
October Adult SLL Resources
- 12 Best Growth Mindset Activities for Adults (Symonds Research)
- The Power of Belief - Mindset and Success (Ted Talk)
- Growth Mindset and Enhanced Learning (Stanford Unv.)
Unit 2 Resources
Unit 2 SLL Extension Ideas
Here is a menu of options of possible ways to extend SLL themes that are being explicitly taught from Unit 2 throughout the school day so students have the opportunity to apply and/or reflect on these skills. Please keep in mind that this list is not grade level specific so it is important that you select ideas (or adapt ideas) that are developmentally appropriate and align to your grade level standards and expectations.
Unit 2 Family & Caregiver Letters for Elementary
The SLL Family & Caregiver Unit Letters provide families and caregivers with information about the SLL Themes that are being addressed in each unit. It provides possible ideas for discussion questions and family activities to reinforce each SLL Theme at home.
Unit 2 SLL High School Lesson Ideas
You can access the October & November High School SLL Ideas as well as the December & January High School SLL Ideas to reinforce the SLL Essential Idea for Unit 2: Being Resilient. These activities can be used as Welcoming Rituals, Engaging Practices, and/or Optimistic Closures in High School. For explicit lessons to support Unit 2's themes, check out the "High School" tab on our SLL Resource Center.
2nd Quarter Resources
Elementary Book of the Quarter 2: The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes
Our second book of the quarter is The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes by Mark Pett & Gary Rubinstein. Beatrice Bottomwell had NEVER made a mistake. In fact, the entire town calls her The Girl Who Never Makes Mistakes! Then, one day it happens: Beatrice makes a huge mistake in front of everyone! But in the end, she realizes that life is more fun when you enjoy everything - even the mistakes!
Click here for read aloud ideas, classroom extension activities, school-wide announcement ideas and activities, and more.
SLL Signature Practice Ideas for Middle Schools
These prompts and activities can be used as Welcoming Rituals, Engaging Practices, and/or Optimistic Closures. The SLL Lesson video for each theme has been linked each week. Please note that YouTube links may have ads on them so you should have the video cued up to go so students don’t view the ads.
Mood Meter Orders
SLL Professional Learning Opportunities
Register for Emotional Resilience Educator Cohort Level 2: Deadline is Thursday, November 6th
This cohort is the second course in our Emotional Resilience Educator series! The text for this book study is Permission to Feel by Dr. Marc Brackett. This text will be provided to each participant who enrolls.
Every session will provide you with opportunities to discuss the assigned reading with a small group of participants, as well as an opportunity to engage in a self-reflection and/or group activity. Participants who complete this cohort will receive an Emotional Resilience Educator Level II Badge and be awarded 8 in-service points.
For more information about session dates and how to register, click here. The registration deadline is November 6, 2025.
Pre-Requisite: Must have completed Emotional Resilience Educator Cohort Level 1 (Onward)
Resiliency Palm Beach
The Resiliency Palm Beach Instruction Guide can be used in conjunction with the Scope & Sequence to reinforce weekly resiliency characteristics. This guide includes morning announcements, extension activities, and recognition resources to honor students who demonstrate resiliency.
Separate guides are available for Elementary and Secondary, along with certificates and images in the Resiliency Palm Beach certificates folder:
Resiliency Parent Resources for Grit
Schools are encouraged to send home the Resiliency Florida's resources linked below to families and caregivers to support this month's Resiliency Characteristics: Self-Awareness & Self-Management