Beginning a New School Year Social Story & SEL Toolkit | Back to School Activities

Description

Help children navigate the transition back to school with confidence, courage, and a growth mindset with this Beginning a New School Year Social Story & SEL Toolkit!

Beginning a new school year can bring many different feelings. Some children feel excited, while others may feel nervous, worried, or unsure about new routines, teachers, classmates, and expectations. This research-informed social story and SEL toolkit helps children understand that these feelings are normal while providing practical strategies for managing emotions, building confidence, and preparing for a successful school year.

This comprehensive Beginning a New School Year SEL toolkit goes far beyond a traditional social story. Through discussion, reflection, goal setting, family involvement, and real-world practice, students develop the social-emotional skills needed to feel confident, connected, and ready to learn.

Perfect for classrooms, counseling groups, special education programs, homeschool settings, and family support.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

Social Story Resources

✔ Full-Color Social Story

✔ Black & White Social Story

✔ Social Skills Reader

✔ Discussion Questions

✔ Bonus Narrated Video Version of the Social Story

SEL Teaching Resources

✔ SEL Discussion Cards

✔ Class Pledge

✔ Student Action Plan

✔ Reminder & Challenge Cards

✔ Calm & Confident Tools

✔ Poetry Connection Activities

Reflection & Extension Activities

✔ Drawing and Writing Response Pages

✔ Read, Reflect, Grow Activities

✔ Goal-Setting Opportunities

✔ Coloring Pages

Family Connection Resources

✔ Family Discussion Questions

✔ Family Take-Home Poem

✔ Family Connection Letter

Teacher Resources

✔ Adult Notes & Discussion Guide

✔ Suggested Lesson Flow

✔ Printing Guide

Bonus Resources

✔ Editable Welcome Letter Templates

✔ Multiple Welcome Letter Versions to Fit Different Teaching Styles and Needs

✔ Welcome to My Class Cards

✔ Back-to-School Confetti Notes

✔ Family Welcome Extras

STUDENTS WILL LEARN HOW TO:

⭐ Recognize and understand back-to-school feelings

⭐ Build confidence during new experiences

⭐ Develop coping strategies for worries and stress

⭐ Ask for help when needed

⭐ Practice kindness and friendship skills

⭐ Adjust to new routines and expectations

⭐ Develop resilience and a growth mindset

⭐ Feel safe, supported, and ready to learn

DIGITAL & PRINT OPTIONS

This resource is provided in both PDF and PowerPoint formats for maximum flexibility.

✔ Print and use traditional paper copies

✔ Project pages for whole-group instruction

✔ Display during morning meetings, counseling lessons, or SEL discussions

✔ Use with small groups or individual students

✔ Assign digitally through Google Classroom™

✔ Google Slides™ compatible for online learning and digital assignments

Whether teaching in person, virtually, or in a hybrid environment, this resource can easily adapt to your classroom needs.

PERFECT FOR:

✔ Back to School Activities

✔ Social Emotional Learning (SEL)

✔ School Counseling

✔ Special Education

✔ Autism Support

✔ Morning Meetings

✔ Small Groups

✔ Whole-Class Lessons

✔ Behavior Support

✔ Transition Activities

✔ Elementary Classrooms

GRADES

PreK • Kindergarten • 1st Grade • 2nd Grade • 3rd Grade

TOPICS

Back to School • New School Year • Social Emotional Learning • Growth Mindset • Confidence • Coping Skills • Friendship • Classroom Community • School Counseling • Social Skills

WHY TEACHERS LOVE SOCIAL STORIES

Social stories provide clear, predictable explanations of social situations and expectations. They help children understand feelings, build confidence, learn coping strategies, and develop important social-emotional skills in a supportive and child-friendly way.

This toolkit extends learning beyond the story through meaningful discussions, reflection activities, family involvement, classroom practice, and home-school connections.

Give students the tools they need to feel confident, connected, and ready for a successful new school year with this comprehensive Beginning a New School Year Social Story & SEL Toolkit!

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