Strong foundations in social and emotional learning, scaffolded by consistent behavioral management methodology are essential to educator effectiveness; while self-advocacy is the bedrock of lifelong self-directed student learning,“Self-Control” is a critical element in fostering self-advocacy. Kids, like adults, do best when they can confidently advocate for their interests.

I wrote the “Self-Control Monitor” as a behavioral tool for helping my students reset and refocus after disconcerting moments. It was also an effective morning mantra for starting each school day with a resilient mindset. Visual depictions of “the steps” are an additional opportunity for students to process the concept of personal power “in flux”.