A Smart Gateway to SEL: Digital Libraries

Advertisement

Hope Stone, founded in 1997 by Jane Weiner, is a non-profit arts organization currently serving over 900 underserved Houston-area children and adults. To accomplish that, we use our creative mindful arts healing and education outreach program, The Hope Project. We aim to share our free digital resource for teachers: an interactive Social Emotional Learning (SEL) children’s video series, called “smART breaks.”

The One Stop Shop

smART breaks is a free digital arts library. It encompasses interactive music, theater, and dance classes, and also teaches elementary school children SEL competencies. smART breaks mimics much of the work we do with our in-person classes through our work within The Hope Project. The 37 participatory episodes are designed with an emphasis on the arts, social learning, and self-regulation, fostering opportunities to inspire creative thinking, practice social skills, and bolster academic success.

Accessible Categories

The digital library is broken into age categories for Pre-Kindergarten through Upper Elementary. With these episodes, educators, parents, and caregivers can blend arts education and mindfulness at home or in the classroom. Each smART breaks episode has multiple viewing options (downloadable, Vimeo, or YouTube) for easy accessibility.  It is accompanied by two worksheets for parents or teachers to use with their students: a vocabulary list for creative activities, and a Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) Guide with Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Competencies.

The online library breaks the episodes into two age categories, Pre-Kindergarten through Lower Elementary and Upper Elementary. Each episode is 20–25 minutes in length, with specific grade/age recommendations located under each video.

What does a smART breaks episode look like?

  • The first 5–7 minutes: Introduction by two longtime friends—Captain Hope, a pilot and adventurist, and Mr. Zo, a gardener and nursing student, who moved from Nice, California to Houston, Texas. Settled into their new home, they invite their teaching artist friends and neighbors over to teach engaging and fun classes.
  • Warm-up (5 minutes): The friend visits, often entering through a fun “front door” (the storage trunk or refrigerator). They always bring a nutritional fruit/vegetable as a gift to learn about briefly.
  • Activity/Lesson (5–8 minutes): The viewers follow-along through the class.
  • Final moments: Every episode ends with a review of the “Awesome Rules” and a fun song about being kind.

Art transcends cultural boundaries. With this idea, the smART breaks episodes are a way to bring educational, entertaining, and interactive SEL art into any home, classroom, or facility.

Avatar photo

TEACH is the largest national education publication in Canada. We support good teachers and teaching and believe in innovation in education.

Education News

National Principals of the Year Announced

The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) have named the 2025–26 National Principals of the Year.

Is Your Child’s Literacy on Vacation? How Parents Can Beat the Summer Slide

Did you know students can lose up to two months of learning progress over summer break? Here's how to tackle the “summer slide” and keep kids engaged.

Nominations Open for Heroes of the Classroom Teacher Recognition Program

Nominations are accepted through August 3. Ten finalists will advance to a public vote for the chance to win the Grand Prize—valued at approximately $16,000 in cash and prizes.

New School Safety Trends Report Shows Training and Technology Are Saving Lives in U.S. Schools

CENTEGIX’s 2025 School Safety Trends Report reveals a national movement toward proactive, integrated school safety strategies, including campus mapping.

Join Our Newsletter

Get 10% off a subscription, monthly giveaways, and the latest updates—straight to your inbox!

TEACH Magazine
TEACH Magazine
TEACH is the largest national education publication in Canada. We support good teachers and teaching and believe in innovation in education.

Advertisement

Read More

National Principals of the Year Announced

The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) have named the 2025–26 National Principals of the Year.

Guardians of the Coast: Building Kids’ Confidence Through Art

I was recently involved with an art exhibition in the Thanet District of Kent, England, that helped students see themselves as artists, advocates, and changemakers.

Is Your Child’s Literacy on Vacation? How Parents Can Beat the Summer Slide

Did you know students can lose up to two months of learning progress over summer break? Here's how to tackle the “summer slide” and keep kids engaged.

The Power of Music and Melody: Using Songs to Engage Young Learners

By harnessing the power of music, teachers can create a lively and dynamic atmosphere that also improves concentration, focus, and retention.

Nominations Open for Heroes of the Classroom Teacher Recognition Program

Nominations are accepted through August 3. Ten finalists will advance to a public vote for the chance to win the Grand Prize—valued at approximately $16,000 in cash and prizes.

Real (and Really Funny) Math

I'm an author of math books, which may sound like a dry job, but that’s exactly why I do it. It’s my goal to show kids that math can be fun (and funny!)
tần suất lôtô | mobile slots no deposit | casino catalogue | kí tự đặc biệt liên quân | lucky casino | m88 cá cược thể thao casino số 1 châu á | top 10 best online casinos | vietnam casino | casino slot oyna | dafu casino hack | 10bet casino review | Choiluke con | cashanova slot | tải ku casino | vòng quay kim cương free fire | thứ hạng của udinese | soi cau vietlott | bonus code for slots lv | kq100 | best online casino in new zealand | video poker vs slots | casino renovations | ly cay bong mp3 | casino work | game lậu mobile việt hóa | casino jefe erfahrungen | 188keo | golden sevens slot | bao lô 100k trúng bao nhiêu | choctaw casino | avatar câu cá | slot liên quân | k8vn | crank handle slot re2 | game đăng ký nhận 100k | thống kê giải đặc biệt hai số cuối | crypto casino | chơi roblox miễn phí trên google | zen casino | online slots australia real money | top 10 online casino | best mobile slots game | bang xep hang itali | bài hát karaoke hay |