The SELcurve Standards Framework

Clear, grade-by-grade SEL standards for Grades 2–5

608 standards across 30 core SEL skills and 5 CASEL-aligned units — built from research into what all 50 states and DC recommend for SEL.

608Standards
30Core SEL skills
5CASEL units
2–5Grades
Why we built it

SEL never had a Common Core. So we built one.

Math and reading have grade-by-grade standards every teacher knows. SEL doesn’t: CASEL names five competencies but not which skills belong in which grade, and every state handles SEL differently.

We documented what all 50 states and DC recommend and turned it into one framework: five standards per core skill, per grade — each with a student “I can” and a “You’ll see it when” for you.

How to read a standard

SAUnit-EMOSkill-3Grade-2Standard
Standard
The skill, written for you: what the student does and how you can observe it.
I can…
The same goal in student words — ready for the board or a lesson slide.
You’ll see it when…
What it looks like in your classroom, so you know the skill is there.

Self-Awareness

5 core skills · 100 standards
SA-EMO

Identifying My Feelings

Skill areasNaming & labeling feelings · Rating intensity · Reading body cues · Recognizing mixed feelings · Identifying triggers

How this skill grows
Grade 2Name current feeling with basic vocabulary; rate intensity 1–5; notice body cues; recognize two feelings at once; spot one personal trigger.
Grade 3Use more precise feeling words; describe how intensity changes across a situation; explain what body cues signal; identify trigger patterns.
Grade 4Differentiate similar feelings; describe intensity variation across settings; connect triggers to values and expectations.
Grade 5Use nuanced vocabulary to guide better responses; describe emotional patterns over time; catch early cues before escalation; analyze trigger roots.
SA-STR

Strengths & Interests

Skill areasIdentifying strengths · Providing evidence for strengths · Knowing interests · Applying strengths to tasks and roles · Using strengths for growth and goals

How this skill grows
Grade 2Name strengths and interests; match strengths to class roles; use strengths purposefully for a task; celebrate small wins.
Grade 3Give evidence for strengths across settings; connect interests to goals; plan how to use strengths; use feedback to revise.
Grade 4Match strengths to project roles; support peers with strengths; turn an interest into inquiry; build a mini portfolio.
Grade 5Set goals anchored to strengths; coach a peer; curate a portfolio; connect strengths to stretch areas.
SA-IDN

Personal Identity & Self-Acceptance

Skill areasSharing personal identity details · Recognizing similarities and differences · Building a positive self-concept · Practicing self-acceptance · Trying new things with confidence

How this skill grows
Grade 2Share safe personal facts; notice similarities and differences with classmates; say positive things about oneself; try new roles.
Grade 3Describe identity in multiple ways; explain how background shapes preferences; name positive self-qualities; respect others' identities.
Grade 4Set identity boundaries; write a self-acceptance statement; stay grounded when others' perceptions conflict with self-concept; take stretch roles with confidence.
Grade 5Navigate identity across social contexts; maintain a stable self-concept under mild social pressure; lead self-concept conversations.
SA-VAL

Values & Integrity

Skill areasIdentifying values · Practicing honesty · Keeping commitments · Acting with integrity · Navigating values dilemmas and pressure

How this skill grows
Grade 2Name personal and class values; practice honesty in simple situations; keep small commitments; act with integrity; repair broken promises.
Grade 3Explain why values matter; show integrity without reminders; navigate a simple values choice; repair values mismatches.
Grade 4Choose value-aligned actions in complex situations; navigate dilemmas with competing values; use honest-and-kind language.
Grade 5Defend personal values under peer pressure; maintain integrity in higher-stakes moments; develop a personal values statement.
SA-REF

Self-Reflection & Growth Mindset

Skill areasSetting learning goals · Self-monitoring work progress · Learning from experience · Using growth mindset language · Owning outcomes

How this skill grows
Grade 2Set a simple goal; self-monitor with a checklist; name what helped; use growth mindset language when stuck; own outcomes.
Grade 3Set goals with a success criterion; use work evidence; use feedback to make one change; own outcomes with growth language.
Grade 4Build personal checklists and rubrics; compare work to criteria; link habits to outcomes; manage time.
Grade 5Analyze patterns across experiences; build a personal playbook; combine and sequence strategies; use multi-source feedback.

Self-Management

7 core skills · 144 standards
SM-REG

Calming Strategies & Emotion Regulation

Skill areasKnowing available strategies · Choosing a strategy that fits intensity · Matching strategy to setting · Using strategies independently · Recovering and re-engaging · Planning ahead for high-trigger moments

How this skill grows
Grade 2Know and try a range of calming strategies; choose one that fits intensity; use it with minimal prompting; recover and re-engage.
Grade 3Match strategies independently to trigger type and intensity; use tools without adult prompting; recover and return to task.
Grade 4Build a personal toolkit; plan ahead for high-trigger moments; evaluate whether a strategy worked and adjust.
Grade 5Combine strategies in a smart order; use proactive regulation before feelings escalate; recover quickly and independently.
SM-FOC

Focus & Self-Control

Skill areasStarting tasks promptly · Sustaining attention · Managing impulses · Managing distractions · Self-monitoring focus

How this skill grows
Grade 2Start tasks when directed; sustain attention with minimal prompting; manage impulses; use a focus strategy.
Grade 3Limit self-chosen distractions; shift attention smoothly between tasks; manage impulses in group settings.
Grade 4Plan focus strategies for longer tasks; recognize personal distraction patterns; use self-monitoring tools.
Grade 5Manage attention independently across a full work period; develop consistent self-monitoring habits.
SM-GOL

Goal Setting & Planning

Skill areasSetting meaningful goals · Breaking goals into steps · Tracking progress · Adjusting plans when circumstances change · Reflecting on outcomes

How this skill grows
Grade 2Set simple goals; break into steps; use a basic tracker; evaluate whether a goal was reached.
Grade 3Set short and medium-term goals; use a planning tool; monitor progress with evidence.
Grade 4Set multi-step goals across subjects; manage deadlines; revise goals thoughtfully.
Grade 5Set short, medium, and long-term goals; connect goals to strengths and values.
SM-HAB

Healthy Habits & Routines

Skill areasOrganizing materials · Managing time during tasks · Managing transitions · Building and maintaining routines · Age-appropriate self-care

How this skill grows
Grade 2Organize materials; manage time during tasks; follow transitions; practice basic self-care.
Grade 3Use a planner or organizer; build a consistent routine; manage time across subjects.
Grade 4Develop a personal organization system; manage multi-step transitions; establish self-care habits.
Grade 5Build and maintain habits across school and home; connect routines to personal well-being.
SM-PER

Perseverance & Resilience

Skill areasTrying again when stuck · Using growth mindset language · Using self-encouragement to push through · Recovering from setbacks · Sustaining motivation over time

How this skill grows
Grade 2Persist through difficulty; recover from setbacks; find self-motivation with teacher support.
Grade 3Use growth language independently; describe how persistence led to a result; try a new approach when stuck.
Grade 4Develop personal strategies for productive struggle; bounce back with a concrete plan.
Grade 5Sustain effort across longer challenges; self-motivate through multi-step projects; coach self through difficulty.
SM-ADP

Flexibility & Adaptability

Skill areasAccepting unexpected changes · Thinking flexibly about problems · Trying new approaches when a first plan fails · Reframing challenges as manageable · Planning ahead for possible changes

How this skill grows
Grade 2Handle change and new situations with minimal upset; try a new approach when a first attempt doesn't work.
Grade 3Reframe unexpected changes as manageable; independently diagnose what isn't working and switch approach.
Grade 4Plan for possible changes; practice flexible problem-solving in group and academic contexts.
Grade 5Apply flexible thinking across contexts; reframe challenges as learning opportunities; plan for multiple scenarios.
SM-MHL

Mental Health Awareness

Skill areasRecognizing signs of stress and worry · Understanding that mental wellness matters · Practicing self-care for mental wellness · Knowing when to seek help · Accessing support

How this skill grows
Grade 2Recognize body signs of stress and worry; know some feelings are "too big for one person"; know one trusted adult to go to.
Grade 3Identify signs that last beyond a bad day; name multiple trusted adults; practice basic self-care for mental wellness.
Grade 4Distinguish everyday stress from persistent worry; understand that mental health matters as much as physical health.
Grade 5Recognize signs in self and peers; understand urgent vs. non-urgent help; maintain a personal wellness routine.

Social Awareness

5 core skills · 100 standards
SoA-EMP

Empathy & Perspective-Taking

Skill areasReading others' face and body cues · Inferring how others feel · Considering at least one different viewpoint · Responding with compassion · Balancing multiple perspectives in a disagreement

How this skill grows
Grade 2Read face and body cues; infer feelings; consider one different viewpoint; choose a caring response.
Grade 3Infer the reasons behind another's feelings; consider more than one viewpoint in a single situation.
Grade 4Explain a peer's perspective with evidence from the situation; match a compassionate response to the specific need.
Grade 5Balance multiple competing perspectives; act compassionately in emotionally complex situations.
SoA-INC

Respect & Inclusion

Skill areasWelcoming and including others · Honoring differences in culture, ability, and background · Using respectful language for all identities · Leading or initiating inclusion actions · Identifying and challenging exclusion patterns

How this skill grows
Grade 2Include others actively; honor differences in culture, ability, and background; use welcoming language.
Grade 3Explain how differences make groups stronger; practice respectful language for all identities; fix small exclusions.
Grade 4Lead a small inclusion action; identify and address exclusion patterns in the classroom.
Grade 5Lead inclusion across multiple settings; advocate for peers who are excluded.
SoA-FAR

Fairness & Community Responsibility

Skill areasUnderstanding rules, rights, and responsibilities · Contributing to community norms · Fairness in group decisions · Taking on community roles and jobs · Connecting individual actions to the wider community

How this skill grows
Grade 2Understand the difference between rules, rights, and responsibilities; contribute to building and following class community norms.
Grade 3Distinguish rights from responsibilities; take on a community role; explain how rules help everyone.
Grade 4Examine fairness in group decisions; understand how individual responsibility affects community well-being.
Grade 5Participate in creating norms; connect individual actions to the broader community.
SoA-SRV

Kindness & Giving Back

Skill areasPerforming acts of kindness · Planning a contribution · Reflecting on impact · Contributing to school and community · Developing a giving mindset

How this skill grows
Grade 2Perform meaningful acts of kindness; contribute to class, school, and community through planned actions.
Grade 3Organize a small kindness action; reflect on its impact on others.
Grade 4Lead a class contribution project; notice and respond to community needs beyond the classroom.
Grade 5Plan and lead a school or community contribution initiative; reflect meaningfully on impact.
SoA-GRT

Gratitude & Appreciation

Skill areasNoticing what others contribute · Expressing genuine, specific thanks · Practicing a gratitude routine · Finding something to appreciate in hard situations · Building a grateful mindset over time

How this skill grows
Grade 2Notice what others contribute; express genuine thanks; begin a simple gratitude practice.
Grade 3Write or say specific appreciation to a classmate or teacher; reflect on what makes the class a good place.
Grade 4Recognize contribution at a group level; practice gratitude in challenging or frustrating situations.
Grade 5Build a regular gratitude habit; express appreciation in multiple forms; notice the positive in hard situations.

Relationship Skills

8 core skills · 164 standards
RS-COM

Communication & Listening

Skill areasActive listening · Speaking clearly and specifically · Using I-statements · Reading tone and body language · Giving and receiving feedback · Adapting communication to audience and purpose

How this skill grows
Grade 2Listen actively; use I-statements to share needs; read tone and body language; give and receive simple feedback.
Grade 3Choose words and tone for the situation; fix communication mix-ups respectfully.
Grade 4Sustain two-way conversations with questions and feedback; adapt communication style to audience.
Grade 5Lead small group discussions; adapt communication to purpose and audience; communicate respectfully in various contexts.
RS-TMW

Teamwork & Cooperation

Skill areasTaking on roles and contributing · Working toward shared goals · Solving problems cooperatively · Supporting teammates who are struggling · Reflecting on personal contribution to the team

How this skill grows
Grade 2Take on roles; work toward shared goals; solve simple problems cooperatively.
Grade 3Manage group tasks with clear roles; give and receive feedback within the team.
Grade 4Navigate group dynamics; support struggling teammates; evaluate team effectiveness.
Grade 5Lead a team toward a shared goal; manage conflict within the team; reflect on personal contribution.
RS-FRD

Making & Keeping Friends

Skill areasInitiating friendship · Building trust · Showing loyalty and appreciation · Repairing friendship ruptures · Navigating friendship challenges

How this skill grows
Grade 2Initiate friendships using simple social scripts; build trust through consistent behavior; show appreciation; repair small falling-outs.
Grade 3Maintain friendships through honest communication; navigate changing friend groups with flexibility.
Grade 4Navigate peer group dynamics; develop and sustain trust across multiple friendships simultaneously.
Grade 5Handle friendship challenges (jealousy, exclusion, loyalty conflicts) with maturity and repair skills.
RS-BDR

Boundaries & Personal Safety

Skill areasAsserting personal space and boundaries · Saying no clearly and confidently · Refusing peer pressure · Understanding body safety and consent · Recognizing and reporting unsafe situations

How this skill grows
Grade 2Assert personal space; say no clearly; refuse peer pressure; understand unsafe touch; know who to tell.
Grade 3Use assertive language in boundary situations; recognize and resist peer pressure using a toolkit.
Grade 4Maintain boundaries across multiple contexts; lead by example on personal space and safety norms.
Grade 5Navigate peer pressure in complex social situations; maintain safety boundaries consistently and assertively.
RS-CFR

Conflict Resolution & Repair

Skill areasCooling down before engaging · Talking it out respectfully · Finding a compromise · Apologizing genuinely · Repairing the relationship

How this skill grows
Grade 2Cool down first; talk it out using simple language; compromise; apologize; repair.
Grade 3Use a structured conflict process independently; name and understand both sides of the conflict.
Grade 4Negotiate fairly; initiate repair; reflect on what caused the conflict and what to do differently.
Grade 5Lead conflict resolution in a group; recognize when adult support is needed and access it appropriately.
RS-HLP

Asking for Help & Finding Support

Skill areasIdentifying trusted adults · Distinguishing problem sizes · Asking specifically for the help needed · Matching the help request to the right person · Accessing school and community resources

How this skill grows
Grade 2Name trusted adults; know the difference between small and big problems; ask for help when needed; know what an urgent need looks like.
Grade 3Ask for specific help; match the problem to the right person.
Grade 4Build a personal support network; know multiple trusted adults for different types of needs.
Grade 5Help peers identify and access support; understand the full range of school and community resources.
RS-BUL

Bullying Prevention & Bystander Skills

Skill areasRecognizing bullying and cyberbullying · Distinguishing bullying from conflict · Taking positive bystander action · Supporting targets of bullying · Reporting safely and effectively

How this skill grows
Grade 2Recognize bullying; understand it's different from a one-time mean act; take a simple bystander action; report safely.
Grade 3Distinguish bullying from conflict; support a target with words and actions; report without making things worse.
Grade 4Navigate complex bystander situations; understand how bystander silence enables bullying.
Grade 5Lead a positive school climate; model active upstander skills; support targets and report safely across contexts.
RS-ADV

Leadership & Standing Up for Others

Skill areasLeading inclusion in the classroom · Promoting kind and healthy choices among peers · Speaking up for peers who need support · Organizing a class initiative for inclusion or well-being · Modeling and building positive peer leadership

How this skill grows
Grade 2Lead simple inclusion actions; promote kind choices; speak up for a peer who needs support.
Grade 3Organize a small class initiative; support peers who are excluded or treated unfairly.
Grade 4Lead a class project focused on inclusion or well-being; build peer influence for positive norms.
Grade 5Develop a sustained peer leadership role; advocate for meaningful change at class or school level.

Responsible Decision-Making

5 core skills · 100 standards
RDM-CHO

Choices & Consequences

Skill areasIdentifying the available choices in a situation · Thinking through short-term consequences · Thinking through long-term consequences · Weighing the impact on others · Learning from past choice outcomes

How this skill grows
Grade 2Identify two or more choices; think about short and long-term effects; reflect on past outcomes.
Grade 3List pros and cons for choices; predict likely outcomes with reasoning.
Grade 4Consider the impact on self AND others; revisit and revise choices based on what happened.
Grade 5Navigate complex choices involving competing values, social pressure, and mixed outcomes.
RDM-PRB

Problem-Solving Steps

Skill areasDefining the problem clearly · Generating multiple options · Evaluating the options · Choosing and acting · Reflecting on the outcome

How this skill grows
Grade 2Use a structured five-step process (define → options → evaluate → choose → reflect) with teacher support.
Grade 3Apply the process to real classroom and social problems; use evidence to evaluate options.
Grade 4Consider multiple perspectives in the process; evaluate solutions for impact on others.
Grade 5Apply the full process independently to complex, multi-step problems with competing variables.
RDM-SAF

Personal Safety & Risk Awareness

Skill areasRecognizing risky situations · Knowing safety rules and procedures · Planning safe actions · Assessing levels of risk · Knowing when and how to report an unsafe situation

How this skill grows
Grade 2Spot risky situations; plan safe actions; follow safety rules and drills.
Grade 3Assess risk levels in common situations; know emergency procedures and who to contact.
Grade 4Evaluate risk across physical and social situations; plan ahead for multiple safety scenarios.
Grade 5Apply risk awareness to physical, social, and online contexts independently.
RDM-ETH

Honesty & Doing What's Right

Skill areasHonesty in choices · Fairness in decisions · Taking personal responsibility · Ethical reasoning in dilemmas · Academic integrity and ownership

How this skill grows
Grade 2Apply fairness and honesty in choices; take personal responsibility; respect others' rights.
Grade 3Explain an ethical choice with reasons; take responsibility without blame-shifting.
Grade 4Navigate dilemmas where honesty and kindness are in tension; understand group-level responsibility.
Grade 5Maintain integrity under social pressure; apply ethical reasoning to multi-person situations.
RDM-DIG

Digital Citizenship & Online Safety

Skill areasSafe online behavior · Protecting personal information · Responsible and ethical digital behavior · Media literacy (understanding messages and advertising) · Recognizing digital influence and persuasion

How this skill grows
Grade 2Practice safe and responsible online behavior; apply basic media literacy; begin to recognize digital influence.
Grade 3Protect personal information online; communicate respectfully in digital spaces.
Grade 4Evaluate online sources for reliability; understand how digital footprints are created and persist.
Grade 5Apply digital citizenship principles independently; recognize advertising, bias, and persuasion in media.

See these standards in action

Every SELcurve curriculum lesson is built on these standards — one core skill at a time, grade by grade.