FAQs

About Choose Love for Schools

What research has been done on the outcomes of the Choose Love Curriculum?

Of respondents (N=282) to the 2021 Choose Love Educator Impact Survey:

78% of educators reported students showing more COURAGE (trying new or difficult tasks, expressing themselves more, etc)
81% of educators reported students showing more GRATITUDE (appreciation, empathy, kindness)
73% of educators reported students showing more FORGIVENESS (less aggression, more self emotional control)
80% of educators reported an increase in COMPASSION-IN-ACTION (improved social skills, enhanced connections)
73% of educators reported students getting along better in their classrooms
73% of educators reported an improvement in students' attitudes
58% of educators reported increased academic success.
85% of educators say they enjoy teaching the program
77% of educators believe students enjoy the program
68% of educators report increased job satisfaction as a result of teaching Choose Love
91% of respondents believe the program is effective
84% of respondents reported an improvement in classroom climate since using Choose Love
81% of respondents reported an improvement in students' behavior since using Choose Love

You can find these, and additional studies, in this document.

Does the program align with Common Core standards?

Yes. Choose Love For Schools is aligned with CASEL, Common Core and ASCA and is the first SEL program to fully incorporate state of the art Character Social Emotional Development (CSED) model standards, while incorporating neuroscience and positive psychology to teach mindfulness, character, and emotional intelligence.

Does the program align with ASCA standards?

Does the program include character education (CSED?)

What is the impact of Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)?

The goal of the Choose Love For Schools is to teach SEL and provide children with the knowledge, attitude and skills they need to choose love in any situation. These abilities include:

Understanding and managing emotions (self-awareness and self-management)
Setting and achieving positive goals
Feeling and showing empathy and compassion for others (social awareness)
Establishing and maintaining positive social relationships, and
Making responsible decisions

More than 30 years of scientific research proves that children who had access to SEL curricula grow into more successful and healthy adults. Overall they have a deeper sense of self, commitment to community and learned compassion for others. This results in lower violent crime and incarceration rates, alcohol and drug abuse, and instances of mental illness.

Can this be used as a homeschool program?

This program is for all educators who want to positively impact their students’ lives and improve their teaching practice and classroom climates. Our program has been used by regular classroom teachers, special area teachers (art, music, homeroom/advisory), school counselors, school social workers, school psychologists, intervention and support personnel, and other paraprofessionals. It has been taught in individual classrooms, across grade levels as well as school-wide. It has been taught in regular classroom settings, through classroom guidance lessons, as well as in small groups. School counselors, social workers and psychologists may also find it useful to incorporate lesson content and skills taught in individual sessions with students. The Choose Love Enrichment Program can also be used in homeschool settings. If you have questions or would like to adapt the program, please contact us at info@jesselewischooselove.org.

What lessons are taught in the program?

The lessons were written for educators, by educators, and are evidence-based. The content of the lessons is based on research on emotional intelligence, resilience, posttraumatic growth, neuroscience, mindfulness/focused attention, and SEL. Special attention is paid to how our physical bodies (nerves, muscles, etc.), minds (the triune brain), and hearts (emotions) work in collaboration to promote health, learning, connection, and life success. The whole child—mind, heart, and body—is supported through these lessons. There are four units: Courage, Gratitude, Forgiveness, and Compassion. The units are taught in this order and all lessons fall under those four character values. Students will gain insight, information and essential skills in these four areas that will improve their confidence, promote positive decision-making, create and enhance communication, connection and relationships. Students learn skills that increase resiliency and promote their overall well-being and success, personally, socially, emotionally and academically. Through these four units the following CASEL competencies are addressed:

Self-Awareness: recognizing one’s emotions and values as well as one’s strengths and limitations;
Self- Management: managing emotions and behaviors to achieve one’s goals;
Social Awareness: showing understanding and empathy for others;
Relationship Skills: forming positive relationships, working in teams, dealing effectively with conflict;
Responsible Decision-Making: making ethical, constructive choices about personal and social behavior.

The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) is the world’s leading organization advancing the practice of promoting integrated academic, social, and emotional learning for all children in preschool through high school.

How long are the lessons?

In Elementary School, there are 14-16 lessons per unit. Elementary lessons are 20-30 minutes, but can easily be shortened or broken down into two lessons, or expanded to fit longer time frames. We also have supplementary materials that can be utilized to lengthen a lesson, add to a unit, and extend learning. The Middle School program consists of a 6th, 7th and 8th grade curriculum. There are 35 lessons for each of the four units in the Middle School Program, for a total of 140 lessons. Middle School lessons are between 10 and 20 minutes. This program was designed to be implemented in a daily homeroom/advisory period. However, we understand that some schools don’t have this dedicated time to teach it daily and cover all lessons. At the very least, we recommend you teach all of the brain blast lessons. Then, you can pepper in the power surges that best meet the needs of your students and schedule. The High School Program consists of a 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade curriculum. There are 28 total lessons for each grade level of the High School Program. High school lessons are approximately 10-15 minutes long, but can easily be extended as time allows. We pride ourselves on having a comprehensive and impactful program that is easy to implement and adaptable to varying schedules, environments and uses.

What kind of teacher training/ preparation is required?

The lessons are very user-friendly and were designed to be easy to teach with minimal prep and materials. We have provided you with all that you need to implement this program, which includes the curriculum as well as supplementary resources. We also provide no-cost online training where you can learn more about our character values that are the foundation of our program. Educators who have used the program found that teaching the Choose Love Enrichment Program was for them and their students, the favorite part of the day. You will find that you are learning essential skills right along with the students through lessons and discussions that are open, supportive, nurturing, and empowering.

Do you have studies showing the positive impact of this program on kids and classrooms?

Of respondents (N=282) to the 2021 Choose Love Educator Impact Survey:

78% of educators reported students showing more COURAGE (trying new or difficult tasks, expressing themselves more, etc)
81% of educators reported students showing more GRATITUDE (appreciation, empathy, kindness)
73% of educators reported students showing more FORGIVENESS (less aggression, more self emotional control)
80% of educators reported an increase in COMPASSION-IN-ACTION (improved social skills, enhanced connections)
73% of educators reported students getting along better in their classrooms
73% of educators reported an improvement in students' attitudes
58% of educators reported increased academic success.
85% of educators say they enjoy teaching the program
77% of educators believe students enjoy the program
68% of educators report increased job satisfaction as a result of teaching Choose Love
91% of respondents believe the program is effective
84% of respondents reported an improvement in classroom climate since using Choose Love
81% of respondents reported an improvement in students' behavior since using Choose Love

You can find these, and additional studies, in this document.

About the Choose Love Movement

What’s the story behind the rubber duck?

Jesse loved yellow rubber ducks. He had a big collection and would line them up during bath time. Here's an article from 2013 that discusses his love for the ducks, little army men, and more - click here. Because of this, it was easy for Scarlett to find a symbol/logo for the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement.

Do you have open positions/ are you hiring?

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What is the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement and why was it started?

Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement™ is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to create safer and more loving communities through groundbreaking next-generation social and emotional learning (SEL) programs that are suited for all stages of life.

Our signature program, Choose Love for Schools, is available as a no-cost Infant-Toddler, and Pre-K through 12th grade, character development and Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) program that teaches educators and their students how to choose love in any circumstance through wonderfully simple yet powerful themes and practices for the classroom that naturally evolve into a culture where students feel safe, nurtured, connected, and empowered.

Scarlett Lewis founded the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement™ shortly after her six-year-old son, Jesse Lewis, was murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut in December 2012, alongside 19 of his first-grade classmates and six educators in one of the worst mass shootings in U.S. history. Scarlett found out after the tragedy that Jesse used his final moments to heroically save nine of his friends.

Jesse left a message on their kitchen chalkboard, "Norturting Helinn Love" (Nurturing, Healing Love). When Scarlett learned that these words are included in the definition of "compassion" across all cultures, she realized that love, connection, and belonging are universal wants and needs that connect all of humanity.

The Choose Love Movement™ sparks an emotional connection that opens the hearts and minds of students as well as educators and other school staff, to fuel connection and stoke personal growth. The Choose Love Enrichment Program™ teaches critical social and emotional learning skills that improve school culture and cultivate an environment that is welcoming, supportive, compassionate, and safe.

The program has proven to be so successful in engaging students and schools that we have created extension programs to teach and help reinforce these character values outside of school, including on athletics teams, at home and throughout communities (Champions Choose Love, Choose Love For Home, Choose Love For Communities and Business Leaders.)

Here's the Making of a Movement video - click here.

What are your core values?

â€œNurturing, Healing Loveâ€ (the Formula for Choosing Love)

The three words first-grader Jesse Lewis wrote on his kitchen chalkboard shortly before he died, â€œNurturing, Healing Love,â€ serve as the foundational values for the organization. These words, â€œNurturing, Healing Loveâ€, are in the definition of compassion across all cultures. The meaning of each of the words form a profound and powerful formula for choosing love:

Â Â 1. Nurturing means loving kindness and gratitude.

Â Â 2. Healing means forgiveness.

Â Â 3. Love is compassion in action.

When you practice these three character values, in that order, you are choosing love.

Courage is also a core value, as Jesse courageously saved nine of his classmatesâ€™ lives before losing his own. Courage is an overarching concept as it takes courage to be grateful, especially when things arenâ€™t going your way. It takes courage to forgive, especially when the person who hurt you isnâ€™t sorry and it takes courage to step outside your own universe of busyness and pain to help others.

About Choose Love CONNECT

How Do I Contact Technical Support?

We are happy to assist you in any way we can. Please email us at support@jesselewischooselove.org and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

The username/password I registered with prior to July 2020 is no longer working?

Yes, to access our exciting new community and program portal we are requesting that everyone, including those who might have registered in the past, please complete the full registration form. Even if you see that your username and password are pre-filled in the form, please proceed to complete the registration and hit Submit in order to access the portal for the first time. Please contact support@jesselewischooselove.org if you are unable to access our new program portal after completely filling out the entire form.

Can you help me navigate your new website or the Choose Love CONNECT area?

Do you need help navigating our new site or the Choose Love CONNECT area? Below we've provided some great tips as well as a document that lays out our new Menu options.

Helpful steps when visiting the new Choose Love site:

When visiting our site, always check to see if you are logged in by looking to the upper right side of the page. If it says 'LOGOUT', then you are already logged in and good to go.
We have a new layout with an easy-to-access menu that is on the left side of the screen (it is only visible if you are logged in). It provides a menu of all our programs and more. This is where you need to select the program you wish to use.
If it is your first time accessing a program, you will need to click the orange button 'CLICK TO ENROLL' to access all links within the program. If you experience issues downloading, sometimes refreshing your browser can clear the issue. If not, please let us know by emailing info@jesselewischooselove.org.
Also, consider bookmarking our Program Menu for future reference.
Here's a link to a video tour designed for educators, administrators, and all instructors of the Choose Love program - click here

[pdf-embedder url="https://chooselovemovement.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Program-Portal-Navigation-3-Page.pdf" title="Program Portal Navigation 3 Page"]

Technical Support

How do I “clear my cache?”

Here's a little technical support tip: often, when you are visiting a website and the content doesn't load correctly or you have trouble logging in, you can try clearing your cache for an instant fix. Here is a handy article that includes pictures and instructions for every type of browser. If after clearing your cache and/or refreshing the page in question you are still not able to access the content you need, please provide as much detail as you can about the issue in an email to us and we'll help you as soon as possible.

A Note About Video Content

Wherever possible throughout the program, we provide links to videos (sing-alongs, read-alongs, interviews, experiments, short stories, etc.) and/or supporting content online to support your in-class and/or remote instruction environments. Because most of this content has been developed and/or made available to the public by 3rd parties who are not affiliated with the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement™, we have no way to control or guarantee the maintenance, safety, or availability of the content.

Although we thoroughly review and believe that all videos or other content, we reference is in keeping with the values and child-friendly messaging we promote as a movement prior to publishing the lesson, there is the possibility that it will be removed, edited, or otherwise made inaccessible by the content creator or technology platform where it is hosted. Or, you might not agree that this external content aligns with your school or classroom climate. Therefore, we encourage you to review all video and other external content in advance of each lesson to confirm it is appropriate and/or to give you an opportunity to search for a replacement.

If you find a link is no longer working, we would appreciate you
sending an email to support@chooselovemovement.org to let us know the
program, grade, unit (if applicable), and lesson.

About Choose Love for Home

Is Choose Love For Home made for parents or kids or both?

Do you have resources for parents to teach Choose Love to their kids?

About Funding

How do I donate?

Text: SEL to 41444

Online: Click Here

Mail Check:

Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement
PO Box 605
Newtown, Connecticut 06470

(Pay to the order of Jesse Lewis Choose Love Movement)

Where does my donation go?

The Jesse Lewis Choose Love Foundation was incorporated in the state of CT as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in January 2013. The organization continues to sustain and grow thanks to contributions from generous donors, grants, and fundraisers. We still have a long way to go to give every kid and adult worldwide access to social and emotional learning and facilitate this teaching in school, at home, in communities, at work and beyond! Please consider joining the Movement and being a part of the solution to the issues we face and, in turn, make this world a loving and more peaceful place!

The Choose Love Movement is now in all 50 states and 90 countries, impacting more than 2 million children.
In 2019, we added new extension programs including Champions Choose Love for coaches and student-athletes, Healthy Grieving for Kids, Teens and Adults, updated all supplementary materials, and made updates to the curriculum.
We held a poetry contest as part of the 5th annual Choose Love Social & Emotional Learning Awareness Month in February with more than 300 entries from throughout the world.

Help us do more:

Keep the program at no cost! While the Choose Love Enrichment Program has no cost for educators and others to download and implement, donations cover costs to the Movement, including updates to the materials, development of new content and evaluations.

Expand into additional communities around the globe where the program and Jesse's message is desperately needed in, for example, communities that have experienced trauma or high rates of violence, and underserved and low-income areas.

Create and expand extension programs, which will spread a consistent message of choosing love beyond the classroom and into our communities, homes, and workplaces (see additional programs here).

Click here to donate!

Other ways to help – Give a Gift of Love!

Want to be part of the solution, but not sure how to help? You can now gift a Choose Love Kit and bring social-emotional learning to a classroom of your choice! Click the kit below of the amount you would like to donate to find out more details.

Once you add the selection to the cart, you will need to provide the shipping address for the teacher and school you would like to send the gift to. Or send the kit to yourself and present it in person! If you have any questions about your purchase or the e-store, please send inquiries to info@jesselewischooselove.org.

Program Training and Support

Do you offer Professional Development?

Yes, we currently offer a self-paced, online course for no charge that offers a certificate of completion based on 3 hours of professional development. It is called the Educator Training Course, and after you register you can access it here. Your Certificate of Completion with 3 hours of PD time on it will be emailed to you when you've finished the course.

We also offer fee-based Certified Coaching & Training.

Why is it important that we hire “Certified” Choose Love Coaches and Trainers?

We have been so fortunate over the years to have gained raving fans and supporters of our programming who have familiarized themselves with our courses and can be of assistance to those who need extra support. We certainly could not have achieved the Choose Love curriculum being taught in more than 110 countries around the world without their support!

However, if you are planning to invest in support for Choose Love programming, we encourage you to consider using our Trainers and Coaches who have gone through the Certification process with us. This will guarantee that they are well versed not only in the most up-to-date version of our programs and best practices for implementation, but also with the latest practices, applications and developments in our industry.