From feelings
SEL Foundation
K–2
Social-emotional stories grounded in classroom reality — emotions, self-regulation, peer skills, and safe behavior.
210+ resources
Explore SEL FoundationLearning System
Emotional struggle isn't a mistake.
It's a skill waiting to be taught.
Every child is doing their best with the skills they have so far. When feelings run big in the classroom, the answer isn't shame — it's a story, a name for the feeling, and a habit to practice. That is what SELKID builds, one read-aloud at a time.
Built on the CASEL Framework and delivered through Rex & Dino stories — a published SEL matrix for K–2, thinking skills, and a flagship AI cognition series for Grades 3–6.
5CASEL competencies
228+Resources on TPT
6AI Cognition units
Brand progression
From feelings, to thinking, to the future
To thinking
Thinking Skills
K–2
Cognitive fables that bridge SEL and judgment — gather clues, slow down, listen to more than one side, see the whole picture.
12+ resources
Explore Thinking SkillsTo the future
AI Cognition
3–6 · Flagship · Season 1 live
Rex & Dino's Big AI Ideas — flagship R&D series on how AI learns, why it fails, and why human judgment still matters.
6+ resources
Explore AI CognitionRooted in the CASEL Framework
SEL Foundation stories map to all five U.S. SEL core competencies — then drill down by classroom domain.
SEL story domains
Waiting & Turn-Taking 9 stories Patience, boredom, transitions, going first Speaking & Blurting 71 stories Interrupting, calling out, impulse to speak Emotional Regulation 79 stories Big feelings, anger, volume, calming down Body Boundaries & Safety 11 stories Hands, hitting, personal space, consent Friendship & Repair 12 stories Apologies, conflict, fairness, inclusion Task & Executive Function 22 stories Starting work, transitions, finishing tasks
CASEL · The professional standard for SEL in U.S. schools
Professional SEL, translated into stories
SELKID is built around the five core competencies defined by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) — then translated into kid-sized stories for real K–2 classrooms.
Learn about CASEL ↗Start with CASEL
Each resource targets an evidence-based competency — self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, or responsible decision-making.
Find the classroom moment
We break competencies into scenarios, triggers, emotions, and teachable skills — the moments teachers actually see on the carpet, in line, or at recess.
Deliver through story
Rex & Dino social stories give children a narrative mirror, discussion prompts, and practice — Story → Discussion → Activity → Reflection.
CASEL 5 core competencies
↓ classroom moments
SELKID matrix Scenario × Trigger × Emotion × Skill
↓ story delivery
210+ stories read-alouds & activities
The abilities to understand one's own emotions, thoughts, and values and how they influence behavior across contexts.
In K–2: Naming feelings, noticing body signals, recognizing strengths and limits
SELKID approach: Stories help children pause and identify what is happening inside before they act — the Feeling Thermometer, calm-down cues, and "name it to tame it" moments.
- Big feelings at carpet
- Noticing when volume rises
- Knowing when you need a break
The abilities to manage one's emotions, thoughts, and behaviors effectively in different situations and to achieve goals.
In K–2: Impulse control, waiting, transitions, calming strategies, task persistence
SELKID approach: Our largest story lane — waiting tokens, raise-hand routines, safe hands, and finish-what-you-start scripts for independent work.
- Blurting during sharing
- Waiting in line
- Stopping when the timer rings
The abilities to understand the perspectives of and empathize with others, including those from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
In K–2: Personal space, reading others' feelings, inclusion, fairness
SELKID approach: Stories place Rex in group situations where he must notice how his body and words land on classmates — space bubbles, listening faces, and left-out moments.
- Personal space on the rug
- A friend looks sad
- Game rules feel unfair
The abilities to establish and maintain healthy and supportive relationships and to navigate settings with diverse individuals and groups.
In K–2: Cooperation, turn-taking, apologies, repair after conflict, communication
SELKID approach: Friendship repair stories, fair-turn games, and apologize-and-fix scripts — because peer relationships are where SEL is tested every day.
- Saying sorry after grabbing
- Sharing materials fairly
- Rejoining group work
The abilities to make caring and constructive choices about personal behavior and social interactions across situations.
In K–2: Choices and consequences, flexible thinking, trying again after mistakes
SELKID approach: When plans change or mistakes happen, stories model a next-step choice — flexible thinking, problem-solving, and our Thinking Skills bridge into judgment.
- Hearing "no" calmly
- Trying a new way
- Fixing a mistake after blurting
SEL methodology
From CASEL competency to classroom moment
Once you know the CASEL lane, SELKID's matrix helps you find the exact story — by scenario, trigger, emotion, and skill.
What we believe
For every child, emotional struggle isn't a mistake — it's a skill waiting to be taught.
Scenario × Trigger × Emotion × Skill
SELKID SEL Matrix
SELKID starts from a simple belief: big feelings aren't bad behavior; they're skills still learning to grow. From there we use the CASEL Framework — the professional standard for SEL in U.S. schools — and map each competency into classroom scenarios, triggers, emotions, and teachable skills. That is how 200+ stories form one queryable system.
Every SELKID story maps to one or more CASEL core competencies — the same framework used by schools and districts across the United States.
Scenario
Where does this happen?
Trigger
What sets the moment off?
Emotion
What does the child feel?
Skill
What habit are we building?
Mapped to CASEL — query by competency
Each story is cross-tagged; browse the full CASEL framework or filter below.
Query the full SEL catalog Try: Blurting at carpet Thinking Skills catalog
Delivery model
Story → Discussion → Activity → Reflection
Every SELKID resource follows the same classroom rhythm teachers can use immediately.
Story
Comic or read-aloud introduces the skill through Rex & Dino in Maple Forest.
Discussion
Guiding questions help children name the problem in their own words.
Activity
Printable practice turns the idea into something students can try.
Reflection
Exit prompts connect the story to classroom and home life.
For educators
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