Emozi® MS2

Emozi® High School Teacher Training

Questions or issues? Email us at: support@emozi.net

Module 1: Pre-Course work and Emozi® Introduction

To prepare you for successful completion of the module, you will be asked to complete the licensing agreement, rate your Character Development knowledge, read an article about the importance of teaching Character Development in High School, and answer a few questions about the article. You will then move onto the introduction to the Emozi® program by watching two presentations. Please complete these tasks:

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Module 2: Character Development Basics

In order to build students' knowledge of Character Development, this section will help educators build their own knowledge first! In this module you will need to complete:

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Module 3: Instructions to Teaching Emozi®

Every Emozi® High Schoollesson follows a consistent structure to build predictability and support classroom engagement. Each lesson is designed to last one class period, though timing can be adapted.

Steps in Each Lesson

    Materials

    Teachers receive a student worksheet for each lesson. Some lessons also require chart paper, markers, or optional digital access. Materials are minimal and easy to prepare.

    Brainstorm

    Lessons begin by activating prior knowledge. Students are prompted with open-ended questions that connect to their lived experiences. Example: “What do you know about character development?” or “Can you think of a time you said or did something you regretted?”

    Discuss

    The teacher leads a short whole-class discussion, validating student input and introducing the lesson's focus. Prompts are provided in the teacher guide. Discussions set the stage for deeper exploration.

    Dive In

    The teacher provides detail, definitions, and examples using the teacher script. For example, explaining the Seven Strategies of Character Development or the SCOPE-IT self-regulation process. This section builds background knowledge and introduces key concepts.

    Activity

    Students work individually, in pairs, or groups on interactive tasks—completing worksheets, role-playing, designing visuals (flags, mantras, or charts), or researching examples. Activities emphasize application, not rote learning.

    Reflect

    Each lesson closes with reflection questions. Students may write or share responses, focusing on personal application: “Which of these strategies would help you most, and why?” or “How could you have handled this situation differently using SCOPE-IT?”

Embedded Professional Development

Teachers are encouraged to pause and reflect during lessons. Each teacher guide includes a Professional Development prompt (5 minutes) to deepen educator self-awareness. Examples:

  • Reflect on your own use of positive self-talk.
  • Identify your core values and how you model them in class.
  • Consider how you embrace diversity in your classroom community.

This built-in PD ensures teachers grow alongside students and strengthens fidelity of implementation.

For Further Study

Each lesson includes resources for teachers who want to extend learning. These might be:

  • Research articles or psychology resources (e.g., Positive Psychology, Edutopia).
  • TED Talks or podcasts (e.g., Lisa Feldman Barrett on emotions, Carol Dweck on growth mindset).
  • Classroom-ready links to empathy, diversity, or self-regulation activities.

Administrators can encourage staff to use these links for enrichment or PLC discussions.

Home Connection Letters

Every unit includes Home Connection Letters that summarize the lesson focus, provide guiding questions for families, and invite parents to reinforce character skills at home. Examples:

  • Asking about values and role models.
  • Sharing self-regulation strategies like SCOPE-IT.
  • Encouraging family members to notice and celebrate character strengths.

These letters strengthen the school-home partnership and reinforce consistency in students' character development journey.

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Module 4: Constructionist View of Emotion

In this section, you will gain a deeper understanding on what the research says about how the brain works in relation to Character Development by reading selected excerpts from The Social Emotional Classroom: A New Way to Nurture Students and Understanding the Brain. To successfully conclude this module, participants will complete the following activities:

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Module 5: Routines and Strategies

In this section, you will gain a deeper understanding of the routines and strategies used throughout the Emozi® Curriculum. Please review the following strategies:

Core Anchor Routine: SCOPE-IT

At the heart of Emozi® High School is the SCOPE-IT self-regulation and problem-solving strategy, which is woven throughout multiple lessons and units.

  • S - Stop: Pause before reacting; take a breath.
  • C - Consider: Notice your feelings, context, values, and facts.
  • O - Options: Generate multiple possible responses, including “do nothing” or “ask for help.”
  • P - Plan: Choose the option that aligns with values and goals.
  • E - Evaluate: Reflect on the outcome and unintended effects.
  • I - Insights: Ask, What did I learn about myself and others?
  • T - Transform: Apply that learning to how I want to show up in the world.
➡️ Administrator note: SCOPE-IT is the single most important routine to reinforce across the school. It should become shared language among staff and students for decision-making and behavior coaching.

Classroom Routines & Strategies

1. Brainstorm → Discuss → Dive In → Activity → Reflect

Every high school lesson follows this predictable routine:

  • Brainstorm: Activates prior knowledge, builds relevance.
  • Discuss: Teacher-facilitated conversation connects student input to key ideas.
  • Dive In: Teacher script introduces essential content (e.g., growth mindset, emotional granularity, integrity).
  • Activity: Students apply concepts through structured tasks (e.g., group work, worksheets, designing visuals, research).
  • Reflect: Students personalize learning by writing or sharing a reflection.
➡️ Administrator note: This structure keeps lessons consistent across subjects, reducing prep load for teachers and building reliability for students.

2. Emotion and Thinking Strategies

Drawn from Lisa Feldman Barrett's neuroscience and built into multiple Grade 9-10 lessons:

  • Emotional Granularity: Teaching students to name emotions with precision (beyond “happy” or “mad”) to improve regulation.
  • Visualization: Students mentally rehearse success in academics, relationships, or goals.
  • Growth Mindset: Encouraging perseverance and reframing challenges as opportunities to grow.
➡️ Administrator note: These strategies are embedded throughout Grade 9 and 10, setting a foundation for emotional regulation and resilience.

3. Values-Based Strategies

In Grades 9-11, students explore:

  • Core Values Identification: Naming and prioritizing personal values.
  • Integrity in Action: Applying values in ethical dilemmas (e.g., honesty, responsibility).
  • Point of View / Empathy Building: Using structured activities (e.g., 3-2-1 partner interviews) to expand perspective-taking.
➡️ Administrator note: Values work provides a consistent thread for advisory, counseling, and discipline conversations.

4. Self-Management Strategies

Grade 10-12 lessons emphasize practical tools for managing stress, health, and focus:

  • Body Budget: Teaching how sleep, exercise, nutrition, and hydration impact emotions and decision-making.
  • Stress Management Routines: Using mandalas, zentangles, and other creative practices to reduce anxiety.
  • Positive Self-Talk: Practicing reframing inner dialogue to build self-confidence.
  • Optimism: Reframing pessimistic thoughts into more constructive ones.
  • Avoiding Addiction: Recognizing “positive addictions” (exercise, journaling, music) versus negative ones.
➡️ Administrator note: These strategies are concrete, transferable skills that connect to health, PE, and counseling programs.

5. Social and Ethical Decision-Making Strategies

By Grades 11-12, lessons expand into higher-level strategies:

  • Media Literacy: Critically analyzing social media, TV, and online influence.
  • Advocacy & Social Justice: Identifying personal values and learning to act responsibly in community contexts.
  • Leadership & Collaboration: Applying character strategies to team projects, school clubs, and civic engagement.
➡️ Administrator note: These strategies align with college/career readiness competencies and can be integrated into advisory, leadership, or service-learning programs.

Teacher Growth and Support

    Each lesson includes a Professional Development reflection for teachers (5 minutes). Example: “What are your favorite healthy ways to de-stress? How do you model these for students?”

    For Further Study links (articles, TED Talks, Positive Psychology, Edutopia) extend professional learning.

    Home Connection Letters (in each unit) communicate strategies to families, encouraging reinforcement of values and SCOPE-IT at home.

✅ Summary for Teachers

    The non-negotiable anchor is SCOPE-IT, reinforced by consistent lesson routines and strategies such as emotional vocabulary, growth mindset, body budget, stress management, and values-based decision-making. Teachers should:

    • Encourage common language (especially SCOPE-IT).
    • Model strategies.
    • Highlight home connections and family engagement.
    • Monitor fidelity using the lesson structure as a reference point.

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Module 6: Wrap Up

As we conclude the Emozi® High School Teacher Training, it is important to reflect on the progress we’ve made together. You have explored the foundations of character development, learned the structure of lesson delivery, and discovered the routines, and strategies, to make Emozi® sustainable in your classroom. Implementation at the high school level centers on fidelity of teaching the lessons and consistent use of the SCOPE-IT strategy. While there will be no summative quiz or end-of-course survey, we encourage you to take time to reflect on the knowledge and tools gained through this training and consider how you will apply them in your classroom. Your leadership is key to ensuring Emozi® is implemented with integrity and sustained over time, creating lasting impact for students.

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Module 7: Additional Video Resources

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