‘Mindful Mondays’: Social, emotional learning curriculum implemented at Anthony ISD

ANTHONY, Texas -- Students social and emotional well-being is top of mind for schools across the Borderland, so much so that Anthony ISD is making sure there are lessons targeted toward that issue in the classroom.

Every Monday is "Mindful Monday" for students in elementary, middle and high school. Students take part in Character Strong, a curriculum created by a national program under the same name that focuses on students mental well-being.

Students work on things like empathy kindness and how to treat others with respect. they also work on managing their emotions and needs, and have a chance to check in with themselves mentally.

Anthony ISD started taking part in this back in 2019. One teacher ABC-7 spoke with said it has played a big role throughout the pandemic. 

“A lot of manners are forgotten during middle school years," said Rebecca Acuña, a middle school teacher at Anthony Middle. "A lot of the kids came back after COVID lacking social skills, because they were by themselves...“I feel like this gives them a lot of tools to use, so that they can know how to react, especially when there's negative situations.” 

Eighth grade student Jaden Barron said she's been able to apply some of the lessons she's learned in her everyday life including once while she was about take a science test.

”I was nervous, am I going pass it or am I going fail it I was so stressed, but when I remember what I learned from Character Strong, I was able to control my emotions taking deep breaths in and out," Barron said.

To learn more about Character Strong, click here.