Social Emotional Learning

Sown to Grow integrates four components annually:

• Beginning-of-year self-assessment
• Weekly SEL lessons
• Weekly journal reflections
• End-of-year self-assessment

Students spend no more than 10 minutes considering statements about the fi ve core SEL areas and their sense of belonging at school. Students identify how often each statement feels true for them. The results help teachers understand students’ strengths, plan instruction, and determine whether a student may benefit from additional support.

The self-assessment is not used for grades. Students may skip any statements based on their comfort

A typical lesson includes brief teacher-led instruction, class discussion, practice with classmates, and individual refl ection. For example, students may learn to recognize frustration, practice calming strategies, and choose an approach for handling a challenging situation.

Following each SEL lesson, students select an emoji to share how they are doing, respond to a prompt about their learning, and may share anything else they would like their teacher to know.

The weekly journal creates an ongoing line of communication between students and their classroom teacher, who reads and responds to entries. Students can also review their refl ections, well-being trends, and teacher feedback over time. This consistent routine strengthens relationships and helps students feel connected and heard.

Educators can use refl ection patterns to better understand individual and classroom needs and identify concerns that may require additional support. Sown To Grow does not have a chatbot or respond directly to students in any way. MMSD educators make all decisions about communication, follow-up, and student support.

Students respond to the same statements they considered at the beginning of the year. This allows students and teachers to refl ect on changes over time, recognize areas of growth, and identify skills that may need continued attention. Schools also review the results to understand how students experienced social emotional learning and belonging, evaluate the effectiveness of instruction, and plan future lessons and supports. The self-assessment takes no more than 10 minutes and is not used for grades. Students may skip any statement based on their comfort.

Technology use within Sown to Grow is limited and purpose-driven. SEL lessons are teacher-led and do not require technology. Students develop social-emotional skills through conversation, connection, teacher modeling, and practice with others, not through a screen.

Students use a Chromebook briefl y to complete a weekly journal refl ection of about three minutes and beginning- and end-of-year self-assessments totaling about 20 minutes annually. This technology supports refl ection and communication with teachers; it does not replace the relationships at the heart of SEL.

Student reflections are private and are not visible to classmates. They may be accessed by the student, the student’s teacher, and authorized MMSD staff who need the information to administer the program or support the student. Consistent with MMSD Board Policy 4151, staff may access student refl ections only when they have a legitimate educational interest.

Students do not interact with Artifi cial Intelligence. Sown to Grow does not include a student chatbot. Tools available to educators may:

• Identify common themes in reflections
• Offer teachers optional response suggestions
• Flag language that may indicate a student needs support

These tools do not write or change student refl ections, communicate directly with students, diagnose students, determine services, or decide what follow-up a student receives.

Any response sent to a student is reviewed and personally sent by a teacher. No response is sent automatically. If a concern is fl agged, an alert is sent to the principal and Student Services Team. Trained MMSD educators review the information and determine whether follow-up or support is appropriate using established procedures.

Student responses help educators understand students’ school experiences, provide meaningful feedback, and offer support when needed. Access is limited to authorized individuals who need the information to administer the program or support students.

Sown to Grow collects only the information needed to operate the program. Student information is not sold or used for advertising or marketing. Information may be shared only as authorized by MMSD and subject to applicable agreements and privacy requirements. Data is encrypted, stored on secure U.S.-based servers, and protected through regular security testing.

Sown to Grow has earned the Common Sense Privacy Verified Seal and participates in recognized student data privacy initiatives.

Families may contact their child’s teacher to review the SEL scope and sequence, sample lessons, and classroom activities. Every lesson has a Caregiver Connection that offers additional activities and resources to continue the conversation at home. The Sown to Grow website also provides a curriculum overview, sample lessons, and demonstration videos.

Families may contact their child’s teacher to review the statements students will be asked to consider. The self-assessments focus on the five core SEL areas and students’ sense of belonging at school. Students respond to the same statements at the beginning and end of the year so growth can be recognized over time. The Sown to Grow website also provides an assessment overview and sample statements.

Weekly reflections focus on students’ learning, strengths, goals, school experiences, and support needs. They give students a consistent way to communicate with their teacher and help teachers understand when encouragement, feedback, or additional support may be helpful.

Weekly reflections focus on students’ learning, strengths, goals, school experiences, and support needs.

Example questions include:

• What is something you are good at? How did you use that strength this week?
• What went well this week? What felt challenging?
• What are your favorite activities? Did you do any of them this week?
• What is one goal you have this year? What strategies could help you reach it?
• What is something you want to improve? What could you do next week to continue growing?
• How are you feeling about the school year? What is going well, and where would you like support?

Families may contact their child’s teacher to review additional examples. The Sown to Grow website also provides sample prompts and examples of the student reflection experience.

Students will not be asked about their own or their family’s:

• Political affiliations
• Sexual behavior or attitudes
• Mental or psychological needs

Weekly SEL lessons are part of the core curriculum. Participation in the beginning- and end-of-year self-assessments and weekly journal refl ections is voluntary. Students may skip any question, self-assessment, or journal refl ection without penalty. Families may request a reasonable accommodation based on a student’s sincerely held religious beliefs under MMSD Board Policy 4039.

Requests should be submitted in writing to the student’s principal. Participation in Sown to Grow will be adjusted in accordance with the approved accommodation.

Your child can still fully participate in SEL instruction. SEL lessons do not require student technology. When technology is used for weekly journal refl ections or self-assessments, the school will provide another way for your child to participate.