CharacterStrong
Middle School Curriculum
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A curriculum proven to positively impact connection, mental health, and engagement
Why CharacterStrong?
A curriculum built by educators for educators
- Research-backed and vertically-aligned 6th through 8th grade.
- 35 plug-and-play core lessons per grade level.
- Evidence-based approach to implementation.
- Policy programming lessons include bullying prevention, personal safety and abuse prevention, including Erin's Law, mental health and suicide prevention, and digital citizenship.
- Includes school-wide challenges that can positively impact a school's culture and climate.
- Easy to implement for any and all staff members.
- Future Ready includes 11 Tier 1 lessons on life skills, career exploration, collaboration, communication, and responsible decision-making.
- Tier 1 slide deck lessons available in 50+ languages.
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Relevant, Easy-to-Use, Research-Backed
Incorporate life skills & character development into a busy schedule with 3 different scope and sequence options organized into aligned units, with 100+ lessons that are designed for educators of any subject and comfort level with minimal prep required.
View the Scope & Sequence
Establish a strong foundation of research-backed life skills among students by teaching healthy habit development, social skill development, regulation strategies, and more.
Alignment Documents
Effectively reach students with pre-built slide decks, activities, videos, interactive games, and more for both in-person and virtual learning environments.
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Engage on a New Level
Strengthen student participation with meaningful conversations and exercises that were developed in direct collaboration with a 30-person middle school student advisory committee.
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All-In Package
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Common Questions About Life Skills and Character Education in Middle School
1. What life skills should middle school students learn?
Middle school students benefit from learning life skills that help them manage emotions, build relationships, and make responsible decisions in increasingly complex social and academic situations. These skills often include emotional regulation, self-management, communication, conflict resolution, goal setting, empathy, and decision-making.
At the middle school level, students are also learning how to handle peer pressure, increased independence, and a stronger need for belonging. Teaching life skills during these years helps students build confidence, improve relationships, and stay engaged in school.
CharacterStrong's middle school curriculum helps schools teach these essential skills in ways that feel relevant and age-appropriate, while also connecting them to character traits like responsibility, perseverance, and respect.
2. How do you teach life skills in middle school?
Schools teach life skills in middle school most effectively through direct instruction, discussion, and practice in situations students actually experience. Students are more likely to develop these skills when lessons are engaging, relevant, and connected to real-life challenges like friendships, conflict, stress, and decision-making.
Many schools teach life skills through advisory, homeroom, counseling lessons, or classroom-based instruction. Strong programs provide ready-to-use lessons, videos, and activities that help students talk about real situations and practice new strategies in a safe environment.
CharacterStrong's middle school curriculum supports this by giving educators structured lessons that help students build life skills through meaningful conversations, interactive activities, and middle-school-relevant content.
3. How can schools increase student engagement in middle school?
Schools increase student engagement in middle school by making learning feel relevant, relational, and meaningful. Middle school students are more engaged when they feel connected to adults, experience a sense of belonging, and see that lessons relate to the real challenges they are facing.
Engagement also improves when schools intentionally teach life skills that help students participate in discussions, build relationships, and manage emotions. Lessons that use student voice, relevant examples, and interactive activities are especially effective at this age.
CharacterStrong's middle school curriculum was designed to help schools strengthen student engagement through meaningful conversations, practical life skills, and lessons developed with middle school students in mind. When students feel seen, supported, and involved, engagement grows.
4. What is the most effective way to prevent bullying in middle school?
The most effective way to prevent bullying in middle school is to combine clear schoolwide expectations with direct instruction in relationship skills, conflict resolution, empathy, and respectful communication. Bullying prevention works best when schools focus on building a positive culture, not just reacting after harm happens.
Middle school students need support in understanding how their words and actions affect others, how to respond to peer conflict, and how to seek help when needed. Schools are more successful when bullying prevention is taught proactively and consistently.
CharacterStrong includes bullying prevention lessons as part of its middle school curriculum, helping schools teach the skills and behaviors that support safer, more respectful school communities.
5. How can schools support students with emotional regulation?
Schools can support students with emotional regulation by teaching them how to recognize emotions, understand triggers, and use strategies to respond in healthy ways. Emotional regulation is a skill that develops over time, and students benefit from repeated instruction, modeling, and practice.
Effective support often includes helping students identify what they are feeling, pause before reacting, communicate emotions appropriately, and use practical tools like breathing, reflection, or problem-solving strategies. Schools that teach these skills proactively often see improvements in focus, behavior, and peer relationships.
CharacterStrong's middle school curriculum helps students build emotional regulation through structured lessons, real-world discussion, and activities that support self-awareness, self-management, and healthy decision-making.
6. How much is CharacterStrong?
CharacterStrong pricing varies based on your school or district's size, the grade levels you're serving, and which solutions you're implementing. Most schools purchase CharacterStrong as a school-wide or district-wide license, which includes access to curriculum, resources, and ongoing support.
Because every school's needs are different, pricing is customized to ensure you get the right level of support and access for your students and staff. Many schools also use grant funding or multi-year plans to support implementation.
The best way to get accurate pricing is to request a quote. Our team will learn about your goals, grade levels, and implementation plans, and provide a clear recommendation and pricing that fits your school or district.
7. How do I reduce behavior issues in middle school?
Schools reduce behavior issues in middle school most effectively when they teach the skills behind the behavior, not just respond to the behavior itself. Many behavior challenges are connected to unmet skill needs in areas like emotional regulation, communication, conflict resolution, and decision-making.
When students are taught how to manage frustration, resolve conflict, and make responsible choices, they are better equipped to respond appropriately in difficult situations. Schools also see stronger results when behavior support is paired with positive relationships, consistent expectations, and a sense of belonging.
CharacterStrong helps schools take this proactive approach by teaching middle school students the life skills that improve behavior, strengthen peer relationships, and create a more positive school culture.
8. What is the best middle school character education or social emotional learning curriculum?
The best middle school character education or social emotional learning curriculum helps students build practical skills they can use every day at school and in life. Strong programs typically teach emotional regulation, healthy relationships, responsible decision-making, conflict resolution, and goal setting through lessons that feel relevant to middle school students.
Schools often look for curricula that are research-based, easy for educators to implement, engaging for students, and flexible enough to fit into advisory, homeroom, or classroom instruction. The strongest programs also help schools improve behavior, strengthen belonging, and create a more positive school culture.
CharacterStrong's middle school curriculum is designed specifically for this stage of development. It combines life skills instruction with character development through engaging lessons, videos, and activities that help students practice the skills they need to navigate friendships, manage emotions, and make responsible choices.
9. What are ways to improve school attendance for middle schoolers?
Schools improve attendance for middle schoolers by helping students feel connected, supported, and engaged in school. A strong sense of belonging is one of the most important drivers of attendance, especially during the middle school years when many students are navigating social pressure, stress, and a changing sense of identity.
Attendance often improves when students have positive relationships with adults, feel successful in their environment, and believe school is a place where they matter. Teaching life skills and strengthening school culture can support this by helping students build confidence, relationships, and engagement.
CharacterStrong's middle school curriculum supports attendance by helping schools create environments where students feel known, respected, and connected to their school community.
10. How do I get staff bought in to teach life skills?
Staff are more likely to buy in to teaching life skills when they understand why the work matters, see that the materials are practical, and feel supported in implementation. Educators want to know that the lessons will help students, fit into the school day, and not create unnecessary extra work.
Buy-in increases when schools provide clear expectations, strong leadership support, and ready-to-use materials that make implementation realistic. It also helps when educators can see how life skills instruction supports classroom behavior, relationships, engagement, and overall school culture.
CharacterStrong supports educator buy-in by providing professional learning so they can train staff not only on how to deliver the curriculum, but also why it's important to teach.
11. What makes a life skills or character education curriculum good for middle schoolers?
A strong middle school curriculum should help students navigate friendships, manage emotions, make responsible decisions, and develop a sense of belonging at school. CharacterStrong's middle school curriculum helps schools teach these essential life skills through engaging lessons, videos, and activities designed specifically for the middle school years.
It's more than a curriculum, it's a culture.
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