These prompts are taken from 50 Days of SEL and Metacognition Writing Prompts for Middle School, a resource that includes a comprehensive set of prompts covering all six areas as well as student self-reflection rubrics and implementation guides.
You can also find metacognitive prompts. as well as.
social navigation
- Describe a time when you had to work with someone whose approach was very different from your own. What have you learned about collaboration?
- Think of a group to which you belong. This could be a team, a class, a friend group. What are the unspoken rules in that group and how did you learn them?
- When you disagree with a friend, how do you decide whether to speak up or let it go?
- What does it look like when someone is included? What does it look like when someone is left out without anything obvious happening?
self conscious
- What emotions do you feel most often during a typical school day? Where do you notice it in your body?
- Describe something you are good at but had to work hard to learn. When you encounter difficulties, what keeps you going?
- What’s the first thing you usually think about when you make a mistake? Is this idea helpful or unhelpful?
- How have you changed in yourself over the past year? What’s one thing that remains the same?
self-discipline
- What do you usually do when you feel overwhelmed? Is it helpful so far? Will it help in the future?
- Think back to a time when you wanted to react strongly but chose not to. What makes you stop?
- Describe your ideal focusing environment. What makes it easier or harder for you to focus?
embodied consciousness
- Where do you first notice stress in your body? How do you know the difference between feeling nervous and excited?
- How does your body feel after staring at a screen for so long? How do you feel after going out?
- Think of a time when your body told you something—like a gut feeling—before your mind could catch up. what happened?
decision making
- Describe a recent decision you made that turned out well. What information did you consider before making your decision?
- When you have to make a choice and you’re not sure what to do, who or what do you turn to for guidance?
- Think back to a time when you made a decision quickly but then wished you had slowed down. What would you do differently?
Reflection without resolution
- Write down something in your life that you feel uncertain about right now. You don’t have to solve it—just describe the feeling of uncertainty.
- Is there a question you’ve been thinking about but don’t seem to have a clear answer? What makes it difficult for us to answer?
- Describe an indescribable feeling you’ve had recently. What was the situation like at that time? What does this feeling seem to be telling you?
information
These prompts are taken from 50 Days of SEL and Metacognition Writing Prompts for Middle School, a resource that includes a comprehensive set of prompts covering all six areas as well as student self-reflection rubrics and implementation guides.
Product overview
50 SEL Journal Tips Middle School (grades 6-8) has built-in, student-friendly self-reflection rubrics. This course covers six SEL areas aligned with CASEL competencies. Includes Google Slides and printable PDF.
describe
This resource includes 50 reflective writing prompts designed to help middle school students develop social-emotional skills through structured journaling. Each prompt encourages students to explore their own thoughts and emotions without pressure to draw concise conclusions. A specialized category—Unresolved Reflection—contains prompts that support noticing, processing, and sitting in complexity.
Prompts should be written to be accessible, age-appropriate, and flexible to suit a variety of classroom settings, including consultations, morning meetings, and weekly journaling routines.
Trauma Awareness Approach
Trauma in the classroom is more common than is often visible. It may result from a single event or ongoing situation that exceeds the student’s ability to process, integrate, and self-regulate. These experiences may impact emotional regulation, engagement, self-concept, and relationships at school.
This resource has been designed with trauma awareness teaching in mind. While some prompts may be suitable for group sharing, other prompts (and some students) may benefit from keeping their writing private. Prompts are intentionally written to avoid requiring disclosure but encourage teachers to use professional judgment when deciding whether, how, or whether sharing should occur.
What’s included
• 50 SEL Writing Prompts for Grades 6-8
• Post-write self-reflection rubric (student-oriented and non-evaluative)
• Editable Google Slides
• Printable PDF
• Implementation guide with cadence recommendations
• CASEL alignment reference
• Free future updates to this tip set
Covers six SEL areas
• Social navigation – relationships, peer dynamics, communication
• Self-awareness – recognizing emotions, recognizing patterns, personal strengths
• Self-regulation – managing stress, coping strategies, emotional responses
• Embodied consciousness – mind-body connection, body signals, grounding
• Decision-making – weighing options and considering consequences
• Resolution-free reflection – handle complexity without stress
How teachers use this resource
Teachers often offer a prompt at the beginning of a consultation or class. Students write for 5 to 6 minutes, adjusting time based on engagement and comfort with prompts.
At the end of the week, students review entries using a self-reflective format to support goal setting, portfolio work, or an ongoing journaling process. The rubric is designed for reflection, not grading.
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