Fostering Emotional Growth: The “Self-Control” Activity by Nancy Montemerlo

Middle childhood is a stage marked by emotional learning, self-awareness, and social growth. Among the educators best equipped to nurture these traits is Nancy Montemerlo, who designed a thoughtful Seesaw activity titled “Self-Control.” This interactive exercise guides students in recognizing their own emotional responses and reflecting on their self-regulatory behaviors, using digital tools to bridge classroom instruction and personal growth.

Introducing “Self-Control” to Young Learners

Created by Nancy Montemerlo, the “Self-Control” activity is designed for 1st through 3rd graders—and fits perfectly within character-building curricula. The lesson prompts students to reflect on their self-control throughout their day:

1. They start by rating how well they demonstrated self-control.
2. Then, students record themselves describing an occasion when they showed self-control—and one situation where they are still working on it.
3. Finally, they publish their reflections into their digital journal.

The format allows each child to pause, reflect, and articulate self-awareness in a meaningful way, while the digital journaling component enables teachers to see personal snapshots of their students’ emotional development.

Why This Activity is Powerful

Nancy Montemerlo tailored “Self-Control” to foster emotional awareness in several key ways:

• Self-assessment: By rating their own behavior, students practice honest reflection—a foundational skill in managing emotions.
• Narrative expression: Crafting verbal responses helps young learners articulate what self-control looks like in real situations.
• Digital sharing: Recording and sharing reflections builds a safe environment where students recognize that emotional growth is universal—and normal.

The activity balances self-driven reflection with teacher guidance, giving educators a window into how each student processes emotions and challenges. It reinforces that self-control is not innate—it’s something to be observed, practiced, and improved.

Meeting Developmental Goals with Technology

In recent years, educational environments have increasingly embraced ed-tech tools not just for efficiency, but for deeper learning. Nancy Montemerlo illustrates this transition beautifully: she transforms a concept like emotional self-regulation into something tangible, visual, and easy to revisit through a device students already navigate daily.

The simplicity of the assignment makes it approachable for young students, while the technology ensures their work is visible and accessible for future conversations and growth tracking.

Supporting Teachers and Students Together

For educators, Nancy Montemerlo creates content that is both meaningful and easy to implement. The “Self-Control” exercise is low-prep and includes clear student instructions—so teachers can quickly integrate it into their schedules. Moreover, the digital nature of the activity means teachers can review responses at their convenience, giving them insight into individual students’ emotional journeys without disrupting class time.

Importantly, it underscores how digital platforms can elevate character education—especially when they’re designed by thoughtful educators like Montemerlo.

Cultivating Long-Term Growth

What makes the Nancy Montemerlo approach exceptional is her understanding that emotional skills are cumulative. One “Self-Control” activity is not just an assignment—it is a conversation starter:

• Teachers can revisit previous responses to set personalized goals.
• Peers can share examples of self-control, reinforcing positive behavior.
• Students can compare progress over time, recognizing improvement and practicing resilience.

Conclusion: Emotional Learning Meets EdTech Excellence

The “Self-Control” activity showcases the power of thoughtful design in ed-tech. Through this simple yet insightful task, Nancy Montemerlo invites students into a reflective process that builds self-awareness, emotional maturity, and communication skills.

By blending self-review, storytelling, and digital expression, she turns emotional regulation from abstract ideal into a skill that students can observe, articulate, and develop. In doing so, she demonstrates how modern educators can equip young minds—both emotionally and digitally—for the opportunities and challenges ahead.