Teachers can help lessen their students' frustrations, make classroom time more productive, and prevent behavioral and learning problems by providing students with information and skills with which to make informed, positive, and independent choices regarding their emotional, social, physical, and mental well-being. This resource for teachers provides techniques for developing and applying five emotional competences: (1) self-awareness; (2) managing emotions; (3) self-control; (4) empathy; and (5) handling relationships. The resource is presented in three parts, each addressing an essential life skill: feeling positive, thinking wisely, and acting sensibly. Each of the six chapters contains a variety of lessons, including step-by-step activities that support student growth and the development of emotional intelligence. Each lesson includes an introduction outlining the salient points of the emotional competence being addressed, a list of targeted intelligences and pertinent curricular areas, step-by-step activities, and suggestions for modifying activities for two different grade levels. All of the activities use an outlined framework incorporating the use of handouts, the detective metaphor, and the use of dramatic scenes. Summary activities for feeling positive and thinking wisely are appended. (Contains 15 references and an index.) (KB)