About Champions Curriculum
WHY IS THIS CURRICULUM IMPORTANT FOR ALL LEARNERS?
Children are our most precious resource, yet worldwide, many are struggling with mental health. This is especially true for students who have learning and behavioral challenges. A coalition of the nation’s leading pediatric health experts has indicated that the mental health crisis among children is so dire that it has become a national emergency.
Studies show that students with special needs experience significantly higher rates of depression, anxiety, and non-suicidal self-injury compared to students without diagnosed disabilities. They also experience higher rates of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. Among those with disabilities, students on the Autism Spectrum are particularly vulnerable to mental health conditions. Students on the Autism Spectrum are most vulnerable to mental health conditions. A recent study indicated that almost 78% of students on the Autism Spectrum had at least one mental health condition, and 49% had multiple conditions. Students with disabilities are 32% more likely to be victims of bullying.
Mentally healthy children are more likely to function well at home, school, and community.
THERE IS HOPE FOR OUR KIDS!
Every Champion Needs a Champ.
HOW CAN THIS CURRICULUM BENEFIT ALL LEARNERS?
The Champions Curriculum for Public Schools and Organizations is a social emotional learning curriculum for elementary students. It is a special education curriculum, but it also benefits all learners. It creates a dynamic teaching and learning experience that encourages elementary-aged students to think, feel, and cultivate a champion or overcomer mindset by developing the following:
- Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is an educational approach that helps students of all ages better understand, experience, and manage their emotions while fostering empathy and compassion for others. SEL skills, which are fundamental for personal and academic success, include self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. Most of the interactive learning activities in this curriculum are aligned with these competencies.
- Character traits that support success and well-being in schools and beyond.
- Promotes academic skills.
One of the greatest strengths of this curriculum is the relatability of the main characters: Connor, who struggles with learning, mental health, and behavior challenges, and his service dog, Champ. Together, they navigate socially challenging situations and demonstrate appropriate behavior. Through the Positive Behavior Support Stories in this curriculum, students learn how to identify and manage their emotions, build confidence in problem-solving, develop and maintain friendships, become better learners, practice compassion for others and themselves, and become active community members.
WHAT TEACHING AND LEARNING STRATEGIES DOES THIS CURRICULUM LEVERAGE TO EMPOWER ALL LEARNERS TO SUCCEED?
Simply teaching concepts isn't sufficient; students need hands-on practice and real-world application opportunities. This curriculum integrates research-based innovative approaches to enhance teaching, learning, and the practical application of essential content. Some of these approaches include the following:
- Four Station Model and Movement Breaks: During a lesson, students rotate through four learning stations, with each station focusing on one of the 6 Gs: Goal, Grab Their Attention, Grasp the Concept, Guided Application, Get It, and Gauge the Success of the Lesson. The 6 Gs are components of the lesson. Each station also develops specific skills in sensory-motor, life skills, education, and physical or gross and fine motor skills. This approach enhances learning efficiency, boosts productivity, and provides opportunities to develop social emotional learning.
- Multi-Sensory Engagement: Lessons stimulate various senses to enhance understanding and retention.
- Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) for Kids: The principles of CBT are woven throughout the curriculum. These strategies are designed to support mental health and behavioral development.
- Differentiated Instruction: Accommodations within the lessons and prescribed movement breaks ensure the content is easily accessible for all learners.
- Role-Playing: Role-playing exercises immerse students in realistic situations related to the content. This hands-on approach helps them experience and apply theoretical knowledge in practical contexts. There is a role-play activity in every other lesson in this curriculum.
- Collaborative Projects: Collaborative projects where students work together to solve problems or create products promotes communication skills and teamwork while allowing for the application of learned concepts. This curriculum provides many opportunities for collaboration among students to complete a project.
THE COMPONENTS OF THE CHAMPIONS CURRICULUM
This curriculum is designed to stand alone or complement existing educational programs for elementary-aged students. It is well-suited for various educational settings, including traditional classrooms, occupational, physical, or speech therapy sessions, Applied Behavior Analysis sessions, school counseling sessions, homeschooling, and before and after-school programs.
Our curriculum places students at the heart of the learning process, utilizing diverse teaching and learning strategies. These include direct instruction, differentiated instruction, modeling, guided application, graphic organizers, game-based learning, small and large group learning, and independent study. This holistic approach ensures students are engaged, supported, and empowered to reach their full potential.
The Champions Curriculum is user-friendly and versatile, designed to fit seamlessly into any educational setting and timeframe. Our program enables students to engage in Interactive Learning Activities (ILA) independently or collaboratively, promoting individual growth and teamwork.
To effectively implement this curriculum, each student will need a student workbook and the instructor will need the Curriculum Guide and their own copy of each student workbook.
The Components of the Curriculum Guide
The Curriculum Guide includes a comprehensive guide with Instructor's Scripts for each lesson. It also consists of the following lesson resources:
- Movement Break Guide
- Feeling Face Paddle Templates and Usage Guide
- Teacher and Student Formative Assessments
- A list of the ILAs and the English Language Arts Common Core State Standards (ELACCS) and Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL) competencies they are aligned with. These are a great resource for creating goals and objectives for Individual Education Plans.
Student Workbooks
The student workbooks are a repository for the ILAs for each of the three units: Compassion, Hope, and Attitude of Gratitude. The ILAs support one or more of the components of the lessons or the 6 Gs: Goal, Grab Their Attention, Grasp the Concept, Guided Application, and Gauge the Success of the Lesson. Many of the ILAs incorporate American Sign Language icons to enhance student understanding.
Champions Curriculum Home Edition is designed specifically for families who actively participate in their children's education, focusing on enhancing Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), academic skills, and character development. This product includes:
- Detailed lesson plans with Instructor's Scripts
- Movement Break Guide
- Student Reflection
- Many of the ILAs found in the Champions Curriculum for Schools and Organizations
Invest in a personalized learning experience that accommodates each student’s unique learning style, fostering excellence in social, emotional, academic, and physical development for every learner.
About Us
Author/Advocate
Sandy Robinson, Ph.D.
For more than 45 years, Dr. Sandy Robinson has dedicated her career to providing educational opportunities and leadership as a paraeducator, teacher, administrator, and school psychologist in the public school system. She has served as Director of Special Education in two school districts and has taught teacher preparation courses at the University of California, Riverside.
Dr. Robinson earned a Master’s Degree in Special Education from California Polytechnic State University and a Ph.D. in Education Policy Analysis and Leadership from the University of California, Riverside.
Publications & Curriculum Development
- Champions Curriculum (2014) – Co-authored with Pastor Craig Johnson; the first full-scale faith-based curriculum for children, teens, and adults with special needs.
- Champions Curriculum Home Edition (2016) – Co-authored with Pastor Craig Johnson; designed for families to use at home.
- The Tales of Connor and Champ – What to Do When I Am Being Bullied (2024) – Co-authored with Rob Robinson; equips children with skills to manage social situations involving bullying.
- Champions Curriculum for Schools and Organizations (2025) – An all-abilities curriculum designed to support social-emotional learning, build character, and strengthen academic skills.
She has also trained educators, administrators, and parents in crisis intervention, positive behavior strategies, effective teaching and learning methods, special education law, and resilience in the face of disability, trauma, and mental health challenges.
A recognized Inclusion Specialist and mental health advocate, Dr. Robinson works to equip communities with the tools to welcome, support, and fully include individuals with special needs and their families. She also provides families with resources to strengthen mental health and overall well-being. Demonstrating her commitment to global outreach, Dr. Robinson and a team she trained established the first Champions Club in Malawi, Africa—bringing education, support, and hope to children and families in need.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Dr. Robinson has been married to her husband, Rob, for more than 35 years. They have two daughters, both committed to serving individuals with special needs, and three granddaughters who are the joy of their lives
Contact Us
Thank you for considering us as partners in achieving your mental health and educational goals.
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