SECOND STEP

What is Second Step®?

Second Step® is a universal, classroom-based, social-emotional learning curriculum that is designed to increase student success by nurturing children’s social-emotional competence, self-regulation, and foundational learning skills.  The Second Step® Elementary classroom kits offer an evidence-based approach to social-emotional learning (SEL), with age-appropriate lessons that are easy to teach and fun to learn. East Elementary students receive a Second Step® lesson once a week during what we call "SOAR Club". This curriculum is taught by the specials teachers and the school counselor. Students are taught skills in the following areas:

• Skills for Learning: Students gain skills to help themselves learn, including how to focus their attention, listen carefully, use self-talk to stay on task, and be assertive when asking for help. 

• Empathy: Students learn to identify and understand their own and others’ feelings. Students also learn how to take another’s perspective and how to show compassion. 

• Emotion Management: Students learn specific skills for calming down when experiencing strong emotions, such as anxiety or anger. 

• Problem Solving: Students learn a process for solving problems with others in a positive way.