Implementing the Second Step Program

A partnership between counselors and teachers

Program Overview

What is the Second Step program?

What is the Second Step program?

• It is a universal, classroom-based curriculum.• It is based on research.• Its lessons are developmentally appropriate and sequential.• Its materials are teacher-friendly.• It teaches students skills to help them be successful in school.

The Second Step program is a universal, classroom-based curriculum designed to:

Increase students’

school success

Decrease problem

behaviors

Promote social-emotional

competence and self-regulation

The Second Step program is research-based

• Self-regulation and school success• Executive-function skills• Differentiation between grade levels to reflect children’s

development• Interactive teaching strategies • Best practices for developing and reinforcing skills

The Second Step program’s lessons are developmentally appropriate and sequential

Grade Level Lesson Length (minutes)

Number of Lessons

Unit Topics

K 20–25 25 Skills for Learning Empathy Emotion

Management Problem Solving

1 25–30 22

230–35 22

3

4

35–40 22

Empathy and Skills for Learning

Emotion Management

Problem Solving

5

Second Step program materials are teacher-friendly

• Color photo-lesson cards• Media: CDs and DVDs• Teaching resources online

The Second Step program teaches students skills to help them be successful in school

Being successful in school requires the ability to: • Cooperate with adults and meet school expectations• Focus attention• Remember directions• Stay on task• Handle emotional challenges• Get along with teachers and other students

Using the Counselor/Teacher Delivery Model

What does this mean?What is my role?

How do we coordinate the partnership?

The Counselor/Teacher Delivery Model

• Counselors teach the Second Step lessons.• Teachers reinforce Second Step lesson skills and concepts

every day.

Role of the Counselor

• Schedule and teach Second Step lessons in classrooms• Guide and support teachers to reinforce Second Step lesson

skills and concepts every day• Coordinate overall Second Step program implementation• Provide classroom teachers with all necessary materials

Role of the Classroom Teacher

• Attend and participate in Second Step lessons• Reinforce Second Step skills and concepts every day• Communicate successes and challenges to the counselor• Administer pre- and post-tests provided by the counselor

Reinforcing Second Step Skills and Concepts

Use these Second Step materials to reinforce lesson skills and concepts:•Daily Practice activities– Brain Builders

•Using Skills Every Day– Teachable moments

•Home Links•Academic Integration Activities

Following Through cards

• Provided by counselor• Used by classroom teacher

Following Through cards contain:• Overview of lesson• Daily Practice activities for the

five days following a lesson• Using Skills Every Day examples • Brain Builder game directions• Home Link reminders

(as needed)

Unit cardsUnit cards contain:• Using Skills Every Day tips for reinforcing unit skills and concepts• Academic Integration Activities• Lesson overviews• Short summary

of the researchbehind the unit

Home Links

• Home Links are activities sent home for students to complete with an adult caregiver, then sign and return to the classroom teacher.

• Home Links can be provided by the counselor or found online by the teacher.

Reinforcing Second Step Skills Schoolwide

• Using consistent language and problem-solving strategies• Having consistent expectations for behaviors in common

areas (playground, hallway, bathroom, lunchroom)

Coordinating Our Efforts

• Using scheduled check-in meetings:– Arrange one-on-one (or small-group) meetings between

teacher and counselor – Meet at a scheduled time between each Second Step unit

to share successes and challenges– Use meetings to brainstorm solutions to challenges

• Using the Second Step checklists:– Counselor Delivery and Reinforcement checklist – Lesson Reinforcement checklist

• Using informal feedback

Aligning the Second Step Programwith Our School’s Goals

• How does this align with our mission?• What do our data say?

Our Mission

• PERSONALIZE THIS SLIDE!

Data to Collect This Year

• Pre-test packets– Instructions– Complete packets by: FILL IN DATE– Return completed packets to: FILL IN NAME

• Post-tests to be passed out after all the Second Step lessons have been taught

Finding Resources for Teachers

• Where do I go with questions?• Where do I get the handouts I need?• What if I don’t understand how to do

something?

In-Person Resources

For questions about the Second Step program:• Primary contact: FILL IN PERSON• Secondary contact: FILL IN IF APPLICABLE• Committee for Children’s Customer Support Services– info@cfchildren.org– 800-634-4449, ext. 200– www.secondstep.org

Online Resourceswww.secondstep.org

•Creating an account: login process•What you’ll find:– Teaching and Program Implementation Guides– Training: self-paced– Resource materials and supports: PDF handouts, video

examples, and Spanish-language materials

Online Resources, continued

Committee for Children’s online community has an interactive online discussion board: •Go to www.cfchildren.org and click the “community” tab.•Connect with other teachers and counselors around the country.•Exchange tips, tricks, and resources.•Share your success stories.

Questions?