SECOND STEP E-Newsletter
September 2010
Ten Things You Can Do to Sustain Program Implementation
Looking for ways to keep the SECOND STEP and STEPS TO RESPECT programs moving forward as new and returning teachers and students continue to settle into their classrooms? Following are ten things you can do to sustain program implementation in your school.
1. Create a welcoming school environment
Families entering a school for the first time or the 100th time should feel comfortable and welcome. A warm, positive school environment includes, but is not limited to:
- Friendly teachers and administrators.
- Cheerful classrooms and hallways with SECOND STEP and STEPS TO RESPECT posters prominently displayed.
- A sense of safety that comes with the knowledge that all staff and students are well versed in social and emotional skills, and that inappropriate behavior is not tolerated.
2. Don’t reinvent the wheel
New teachers, new students, new programs...but don’t despair! An important lesson for educators is not to allow themselves to become isolated in the day-to-day challenges of teaching. Reach out to fellow teachers in your school and beyond. Hold brown bag lunchtime meetings to share success stories and difficulties. Seek online ideas and answers from veterans, such as counselor and vice principal George Goss, who recommends that schools start somewhere—anywhere! even one classroom of one grade—and build.
3. Plan a school assembly
It doesn’t have to be a major production, but gathering all students and staff together a few times a year to present skits, perform songs, and share stories about what they’ve learned in the SECOND STEP and STEPS TO RESPECT programs is a great way to boost enthusiasm and learning. Students will see that these programs are a schoolwide effort, and that everyone in the community can be a support in social and emotional learning.
4. Start the morning with a question of the day
During the morning announcements ask students a question, such as "What are the ways to calm down?" The daily question can jump-start a quick SECOND STEP- or STEPS TO RESPECT-focused discussion or review in each classroom.
5. Use the buddy system
When new students join the school, assign each one a buddy from your “veteran” ranks of students experienced in the SECOND STEP and STEPS TO RESPECT programs. This student can come up with ideas to help the novice buddy transition into school. Helping the new students will not only bring them up to speed in the classroom, but it will also help cement the skills for the veteran-buddies.
6. Help students cope with stress
Teachers can help reduce stress for children in many ways. When a classroom is full of students who are adjusting to new situations, one simple action a teacher can take is to avoid assigning homework that is dependent on home resources or supplies.
In addition, middle school teachers can pay special attention to the SECOND STEP lessons about coping with stress. And the empathy lessons in all grades of the program can encourage students to have more compassion for each other, a crucial element in a safe and nurturing classroom. (SECOND STEP grade 7, lesson 10; and grade 8, lesson 9: Coping with Stress.)
7. State clear rules for behavior in school and on the playground
- Draft a list of clear rules and expectations for school halls and playground behavior.
- Keep it simple and short so that even the youngest students can memorize the list.
- Have classes recite the list before they leave the classroom.
8. Plot out problem areas on the playground
The playground can be a potential high-risk zone for acting-out behavior. Supervision is key. Plan ahead for ways to supervise problem areas and for any positive changes you'd like to make. Draw a large map of the playground. Plot the following information:
- Visual barriers to supervision.
- Locations that provide opportunities for bullying.
- Areas where students tend to get into conflicts.
Show the map to students to get their input before finalizing it.
9. Don’t forget: social and emotional learning boosts academic skills, too
When teachers are scrambling just to keep all their students on the same page academically, it may be tempting to let their SECOND STEP and STEPS TO RESPECT programs slide in favor of more traditional academics.
A few compelling statistics posted in the teacher’s lunchroom might be enough of a reminder that social and emotional skills are strongly linked to academic goals. A study by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) found that social and emotional learning programs, such as the SECOND STEP and STEPS TO RESPECT programs, produced the following gains for students:
- 11 percentile-point gain in achievement test scores
- 23 percent improvement in social and emotional skills
- 9 percent improvement in attitudes about self, others, and school
- 9 percent improvement in school and classroom behavior
- 9 percent decrease in conduct problems, such as classroom misbehavior and aggression
- 10 percent decrease in emotional distress, such as anxiety and depression
10. Be patient
Finally, remember this: As an educator, you want to be consistent, but circumstances sometimes get in the way. Your school may not feel 100 percent stable right now while it settles into the new school year. Sometimes the simplest advice is the most helpful: Be patient, be kind, and trust the proverb “This too shall pass.”
