| By: Kim Gulbrandson District Data on the New Second Step Program for K-5 See how fourth- and fifth-grade students name “feeling” words before and after Second Step lessons.Read More
| By: Allison Schumacher On the Importance of Being Crazy About a Child “Somebody’s got to be crazy about that kid, and vice versa! But what does ‘crazy’ mean? It means that the adult in question regards this particular child as somehow special—even though objectively the adult may well know that this is not the case… For the child, the adult is also special—someone to whom the child turns most readily in…Read More
| By: Allison Schumacher The Accidental Advocate Allison Schumacher, Committee for Children's PR and Communications Manager, wakes up one morning to realize she has somehow become a bullying prevention advocate. How did this happen, and will she use her power for good? Read on.Read More
| By: Rachel Kamb Key Factors in Creating a Positive Classroom Climate I’ve been hearing a lot about “positive classroom climate.” What does this mean? Classroom climate refers to the prevailing mood, attitudes, standards, and tone that you and your students feel when they are in your classroom. A negative classroom climate can feel hostile, chaotic, and out of control. A positive classroom climate feels safe, respectful,…Read More
| By: Kim Gulbrandson Social-Emotional Learning and Cultural Relevance Someone recently asked me whether the Second Step program is effective with all populations of students, and it’s not the first time this question has come up.Read More
| By: Kim Gulbrandson The Role of Support Staff in Implementing SEL I first thought about writing this blog because I would really like to know how support staff (guidance counselors, school psychologists, social workers, etc.) are involved with the implementation of social-emotional learning (SEL) throughout the nation. We are often so isolated working within our buildings that we don’t have the opportunity to learn about what others are doing to support programs such as Second Step and Steps to Respect.Read More
| By: Kim Gulbrandson Fostering Problem Solving and Negotiation Part of teaching the Second Step program is providing students the language and vocabulary to use the prosocial skills they learn. Read More
| By: Kim Gulbrandson Fostering Prosocial Skills Through Music Music can be powerful in many ways. Humans are hard-wired to respond to music. The sound has an impact on our bodies.Read More
| By: Kim Gulbrandson Telling Is Not Teaching When I first began working with the Second Step program 15 years ago, my colleagues and I were so focused on completing the lessons that we completely overlooked the extension activities (these are now called daily practice activities in Second Step 4th edition).Read More
| By: Kim Gulbrandson Fostering Social and Emotional Learning One Day at a Time The Violence Prevention Program (VPP) was started in 1990. At the time, the program supported district-wide implementation of the Second Step program.Read More