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:
Decrease problem behaviors
Increase students’ school success
Promote socialemotional 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)
K 20–25
1 25–30
2
3
4
30–35
5
35–40
Number of Unit Topics
Lessons
25

Skills for Learning
22

Empathy

Emotion
22
Management

Problem Solving
22

Empathy and Skills for Learning

Emotion
Management

Problem Solving

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 cards
Unit cards contain:
• Using Skills Every Day tips for reinforcing unit skills and concepts
• Academic Integration Activities
• Lesson overviews
• Short summary of the research behind 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)

• 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 Program with 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 Resources www.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?