Second Step

Second Step is a popular SEL program for elementary school populations

Second Step focuses on three skill areas:Empathy training

Impulse control

Anger management

Teachers use “card” stimulus materials to demonstrate ideas and engage children in discussion and skill development

Unit I – Empathy Training

Empathy is the ability to:Determine the emotional state of the other

Assume the perspective and role of the other

Respond emotionally to another

Empathy is the key ingredient in developing prosocial behaviors

Empathy is developed in a series of progressive steps

Unit I – Empathy Training

Teaching StrategiesIdentify feelings from a variety of physical and situational cues

Recognize that people have difference feelings about the same things

Recognize that feelings change and why this is so

Differentiate intentional from unintentional acts

Communicate feelings using “I” messages

Express care and concern for others

Unit 2 – Impulse Control

Impulse control means to stop and think through a problem rather than doing the first thing that comes to mind.

This unit focuses on problem-solving and behavioral skills training

There is a strong emphasis on modeling, role playing, performance feedback, reinforcement, and transfer of training

Unit 2 – Impulse Control

The Problem-Solving approach has five steps:

What is the problem?What are some solutions?For each solution ask

Is it safe?Is it fair?How might people feel?Will it work?

Choose a solution and use itIs it working? If not, what can I do now?

Unit 2 – Impulse Control

Behavioral Skills training helps students develop behavioral repertoires for problematic situations

Joining in

Ignoring distractions

Interrupting politely

Dealing with wanting something that isn’t yours

Asking for help in a positive way

Playing a game

Asking permission

Unit 3 – Anger Management

Anger management is a compilation of stress reduction techniques for channeling ones anger into socially acceptable directions

Uses self-talk or thinking out loud to guide one’s behavior – seeking to reverse escalation by substituting positive coping statements

Unit 3 – Anger Management

What to Do When You Are Angry1. How does my body feel?

Students recognize sensations that tell them they are angry

2. Calm downStudents apply anger reduction techniques

3. Think out loud to solve the problem4. Think about it later

Students reflect on the incident and evaluate their performance