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1.) Go to www.secondstep.org
2.) Use your email and password to log-in
3.) Go to My Dashboard and choose the grade level that you will plan for today
*If you did not have a chance to create an account, use the following kit activation codes to set up a new account- let me know if you need support.
Kit Activation Codes:
Pre-K: SSPE5M75ZXEL

K: SSPK9MWZ4684

1st: SSP1H42QDGUW

2nd: SSP2FTCFC8T3

3rd: SSP3EQXBB6GG

4th: SSP4B79A7MGX

5th: SSP5CAT48R2R

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Social-Emotional Learning Programs | Second Step

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Discover Second Step, an evidence-based social-emotional learning curriculum that fosters students’ emotional intelligence, empathy, and problem-solving skills.

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Bully Prevention Codes:

Pre-K: BPUPGN7AB7AU

K: BPUKD8L42L6Z

1st: BPU1NH3836AV

2nd: BPU2H5M7K74P

3rd: BPU3X56DLJ86

4th: BPU4ELCD95FX

5th: BPU5ELUU95YE

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Type below something that surprised you, a new learning, or what you need help with. You may include your name and school. See example below.

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Knowledge is indeed power, but academic achievement is only one aspect of a successful education. Children must also learn social-emotional skills to develop healthy identities, manage emotions, set goals, express empathy, build relationships, and make decisions. Teaching and practicing these techniques is called "social-emotional learning" (SEL).

SEL has many benefits for students, ranging from improved school performance to healthier friendships. Plus, down the road, those with strong social and emotional competence are more likely to graduate high school and attain a college degree.

Social-emotional learning is so important that it has its own day: International SEL Day, which takes place on the second Friday in March. It celebrates the value of SEL for students worldwide with a different theme each year, like "Building Bonds, Reimagining Community," and "Uplifting Hearts, Connecting Minds."

Many schools have some form of SEL in their curriculum, but it's also easy to practice social-emotional learning activities at home. Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of SEL and how to model the lessons in day-to-day life.

5 Key Skills of Social-Emotional Learning

If you're asking yourself, "what is social-emotional learning?" it might help to understand the five main areas of practice. They're defined by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), a leader in SEL instruction.

1. Self-awareness

Self-awareness involves cultivating a greater understanding of your emotions, goals, beliefs, strengths, and weaknesses. Recognizing the link between thoughts and actions can help you make decisions with greater insight.

2. Self-management

Once you understand your emotions and actions, it's key to regulate them through self-management. You'll reach your goals faster by practicing impulse control and evaluating your performance in certain situations.

3. Responsible decision-making

Those with responsible decision-making skills think about their own goals, social factors, and self-understanding when making constructive choices. This fosters an understanding of cause and effect and the consequences of actions.

4. Social awareness

Social awareness helps children build and maintain healthy relationships. This skill involves understanding and empathizing with others -including those of different races, genders, cultures, ages, and religions.

5. Relationship skills

Also important for relationship establishment, this SEL skill teaches kids how to act regarding social norms. Communication, cooperation, listening, managing conflict, and understanding emotions are key components.

The Benefits of Social-Emotional Learning

Teaching social-emotional learning has many benefits for children. According to a 2011 meta-analysis on the impact of SEL, benefits include:

Improved academic performance

Improved classroom behavior

Increased ability to manage stress and depression

Improved self-image

Better attitude about others and school

Further, in a retrospective study published in the July 2015 issue of the American Journal of Public Health involving 753 kindergarteners in the early 1990s, researchers looked at the relationship between kindergarten social competence and future wellness.

Teachers rated the social competence skills of students in their classroom on factors like cooperation, helpfulness, empathy, and problem-solving. Afterward, researchers followed these children for 20 years to evaluate education, employment, public assistance, crime, mental health, and substance use.

According to the results, prosocial kindergarten skills were significantly or uniquely predictive of the following outcomes:

Double the likelihood of attaining a college degree in early adulthood

54% greater chance of earning a high school diploma

46% greater chance of having a full-time job when they're 25

Decreased social competency scores, on the other hand, were associated with higher chances of arrest, binge drinking, marijuana usage, and needing public housing.

Social-Emotional Learning Activities

SEL doesn't have to be confined to the classroom! These at-home activities can hone your child's social and emotional skills, helping them thrive in many aspects of life.

Consume media with empathy

Turn your child's TV time into an SEL lesson about recognizing social cues and emotions. Stop the show whenever something emotional happens, and ask your child how they think the character feels. For example, are they happy, frustrated, embarrassed, frightened, excited, or hopeful? You can also try this activity while listening to songs, reading books, or watching movies.

Make schedules and to-do lists

Does your kid need help managing their time and making responsible decisions-like completing homework or chores on time? Help them make an organized to-do list, daily schedule, or "vision board" that spells out their dreams for the future. In doing so, they'll gain experience with goal setting and decision-making.

Relieve stress

Sometimes life gets stressful-even for little kids. Help your child recognize when they're feeling drained or upset (self-awareness) and teach them to manage their emotions through mindfulness activities, exercise, or music (self-management). Even adults can benefit from this social-emotional learning activity!

Journal for self-discovery

At regular intervals (say, once per week), encourage your child to list specific things that bring them joy-for example, walking the family dog, playing board games with siblings, and eating their favorite dinner. They'll practice self-awareness (understanding what they like) and self-management (understanding how they react to things they enjoy).

Draw emotions

What does it look like to be happy or sad? How about surprised or worried? Have your child express common emotions through drawings or paintings. In creating the images, they'll reflect upon their thoughts and feelings about themselves and others. Your kid may also associate the feelings with different colors (for example, red means angry).

Perform random acts of kindness

Throughout the day, have your child look for ways to help others. Maybe it's holding open the door, complimenting a friend's new shirt, saying "thank you," or inviting someone new to play. Through this social-emotional learning activity, they'll build social awareness and relationship skills.

Write letters

Bring back the art of letter writing! When your child writes to relatives or friends, they hone their relationship skills by reflecting on social connections.

Listen to a podcast

Loss, loneliness, and grief are difficult emotions to manage. However, you can help kids process these feelings with Emotion Motion, a podcast launched in September 2020 by SEL experts at Move This World. It involves an interactive component, so kids will enjoy reflecting on and managing their emotions.

Volunteer or donate

Children with superior social-emotional competence can empathize with people of different economic and social statuses. Hone this skill by volunteering or donating to an important cause.

As it turns out, family game night counts as social-emotional learning! While playing games, children must cooperate with others, take turns, handle frustration, solve problems, and more. They'll also see how others react to winning or losing.

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How to Teach Social-Emotional Learning at Home

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Social emotional learning (SEL) teaches important life skills like managing emotions, building relationships, and making decisions. Learn about the benefits of SEL and how to incorporate it into your child's everyday life.

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Type below something that surprised you, a new learning, or what you need help with. You may include your name and school. See example below.

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Second Step Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) provides language and tools, from perspective-taking to calming down techniques, that everyone can use-on the playground, in the classroom, from school to school, and at home. All members of the community can use its lessons, concepts, and skill sets to reinforce competencies and help children solve everyday challenges.

Learning words for feelings, emotions, and interpersonal dynamics is the first step in working with others and resolving conflict. It can be challenging for kids to convey the emotions they experience. With Second Step, they'll get the tools to find common ground, become more self-sufficient, solve problems on their own, and ask for help in a productive way.

When we all use the same words-for emotions, situations, and behavioral dynamics-it promotes empathy and understanding between students, teachers, staff, parents, and the community. Second Step provides a shared emotional vocabulary that can create lasting systemic change.

Keep Exploring Stories Like This One

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Second Step Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) provides language and tools, from perspective-taking to calming down techniques, that everyone can use-on the playground, in the classroom, from school to school, and at home. All members of the community can use its lessons, concepts, and skill sets to reinforce competencies and help children solve everyday challenges.

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4 Ways Schools Can Support Students and Educators as We Return to In-Person Learning - Market Brief

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As school districts pivot back into in-person learning, as they try to emerge from COVID, they need to adopt clear strategies to support students and teachers, writes Sara Potler LaHayne.

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Second Step® Stories

Thousands of schools around the world and more than 16.5 million children benefit from Second Step social-emotional learning (SEL) programs each year. What do they get out of the programs? Students who are ready to learn. Educators with the tools to make a difference. Districts and schools that successfully build a connected community with a common language. And yes, improving academics.

Discover their stories.

Help students feel safe, supported, and ready to learn. Create a healthy learning environment and teach competencies that support the whole child for a lifetime of learning.

Before, things in class were more chaotic, but now things are quieter and students are able to walk through situations with each other.

Early Learning Teacher, Western New York

Learn More

Give teachers what they need to make a difference: more time for teaching, tools they can easily embrace, and help with what matters most-improving kids' lives.

They're not even the same kids anymore.

Jeannie Larberg, Comprehensive Guidance Coordinator, Sumner School District, WA

Learn More

Unify your school community. Get everyone on the same team, use language that builds relationships and student success, and build a positive school climate.

Second Step puts into words the feelings and emotions that kids have and sometimes don't know how to express.

Andrea Jennings, Graduate Student/Teacher, The Bridge Project, Denver, CO

Learn More

Invest in each child's potential. Give all students a better shot at success, boost attendance and graduation rates, and improve measures of academic performance.

Toppenish, WA: PBIS Team Embraces Social-Emotional Learning
Chicago, IL: Shared Vision of Success for Students of District 33
Tooele, UT: A District and Community Respond to Trauma
Anaheim, CA: A Cultural Shift Through Social-Emotional Learning
Buncombe County, NC: Linking Social-Emotional Learning to Academic Success
Southeast States: Early Learning Study Shows SEL Improves Academics
Boston, MA: A Focus on Behavioral Health
Everett, WA: Moving from All Students to Each Student
Georgia: State Funds Social-Emotional Learning and Child Protection
Austin, TX: A Bellwether of Districtwide Social-Emotional Learning
Mid Florida: A Head Start on Positive Relationships
Mid Florida: SEL Finds a Home in Head Start Classrooms
Carpentersville, IL: Schoolwide Success with Social-Emotional Learning
Lee County, FL: Community Funding for K-8 Social-Emotional Learning
Seattle, WA: Taproot Theatre Brings Bullying Prevention to Life
Chicago, IL: Walking the Talk with Second Step SEL
Western NY: Head Start Success with SEL and PEDALS
Western NY: Community Funding for SEL and PEDALS
Toppenish, WA: PBIS Team Embraces Social-Emotional Learning
Lexington, KY: School's Rank Rises From 5th to 21st Percentile
Lexington, KY: Title I Funding for Social-Emotional Learning
Philadelphia, PA: Seeds of Success With Social-Emotional Learning
Seattle, WA: SEL Brought Back by Popular Demand
Seattle, WA: Real-World Skills for Productive Citizens
Slovakia: Ministry of Education Accredits Second Step
Pomona, CA: A Positive Change for Head Start Classrooms
Denver, CO: SEL Helps Kids Build Bridge to Better Future
Tukwila, WA: Kids Coaching Adults with SEL
Sumner, WA: Behavioral Turnaround with Social-Emotional Learning
University of Kansas: Eight-Week SEL Intervention Improves Behavior
Washington, DC: Becoming Problem-Solvers with Second Step SEL
Shawnee Mission, KS: Middle Schoolers Stand Up to Bullying Through Theater
Los Angeles, CA: Referrals Drop Dramatically with Second Step SEL
Seattle, WA: Title I Funding for Second Step SEL
Washington, DC: Referrals Drop from 12.3 to 7.1 Percent

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Thousands of schools around the world and more than 16.5 million children benefit from Second Step social-emotional learning (SEL) programs each year. What do they get out of the programs? Students who are ready to learn. Educators with the tools to make a difference.

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1.) Explore at least one of resources below to build your background knowledge about Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and Second Step.

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Kindergarten Brain Builders Example (Follow, Follow, Version 1)

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Kindergarten Brain Builders Example (Follow, Follow, Version 1)

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Kindergarten Brain Builders Example (Follow, Follow, Version 2)

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Kindergarten Brain Builders Example (Follow, Follow, Version 2)

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Kindergarten Assessment Teacher Version (Answer Key)

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Kindergarten Assessment Teacher Version (Answer Key)

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Books to support Second Step Lessons K-2nd Grade

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Books to support Second Step Lessons K-2nd Grade

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1st Grade Brain Builders Example (My Turn, Your Turn Version 1)

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1st Grade Brain Builders Example (My Turn, Your Turn Version 1)

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1st Grade Brain Builders Example (My Turn, Your Turn Version 2)

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1st Grade Brain Builders Example (My Turn, Your Turn Version 2)

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1st Grade Assessment Teacher Version (Answer Key)

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1st Grade Assessment Teacher Version (Answer Key)

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Books to support Second Step Lessons K-2nd Grade

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Books to support Second Step Lessons K-2nd Grade

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2nd Grade Brain Builders Example (Sentence Switcheroo)

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2nd Grade Brain Builders Example (Sentence Switcheroo)

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2nd Grade Brain Builders Example (Doodle Dance)

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2nd Grade Brain Builders Example (Doodle Dance)

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Answer Key is on Lesson Card for Lesson 22

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Books to support Second Step Lessons K-2nd Grade

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Books to support Second Step Lessons K-2nd Grade

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3rd Grade Brain Builders Example (Doodle Dance)

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3rd Grade Brain Builders Example (Doodle Dance)

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3rd Grade Brain Builders Example (Triple T with a Twist)

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3rd Grade Brain Builders Example (Triple T with a Twist)

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Answer Key is on Lesson Card for Lesson 22

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Books to support Second Step Lessons 3rd-5th Grade

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Books to support Second Step Lessons 3rd-5th Grade

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4th Grade Family Letter

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4th Grade Second Step Teaching Strategies

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4th Grade Second Step Teaching Strategies

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4th Grade Second Step Management Strategies

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4th Grade Second Step Management Strategies

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4th Grade Assessment Teacher Version (Answer Key)

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4th Grade Assessment Teacher Version (Answer Key)

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Books to support Second Step Lessons 3rd-5th Grade

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Books to support Second Step Lessons 3rd-5th Grade

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5th Grade Assessment Teacher Version (Answer Key)

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5th Grade Assessment Teacher Version (Answer Key)

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Books to support Second Step Lessons 3rd-5th Grade

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Books to support Second Step Lessons 3rd-5th Grade

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6th Grade Family Bully-Prevention Information Letter

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6th Grade Family Bully-Prevention Information Letter

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Make Adolescence Less of a Struggle with ParenTeenConnect.org

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When it comes to being a teen or raising one, couldn't we all use some support? ParenTeenConnect.org can help your family connect and communicate better.

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Middle School Academic Lesson Plans with SEL: Science

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Middle School Academic Lesson Plans with SEL: Science

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Middle School Academic Lesson Plans with SEL: Math

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Middle School Academic Lesson Plans with SEL: Math

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Middle School Academic Lesson Plans with SEL: Social Studies

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Middle School Academic Lesson Plans with SEL: Social Studies

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Middle School Academic Lesson Plans with SEL: Language Arts

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Middle School Academic Lesson Plans with SEL: Language Arts

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Second Step/Common Core Standards Alignment Chart-K-5th Grade

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Second Step/Common Core Standards Alignment Chart-K-5th Grade

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Second Step/Common Core Standards Alignment Chart-Middle School

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Second Step/Common Core Standards Alignment Chart-Middle School

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Sample Content Scenarios with SEL embedded

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Sample Content Scenarios with SEL embedded

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1.) Log into Second Step
2.) Choose 1 grade level on the Padlet to start exploring
3.) Also check out the additional resources tab at the end
4.) Complete Reflection Questions Linked above- you can write them out or download a copy and type- this is for you to keep as a reminder of your learning today-no one else will see it.