Web-based Program Building Social–Emotional Skills
The Second Step Elementary digital program offers a research-based approach to social–emotional learning (SEL) that allows for consistency from classroom to classroom and easily scales across schools and districts. In teacher-facilitated group settings, students connect with the content, as well as with one another and their teacher, as they build social–emotional skills through a variety of media, activities, and interactive components that provide opportunities for culturally relevant teaching. This digital program includes four units of weekly, age-appropriate lessons for each grade. Each interactive teacher-led unit has five 15- to 30-minute lessons. The last lesson of each unit is a performance task in which students demonstrate evidence of their learning. A complete list of units and weekly lesson topics for kindergarten through grade 5 are posted on the program’s website. Additionally teachers can preview lesson content and media in the lesson presentations, as well as student resources for select lessons.
It takes a village to teach students with autism, but usually we only think of adults as making up that support community. Research continues to show that not only do students with autism respond better to interventions that are modeled by same-age neurotypical peers, but it also has positive benefits for those peers by increasing their empathy, advocacy, and leadership skills. Additionally, a community of students supporting their classmates with autism increases inclusivity and normalizes diversity, which can greatly impact the community’s emotional well-being.
Amanda Gorman has kicked off a new “Word of the Day” video series from SesameWorkshop. Produced in partnership with WarnerMedia Kids & Family, the series harnesses the power of language to nurture children’s positive and healthy sense of self.
The MY HERO Project inspires people of all ages to learn, create, and act in powerful, positive ways. Heroes give us hope and inspiration. They are examples of perseverance, courage, kindness, and compassion. The MY HERO website provides digital tools for visitors to publish webpages that honor heroes, using stories, artwork, audio, and films.