Bridget Manley, Upper Elementary conference teacher, and SEL Facilitator supports the Primary through Middle School programs with social-emotional (SEL) lessons from the Second Step curriculum.
In the Primary and Lower Elementary programs the first five lessons are geared towards having a growth mindset and goal setting. They are designed to help students with the skills needed to pay attention and avoid distractions. Students are also introduced to growth mindset language as a useful tool for encouraging themselves and others. Lessons highlight the importance of practice and effort and the value of making mistakes when it comes to learning something new.In the Upper Elementary program, Grade 3 will be introduced to the brain science behind learning, practicing, and planning. With this foundation, grades 4 and 5 shift to focus on the goal-setting process. In grade 4 students first work to develop a class goal and plan. In grade 5 they set personal goals and make the plans needed to achieve them. Growth mindset language and strategies for getting better at something are reinforced through grades 3, 4, and 5 as students follow through on reaching their goals.
The Middle School students will focus on mindset and goal setting in Unit 1. In grades 6 and 7, students learn that their brains can grow and change when they tackle new challenges, try harder, and practice their skills. They will learn how to write a specific goal, break it down into manageable steps, and create an action plan to reach it. All students also learn about roadblocks, and strategies for overcoming them. In grade 8, students continue to think about ways to achieve goals while also exploring aspects of their identity: who they are, what they’re good at, and what they want for their future. They learn they can use their individual strengths to pursue their interests and achieve the goals they set.
