Help my Students Learn to Express their Feelings

I wish to spearhead character education by implementing the Second Step violence prevention program for grades preK-8 in my high needs Public School. The program integrates academics with social emotional learning targeting empathy, problem-solving, and anger/emotion management. When an academic content standard is aligned with a core second step concept, that standard is addressed multiple times in the curriculum. The program, which is research-based and shown to reduce discipline referrals and improve school climate, employs story/class discussion, role-play, teacher modeling, coaching and cueing, and planned behavior reinforcement. The program includes teacher-friendly lessons, training for educators, and parent-education tools.

Our school is a high need school serving neighborhood and homeless students who need a safe environment in which they can explore social emotional learning targeting empathy, problem-solving, and anger/emotion management. Our students come to us with such great potential but staggering needs and this project will help to bridge gaps that may allow these students to rise above seemingly insurmountable obstacles. We need books that extend and reinforce lesson content and skills presented in each unit.

The program materials will be housed in the Character Education Library that I hope to create which will also be used in the future by the entire school. The objectives of the second step violence prevention will be achieved through the use of the Second Step DVDs, books, and activities is to help change the climate of the school, reduce behavior problems, decrease absences and bullying in the school. The books that I receive from this grant will help our students to build upon the skills that they will be taught in the lessons.

Your help will ensure that my students get the materials they need to become better citizens. The books will allow my students to better comprehend the lessons and apply them to real world situations.