Second Step

Second Step is one of our universal tier 1 curriculums taught for 10 weeks at Kegonsa. The main focus of Second Step is social-emotional education. The program is designed to teach students how to understand and manage their emotions, control their reactions, be aware of others’ feelings, and have the skills to problem-solve and make responsible decisions. All lessons are co-taught between the school counselor and classroom teacher, and contains in class and take home activities, role-playing scenarios and engaging videos. Kegonsa is unique in its delivery of Second Step, in that we had each grade level team choose the 10 most important and impactful lessons to be taught. This allows Kegonsa to deliver other curriculums in conjunction with Second Step such as “Zones of Regulation” and “Social Thinking” framework. What is fantastic about the Second Step program is it builds on itself from year to year. Students learn new skills social-emotional skills and test their higher level thinking as they progress throughout their tenure at Kegonsa.

In addition to the overall “Second Step” program that is implemented at Kegonsa, we also take the time to focus on the specific concept of bullying. We do this by using the “Second Step Bullying Prevention Program” which builds off of the core “Second Step” program that is taught. The Bullying Prevention unit is a five week unit that is also co-taught once a week in each classroom by the school counselor and classroom teacher. By using the Bullying prevention unit students learn the 3 R’s of bullying how to Recognize bullying and how it differs from a disagreement, along with how to properly and appropriately Report and/or Refuse bullying. Students also learn what to do should they witness bullying as a Bystander.