All Lake Harriet students from Kindergarten to grade 8 receive social-emotional instruction with the district-approved curriculum, Second Step. Second Step is a nationally-known, research-based developmentally appropriate curriculum. Teachers from Kindergarten to 5th grade teach Second Step lessons in their classroom. Students in grades 6-8 receive Second Step instruction in Health class. To view the Scope and Sequence at each grade level, please visit the following links at the Committee for Children website:

Grades K-5  http://www.cfchildren.org/Portals/0/SS_K5/K-5_DOC/K-5_Scope_Sequence_SS.pdf 

Grades 6-8  http://www.cfchildren.org/Portals/0/SS_MS/MS_DOC/MS_Scope_Sequence_SS.pdf 

We teach Second Step because we value the importance of social-emotional learning (SEL). SEL promotes students’ school success and connectedness and contributes toward a safe and respectful school climate. It also helps prevent problem behaviors, peer rejection, impulsivity, and low academic achievement. Teaching social-emotional learning is as important as teaching math or language.

Here are some benefits to teaching our students social-emotional skills:

• Students who can self-regulate are better able to participate in and benefit from classroom instruction.
• Having empathy prepares students to manage their own strong emotions and solve interpersonal problems with others.
• Students who practice emotion management by recognizing strong emotions and calming down cope better and are less prone to aggressive behaviors.
• Students who use problem-solving skills to handle interpersonal conflicts with peers, are less likely to engage in impulsive or aggressive behaviors.
• Students who participate in SEL programs have grade point averages that are 11 percent higher than their peers.
• Students who participate in SEL programs score higher on standardized tests.  
• Students who participate in SEL programs are less likely to engage in high-risk behaviors that interfere with learning, such as violence and drug and alcohol use.
• Schools that teach SEL have fewer suspensions and expulsions and better student attendance.

If you have any questions about Second Step, please contact Lake Harriet’s School Psychologist, Julie Hirsch, julie.hirsch@mpls.k12.mn.us, or Social Workers, Maggie Quinlan and Lynne McCoy.