SECOND STEP SOCIAL SKILLS PROGRAM
This program teaches skills that help to reduce violence among school-age
children. It is offered to all classes. It takes place within the
classroom
for one-half hour weekly for half the year. some classes are done in the
begining of the year while the remainder are conducted in the second half.
Lessons are conducted in three areas: Empathy, Problem Solving and Impulse
Control, and Anger Management.
Periodically, letters are sent home to families with information regarding
key themes and information that is being taught in the classroom.
Pre- and post-assessments are being conducted this year at grades three to
five to measure program efficacy.
Additional information regarding this program can be found from the Website:
Committee for Children, Second Step.
BANANA SPLITS
This is a program for children whose families have undergone the change of
separation or divorce. Children meet in a group with others in their grade
for approxamately 8 weeks. They engage in activities designed to help them
become comfortable talking about themselves and their feelings. They
experience that they are not alone, that coming from a family in transition
is not unique to them. Childhood thoughts of being to blame for changes in
the family are challenged to help children start to accept the changes in
their life.
Worksheets and drawings are done to provide structure with which to discuss
certain aspects of family change. This information can be brought home and
discussed with their family members.
One of the hallmarks of support groups such as these is the rule of
confidentiality. This means that we ask all children to observe the privacy
of all others in the group. In practice, this means that children don't
share the names of others in their group without their permission. This
does
not prihibit children from talking abotu wehat was spoken about in group of
from speaking about their own thoughts and feelings with ther family.
