Assessing the effects of school‐wide Second Step implementation in a predominately English language learner, low SES, Latino sample

Abstract

Because school violence is widespread, social and emotional competence must be targeted. SecondStep is a social and emotional violence-prevention curriculum that teaches prosocial skills and reduces aggressive behavior.The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of Second Step implementation on students (N = 403) in preschool through fourth grade who were predominately Latino, English language learners, and from families with low socioeconomic status. The data of 165 out of the 403 students were included in the present study. Analyses consisted of paired-samples t-tests to identify changes in social and emotional knowledge and behavioral and emotional risk. Results showed that there was a significant increase in both social and emotional knowledge and behavioral and emotional risk following the implementation of Second Step. These results are discussed with regard to previous and future research, limitations, and implications for school practice. C 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychology in the Schools

The Effect of Bullying and Victimization on Cognitive Empathy Development During the Transition to Middle School

“…Interventions that promote the acquisition of cognitive empathy skills, consistent with many current practices (e.g., Youth Matters or socialemotional learning programs, like Second Step) may be especially useful. In fact, evidence points to the impact of Second Step on elementary school students' prosocial development, including caring and cooperative behavior (Cooke et al 2007), and notes specific gains for Latino students (Brown et al 2012). …”

How Positive Behavioral Supports and Social-Emotional Curriculum Impact Student Learning

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