Culture Compass & SEL Updates

Beginning the week of October 7, 2024, all students will receive daily social emotional learning instruction. Teachers will use a program called Second Step for SEL instruction. Second Step is a district wide program and is required for all WCPSS students grades K - 8.

Below you will find a letter that shares more information about the Second Step program and what your student will be learning this year:

Each week, I will share with you a summary of the upcoming lesson and an activity for you to try at home. I will also continue to share the unit home link. The home link will provide you with additional details about the unit.

Lesson 6: Sometimes We Feel Happy

Summary

In this week’s lesson, your child will learn to use body language and context clues to figure out when someone feels happy. They’ll practice looking at the person’s face and body, as well as thinking about what’s going on in the situation.

Try This at Home

Encourage your child to notice when others around them feel happy. Have them practice using body language and context clues to figure out when family members, friends, or characters in books, movies, or on TV might be feeling happy.

Lesson 6: Noticing Feelings

Summary

In this week’s lesson, your child will practice using body language and context clues (looking at the person’s face and body, thinking about what’s going on in the situation) to figure out how someone is feeling.

Try This at Home

Ask your child to tell you how they think others around them might be feeling, for example a sibling, or a character in a story, a movie, or a TV show.

Lesson 6: Feeling Proud

Summary

In this week’s lesson, your child will learn that we can feel proud when we accomplish something difficult or when we do something nice for others.

Try This at Home

Ask your child to tell you about a time they felt proud. Tell them about a time you felt proud of something you accomplished or of doing something nice for others.

Lesson 6: Why Emotions?

Summary

In this week’s lesson, your child will learn that emotions give us information about what we want or need.

Try This at Home

Ask your child what information the emotions fear, sadness, and happiness give us.

Lesson 6: The Balanced Brain

Summary

In this week’s lesson, your child will learn that our brain works best when the logic and emotion centers are balanced and working together.

Try This at Home

Tell your child about a time when a strong emotion made it hard for you to learn something new or caused you to say or do something that hurt someone’s feelings. Discuss why it’s important to learn to manage strong emotions.

Lesson 6: Strong Emotions

Summary

In this week’s lesson, your child will learn that it’s possible to anticipate recurring situations that cause them to feel strong emotions so they can plan ways to manage those emotions in the future.

Try This at Home

Tell your child about a recurring situation in your life that typically causes you to feel a strong emotion, like anger or frustration. Ask your child to tell you about similar situations in their life.

If you have questions and/or would like to discuss the information shared in this week's Culture Compass, please contact me directly.