Second Step and Mindfulness
Social and emotional learning (SEL) is the process through which children and adults understand and
manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain
positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. Arroyo Vista currently uses two programs to promote social and emotional growth for our students, Second Step and Mindfulness.
manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain
positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. Arroyo Vista currently uses two programs to promote social and emotional growth for our students, Second Step and Mindfulness.
Second Step provides instruction in social and emotional learning with units on skills for learning, empathy, emotion management, friendship skills, and problem solving. The program contains separate sets of lessons for use in prekindergarten through eighth grade implemented in 22 to 28 weeks each year. Teachers at Arroyo Vista select and implement the lessons best meet the needs of their students.
Mindfulness is the basic human ability to be fully present, aware of where we are and what we’re doing, and not overly reactive or overwhelmed by what’s going on around us. Mindfulness is a quality that every human being already possesses, it’s not something you have to conjure up, you just have to learn how to access it. Teachers at Arroyo Vista practice and teach Mindfulness skills throughout the day and focus on the practices that best meet the needs of their students.