Second Step
In fifth grade, students are encouraged to take greater ownership of their social and emotional growth as they prepare for middle school. Through the Second Step program, they refine skills in emotion management, goal-setting, and building supportive peer networks. Instruction also includes lessons from the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center (M.A.R.C.), which provides strategies for bullying prevention, conflict resolution, and digital citizenship. These lessons help students strengthen empathy, practice leadership, and make responsible choices in a variety of settings.
Secondary Resource: Aperture Lessons (DESSA)
Secondary Curricular Resource: Aperture Lessons
Aperture Lessons are short, teacher-led learning experiences designed to strengthen specific social-emotional skills identified through the classwide DESSA-mini screening. When results show that students may benefit from support in areas such as self-management, relationship skills, or decision-making, teachers can use Aperture Lessons to provide focused, developmentally appropriate instruction that builds those competencies. These interactive, practical lessons are easy to integrate into daily routines and help students practice key SEL skills in meaningful ways.
