Elementary School
Experience
Norwood Avenue Elementary School
Supervisor: Dr. Alan Tener
Second Step Elementary: Grade 1
The Second Step First-Grade Empathy Program is a social-emotional learning (SEL) curriculum designed to help young students develop empathy, emotional awareness, and positive social interactions. Through interactive lessons, stories, and role-playing activities, first graders learn to recognize and understand others' feelings, practice kindness, and build foundational skills for healthy relationships. The program encourages perspective-taking and emotion regulation, fostering a more inclusive and compassionate classroom environment.
My students found Speedy the Snail and Puppy captivating, teaching me skills involving classroom management. I also discovered the power of silliness and how it creates engaging, memorable, and developmentally appropriate learning experiences.
After 5 weeks of Second Step first-grade push-in lessons, one of the classes surprised me with a "Our Calm Ideas" book.
Equity Walk
Northport's Belonging Committee encouraged every school in the district to implement equity walks. Equity walks gauge and reflect on the physical spaces of the schools. This includes common spaces such as main offices, entrances, hallways, cafeterias, gymnasiums, libraries, etc. Each building subcommittee was tasked with using a rubric during a walk-through exercise with either the building subcommittee or the building faculty at large. As the school counseling intern, I was tasked with developing a rubric for Norwood Avenue Elementary School.
The equity walk is referred to as the Tiger Tours: Welcome Walk. Why implement an equity walk into your school?
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Welcoming, caring, inclusive, respectful, and safe learning environment.
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Pointing to areas that require improvement.
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Allows perception feedback from school leaders, teachers, faculty, and staff.
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An intentional whole-school approach.
Calming Corners
The goal of implementing Calming Corners into the classroom is to have students build self-regulation skills and improve their emotional well-being. Calming Corners allow students to have their own space to refocus and be present during classroom activities.
ASCA Behaviors
B-SMS 2. Self-discipline and self-control
B-SMS 7. Effective coping skills
B-SMS 9. Personal safety skills
B-SS 8. Advocacy skills for self and others and ability to assert self, when necessary
B-SS 9. Social maturity and behaviors appropriate to the situation and environment
ASCA Mindsets
M1. Belief in development of whole self, including a healthy balance of mental, social/emotional and physical well-being
M2. Sense of acceptance, respect, support and inclusion for self and others in the school environment
M3. Positive attitude toward work and learning
Calming Corner Flashcards
I created these flashcards to be included in every calming corner kit. These flashcards guide students through calming-down techniques.
