UNDERSTANDING SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING

Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is the process through which children understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.

Ridgefield School District (RSD) strives to provide safe, inclusive, and supportive environments that nurture the well-being of the whole child. To help achieve this goal, RSD aligns with the Washington State Social Emotional Learning Standards and Benchmarks and provides explicit opportunities for students to develop SEL skills throughout the school day in a variety of ways.

CURRICULUM: SECOND STEP

To support the development of SEL skills, all schools Pre-K through 8th grade use the Second Step curriculum. Second Step is a classroom-based universal support and typically covers skills such as: skills for learning, goal setting, empathy, emotion management, and problem solving/peer conflict. The goal of Second Step is to increase students’ school success-socially, emotionally, behaviorally, and academically-and decrease problem behaviors by promoting social emotional competence and self-regulation skills. Learn more about grade specific curriculum and resources. Second Step also has a bullying prevention unit specifically designed to teach students how to Recognize, Refuse, and Report bullying behaviors.

WORKING TOGETHER

We understand educating our children requires a partnership. Students need support at home and from the community to succeed in school and life. Each student is unique and learning styles are different. We believe the diversity of our school community, which in simplest terms means the ways in which people are different, enhances the district’s ability to implement our goals. Education involves acknowledging and valuing what is comfortable and known and leading students to an understanding and appreciation of what is new and different. Encountering different perspectives, ideas, ways of thinking, and understandings is an essential part of this process. Through their experience with such differences students develop the ability to think critically, to make informed judgments, to imagine, to understand, and to grow. Helping students understand their connection to the world and to each other will enable them not only to achieve their highest potentials, but also to serve as strong and effective leaders. This principle is at the heart of our mission to foster unlimited possibilities.

Please feel free to navigate this website for tools, and reach out with any questions or ideas you would like to share!

Past Community Events

Supporting Kids, Not Their Anxiety

Kevin Ashworth, LPC, Clinical Director of the NW Anxiety Institute, has worked for the past decade with children, teens, adults and families who live with anxiety disorders and specializes in the delivery of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and exposure therapies. Kevin presents regularly on topics of anxiety, parenting, and CBT and is passionate about helping individuals overcome their fears and change their relationship with anxiety. Watch a recording of Kevin's presentation on YouTube to the right.

Supporting LGBTQ+ Students

Mackenzie Dunham, Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) and Child Mental Health Counselor (CMHS), is the former supervisor of Triple Point, the only LGBTQ Support Group for queer youth in Clark County. She is a member of the National Association of Social Workers and a member of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health.

Dunham put together a presentation to help RSD staff better support LGBTQ+ students and increase their understanding and vocabulary. You can access a PDF version of the presentation here or by clicking on the preview image to the right.