• John and Jacquelyn Miller Elementary School aligns their mission for Social Emotional Learning with Lancaster School District and is committed to meeting the needs of the whole child, including every student’s social-emotional learning skills. Social emotional learning (SEL) teaches students to gain confidence, set goals, make better decisions, collaborate with others in work and play, and navigate the world more effectively.  These skills are essential to being successful in the school environment as well as important to thrive later in the work environment.  The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL)  is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works to bring awareness to evidence-based SEL and promote these practices and initiatives.    

    CASEL recognizes Second Step as an evidence-based social-emotional learning curriculum.  Lessons are taught weekly in classrooms throughout the district.  Second Step addresses building empathy, emotional recognition and management, problem solving, impulse control, calming down, communication skills, and assertiveness.  Lessons involve engaging short videos, skills-building exercises and discussion topics.  There is a different set of lessons for each grade level from universal transitional kindergarten (UTK) - 8th grade. 

    Kelso’s Choice is another SEL program promoted at Miller Elementary School, as well as in Lancaster School District.  It is a conflict resolution curriculum that is taught by school counselors through classroom lessons in elementary schools.  Kelso is a green frog that teaches students the difference between big and small problems.  Big problems are managed by adults while small problems are handled by the students.  For small problems, students are encouraged to use one of nine different conflict resolution solutions, such as wait and cool off, ignore it, talk it out, tell them to stop, and others. The School Counselor at Miller Elementary also offers Classroom Lessons based on various social-emotional topics, such as friendship skills, bullying prevention, and self-advocacy. 

    For additional information and/or resources, please check out these links. 

    Suicide Prevention

    Bullying Prevention

    The Collaborative of Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL)

    Second Step Social-Emotional Learning Curriculum

    Kelso's Choice Conflict Resolution Program