Social-Emotional Skills for Thriving and Relating at School
The SSTRS Program is a school-readiness intervention developed at the Oregon Social Learning Center. SSTRS is based on the curricula from the evidence-based Kids In Transition to School (KITS) Program. The program is designed to strengthen children’s social-emotional skills in the kindergarten classroom. There is also a group for parents. Click here to download a printable PDF with information about the SSTRS Program in the classroom.
For Kids
The SSTRS Curriculum is delivered by kindergarten teachers in 40 25-minute lessons during the school day. The 8-week school readiness curriculum concentrates on:
- Self-regulation (e.g., sitting still during instruction and raising hands)
- Social skills (e.g., sharing, making friends, joining a game and being a good sport, cooperation, and problem solving)
- Emotion knowledge (e.g., recognizing feelings, handling big feelings in helpful ways)
For Parents
An 8 session workshop for parents fosters opportunities for peer to peer support, virtually or in person, while focusing on:
- Supporting learning at home.
- Encouraging positive behaviors at home and school.
- Establishing routines for a smooth transition to kindergarten.
- Becoming involved with their children’s schooling.
FAQs
- Your district’s website is a great place to find information on the programs your district offers. Sign up varies by district, some schools offer online sign ups, some have a phone number to call. Most schools will offer sign up for SSTRS during their kindergarten registration events. You can also check our Facebook page for information on how to sign up.
- Self-regulation skills necessary for kindergarten like sitting still, raising hands, and making transitions. Social Skills like making friends, cooperation, and sharing. Emotion knowledge such as recognizing feelings and handling big feelings in a helpful way.
- In SSTRS parent groups, parents discuss ways to support learning at home, how to encourage positive behaviors at home and school, how to use routines to make a smooth transition to kindergarten, and how to become involved in their children’s schooling. We hear frequently from parents who participate that the parent-to-parent support they experience in group is one of the most valuable pieces, and favorite reason to attend.
- SSTRS classroom sessions are 25 minutes long and happen 5 days a week for 8 weeks in a total of 40 lessons.
- SSTRS parent groups meet once a week for 8 weeks. In- person groups meet for 2 hours per session and virtual groups meet for 90 minutes.
- For information about how the KITS Family of Programs align with ESSA guidelines, click here.
- For information about how the KITS Family of Programs align with Trauma-Informed Care Principles, click here.
- Here is a template letter you can send in to your school/district with information about KITS programs and how to contact KITS for more information
- Click here to download a printable PDF with information about the SSTRS Program in the classroom.