FAQs about YV Tools and SEL curriculum
- Ilaria Boffa
- Cherilyn Leet
Can your SEI-Youth Version (SEI-YV) assessment be used as a universal screener?
The SEI-YV assessment can be used as a universal screener, a progress-monitoring tool, and/or a program evaluation measure. Results can be used to identify students that might benefit from further evaluation. Six Seconds recommends following-up with students of concern using clinical screening instruments. Universal, school-wide SEL implementation of assessments are described in each stage of the SEL Benchmarks for Schools. Group reports, at the classroom or grade level, provide useful information in addition to individual screening.
Can the SEI-YV or SEI-AV assessments be used as diagnostic tools?
The Six Seconds adult and youth assessments are not designed for clinical diagnostic purposes. However, clinicians use the reports to inform their strengths-based interventions. Psychologists and counselors report increased client engagement from using non-diagnostic EQ tools for secondary evaluation.
Can you provide more information about the assessment norms, such as comparative populations of clinical vs. nonclinical populations?
Our normed sample includes students ranging from low to high socioeconomic status in their country of origin. In addition, the sample includes students with diagnosed learning disabilities and behavioral, emotional, and developmental disorders. We have data from schools and clinics that specialize in serving youth with diagnosed conditions factored into our norm sample. The sample also includes students identified as gifted and talented.
SEI-YV Assessment Norms (for youth ages 7-16) - Student Self-Assessment
P-YV Assessment Norms (for youth ages 4-18) - Parent/Teacher Observation Assessment
How long are the youth assessment reports?
Most of the youth reports for Tier 1 applications are a single page. For a more targeted approach (Tier 2 and Tier 3 interventions), longer reports can be generated from the initial survey. The longest youth report is 10 pages with an additional data section for the adult conducting the debrief.
Which youth reports are suggested for each tier of multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) intervention and how are they used?
Tier 1
Assessments provide individual and group social-emotional strengths and challenges. Moreover, results can be used for evaluation of SEL programs and PBIS supports.
Unlocking EQ Youth - includes 9 AI-generated reflection questions and a goal-setting area
Brain Brief Profile Youth - snapshot of the brain’s preferences for processing data
Brain Talent Profile Youth - lists the top 6 executive functioning skills
Classroom Dashboard - ranks class performance of 16 executive functions
Tier 2
Raw data denotes which EQ Competencies warrant additional reinforcement and support.
Any of the Tier 1 reports
SEI-YV Complete Youth Report - emphasis on using the 5 Life Barometers and the breakdown of the 8 EQ Competencies; this report requires debrief and analysis by a YVAC certified professional
Tier 3:
Assessments used for identifying SEL competencies and Life Barometers as strengths for Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or for disability accommodations (504 plan). Individual data guides parent meetings and allows for customized home interventions.
Any of the Tier 1 and 2 reports
SEI-YV Complete Youth Report - emphasis on using the Yardsticks, connecting the EQ Competencies with the Life Barometers; this report requires debrief and analysis by a YVAC certified professional
How long does it take to complete the SEI YV questionnaire on average?
From 10 to 20 minutes.
Should we debrief the youth together with their parents, the youth alone or …?
Our recommendation is to agree with the parents or guardians and the youth a two step debrief: first with the child alone and then with the parents/guardian. It’s important to offer the youth the space and freedom to express.
How does the Self-Science, 4th Ed., curriculum support Tier 2 interventions?
The Self-Science curriculum can be used as a universal (Tier 1) classroom curriculum for K-8. The extensions and variations of the curriculum can be used for Tier 2 targeted support. Best practice is for students to experience the lessons together as Tier 1, then in Tier 2 small groups, if needed to practice and reinforce the concepts through games, songs, and extensions. Some schools have counselors co-teach the lessons with the homeroom teacher. Other districts utilize the Self-Science curriculum only in Tier 2 counseling groups.
For more information, here is a paper presented at the CASEL 2019 SEL Exchange which describes how a school used the Self-Science curriculum to provide tiered interventions for neurotypical children as well as those with special needs.
Moreover, there are numerous methods of curriculum implementation, determined by the instructional setting. See the chart below for more information.
Options for Self-Science Curriculum Implementation: |
Start to Finish Sequence of lessons as written for each level (either all 16 lessons or only 8)
Spiraling EQ-Model One Know Yourself lesson, one Choose Yourself lesson, one Give Yourself lesson and repeat
Strengths-Based Approach Start with the lessons either from the students’ or the instructor’s EQ strengths, move toward challenge area
Leveled EQ Pursuit For one level, focus on completing all the lessons within a single pursuit (ex: all the Choose Yourself lessons in Level 2).
Single Competency Exploration Build one EQ competency from Level 1 through Level 4
Student Choice Allow students to vote on the lesson order |
Can we see a sample K/1 Self-Science lesson and a sample 5/6 Self-Science lesson?
Here is a brochure with the Scope and Sequence and sample lessons. The first example is a science experiment to grow the skills of Recognizing Patterns, originally designed for K/1; however, it has been used up through high school. The second example is a language arts lesson to build Emotional Literacy skills. The vocabulary can be adjusted for use in lower grade levels and the lesson has been used up through undergraduates.
Do you have any shorter, ready-made lessons?
The Six Seconds POP-UP Festival lessons, in partnership with UNICEF World Children’s Day, provide 10-minute social emotional learning activities, discussions, and crafts.
POP-UP lessons are translated into numerous languages, which helps with home-school connection.
Each lesson has a short demo video so the teacher feels confident with implementation.
Explore the 2020 POP-UP map and our Facebook page with images of teachers and classrooms around the world.
In celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Convention of the Rights of the Child (November 20, 2019), UNICEF asked Six Seconds to run SEL lessons at their world headquarters in NYC. Six Seconds trained students in ages 11-14 to facilitate the activities for the students ages 4-10, as well as for their teachers and relatives.
Watch an additional POP-UP SEL presentation at the United Nations Academic Impact conference (May 2019).