3 Tips to Boost Teacher Buy-In for Human Skills Instruction

As the primary implementers of human skills programs, teachers play an outsized role in whether these programs are successful in school communities. Research shows that when teachers implement their human skills programs with fidelity, students are more likely to achieve desired outcomes—like improved academic skills, prosocial behaviors, and overall well-being. Implementation fidelity is influenced by several factors, but one of the most important among them is generating buy-in among teachers.

Teachers understand the importance of strengthening human skills, generally, but it can sometimes be difficult to generate staff-wide buy-in for human skills programs or initiatives. If educators are hesitant, it’s often because they’re concerned that human skills instruction may crowd their already busy classroom agendas. With so many competing learning objectives—from achieving grade-level competency to preparing for standardized tests—human skills instruction can sometimes feel like another task on an endless to-do list.

Since most teachers understand the many benefits of human skills instruction, generating buy-in and implementation fidelity in a human skills program is more about helping them understand how the program fits into their classrooms and long-term instructional goals.

Here are a few research-based tips to help teachers commit to consistent, high-quality human skills instruction in their classrooms.

1. Create a schoolwide vision

One major factor in generating buy-in and implementation success is creating a shared, schoolwide vision of your goals. In what ways do you hope human skills instruction will drive change in your school? Is your goal to minimize absences, improve school climate, boost academic achievement, or all of the above? How much time do you want teachers to devote to human skills education in their classrooms? Questions like these can guide you toward a clear vision that’s meaningful to your school community.

Be sure to involve teachers in the process of creating your vision and goals. This makes teachers feel like their perspective is an essential part of the school’s shared vision, which can generate more buy-in and higher implementation fidelity. A shared vision ensures that everyone in your school community is on the same page and that teachers understand the larger purpose of implementing human skills programs in their classrooms. When they can see the bigger picture, teachers are even more likely to do the smaller, day-to-day things that lead to long-term success.

2. Remind teachers that human skills instruction will give them time back

Another way to generate enthusiasm and teacher buy-in is to explain the ways that teaching human skills can eventually improve their classrooms and help their students learn. Some teachers may be concerned that human skills instruction takes away valuable academic instruction time. But the skills that students can develop through human skills programs—like active listening, problem-solving, self-awareness, and emotion management—can help kids become better academic learners, thus contributing to a better academic environment for both students and teachers.

Second Step® program users often report that human skills instruction ends up giving them more time, not less, for high-quality academic instruction because teachers are spending less time dealing with classroom disruptions and behavioral issues.

Remind teachers that investing in human skills programming in their classrooms can lead to significant long-term benefits for their students, and they’ll be more likely to carve out time in their busy agendas for high-quality human skills instruction.

3. Provide professional development and support

Like any learning domain, human skills instruction requires training, development, and ongoing support from other educators. Teaching kids how to manage their emotions, identify stressful situations, and build relationships can be as demanding and complex as teaching them algebra, and school leaders play an important role in supporting educators in the growth of their human skills pedagogy.

Professional development sessions, check-ins, and coaching can all be effective ways to support your teachers. Second Step digital programs provide a Leader Dashboard that allows school leaders to monitor implementation fidelity and other important progress data. This can be a useful tool to help teachers remain accountable and consistent with human skills instruction.

To ensure successful implementation of a human skills program, it’s essential to generate authentic enthusiasm and buy-in from teachers. Creating a shared vision, reminding teachers of the benefits of human skills programs, and providing ongoing instructional support are all effective strategies to boost buy-in among teachers.

You can find more resources and guidelines to support effective implementation of Second Step digital programs on your Leader Dashboard.