Skills for Secondary School Success (4S)

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Skills for Secondary School Success (4S) is a new research-based curriculum designed to prepare students for high school by boosting their competence, self-management, growth mindset, self-efficacy, sense of school belonging, and purpose.

4S is a 40-lesson course module, for 7th and/or 8th grade students in a non-core course of the school’s choosing. Participating schools will select one of three different professional development modalities for participating teachers. The course includes all curriculum materials (Spanish version also available), 6-8 hours of professional development for 4s teachers, and $1,000 honoraria for participating 4s teachers.

Johns Hopkins University (JHU) seeks to partner with schools to evaluate Skills for Secondary School Success (4S), a new research-based curriculum designed to prepare students for high school by boosting their competence, self-management, growth mindset, self-efficacy, sense of school belonging, and purpose. Impact evaluation study results indicate significant positive effects on students’ goal orientation and promising effects on other non-cognitive skills.

The requirements for participation

• At least one teacher  at the school agrees to participate in approximately 6-8 hours of professional development  (with a $1,000 honorarium)
• School agrees to embed 40-lesson course module within a non-core course (replacing normal curriculum for those 40 lessons).
• School participates fully in data collection (student and teacher surveys/focus groups/interviews).

If you would like to participate or receive further information, please email:  marcy@jhu.edu

Participating schools will implement Skills for Secondary School Success (4S), a 40 lessons course module, for grade 7 and/or grade 8 students in a non-core course of the school’s choosing. Participating schools will select one of three different professional development modalities for participating teachers.

Summer/Fall 2024

Click on links below to view full 4S lesson plans.

Lesson Plan – Unit 1; Lesson 6

Lesson Plan – Unit 2; Lesson 8

Lesson Plan – Unit 4; Lesson 1