Throughout the school year we have been focused on ways to build resilience in our students. We started the year talking about growth mindset with the help of yoyos and a special visit from the NED Show (NED stands for Never give up, Encourage others, Do your best). Then, through classroom lessons as well as individual and small group conversations, students have learned and practiced skills that help build resilience in school, at home and in their relationships. Some of the topics covered include:
- Conflict resolution and problem solving skills,
- Emotion identification and regulation when upset,
- Cooperation, communication and so much more!
During the month of April, classroom lessons with the counselor brought these skills and experiences together and we looked specifically at what it takes to be able to bounce back from difficult situations.
Kindergarten-1st Grade
With the help of this video, students learned what it means to be resilient and some of the situations in which resilience might be helpful. Then, kids had a chance to practice resilience when given a hard task to complete (Kinder: balancing on one foot. 1st: setting up a long line of blocks like dominoes). They had fun and demonstrated that even when something really challenging or unfair happens (i.e. someone causes them lose their balance or knocked down their blocks), they can bounce back from disappointment and find the fun in the activity anyway.
2nd - 4th Grades
Have you ever done and Escape Room? Well, kids LOVE the in-class version of an escape room called a Breakout Box. Students had to work together in small groups to solve riddles and find lock combinations and, as a class unlock a box of treasures. Even when things got really hard or feelings got hurt, students pushed through and got their locks opened. I reminded them that failing is part of learning and that even when we feel sad, frustrated or down-right angry, resilience and perseverance can help us accomplish our goals. When you get "knocked down" get back up! And never give up!
5th - 6th Grades
With the help of different images and videos, students discussed the meaning of resilience and what skills they have, or need to develop, in order to be resilient in difficult circumstances. Ask your student which of the following symbols of resilience they connected with the most when it comes to bouncing back from their own problems.
- Weeble Wobbles (watch this video)
- The Natural World (i.e. plants that can grow in difficult terrain)
- Building Muscles
- Basketball
- A Rubberband
- A Trampoline
Cultivating a Gratitude Practice
Students were reminded that practicing gratitude, or being grateful for people, places and things in their lives, isn’t just a once a year kind of thing. We discussed how having gratitude for even the smallest things can help us to feel happier. The overall goal was for students to understand that being grateful for even the smallest things can help us when things get tough.
Kindergarten-2nd grade:
The end goal for our youngest students was to be able to define gratitude, and to name one thing and one person they are grateful for. Students practiced this same objective throughout the week using a dice game, journal entries, speaking in Friendship Circle, and listening to stories read aloud. We ended the week by taking a walk outside and around the school focusing on our outdoor environment. We looked for even the smallest things to be grateful for, e.g. the sunshine, mountains, a beautiful neighborhood, etc. By the end, students named several people they are grateful for, and defined gratitude as being thankful.
3rd-6th:
Our older students, like the younger, were required to name people and things they were grateful for, but expressed it in different ways. Students brainstormed a list and then created a piece of artwork, specifically a mandala, representing these ideas.
Later in the week, students chose one person to write a letter expressing their gratitude for that person and the reasons for it. They were very excited to deliver these letters! Some students mailed them off if their person wasn’t able to be given the letter in person. Lastly, students were encouraged to continue cultivating their gratitude practice in order to keep it as part of their everyday life, not just for when we learn about it in Wellness.
What you can do at home to support this learning!
For all students, share your thoughts about gratitude as often as possible. If you have a “gratitude practice”, encourage them to do it with you, or to see how you practice it. For example, if you journal on a daily basis, share your thoughts with them. Also let them know how it makes you feel. Modeling for them how it impacts your daily experiences is a wonderful thing to do. You can also start a conversation with your family when you are all together. Perhaps when you are eating dinner, each person can tell you about their day and what they are grateful for. Even our youngest students can participate in the discussion! Encourage them to see even the smallest things to be grateful for. This is especially helpful when they are experiencing difficulties. This is not to say that it should “erase” the things that are difficult, but it can help balance their perspective.
Join us for the final discussion of 13 Things Mentally Strong Parents Don't Do, by Amy Morin. The author outlines practical ways we, as parents, can help raise children who are confident, resilient, happy and healthy!
Our final discussion will take place on May 14th after the PTO meeting. Even if you missed one or both of the prior meetings, join us for this wrap up discussion.
- PTO has graciously offered to shorten their meetings a bit on these dates so we can start our book study around 6:30. We will end by 7:30pm.
Where: CCE Library
Child care provided!
Can't make it to all three discussions? No problem! Read the book anyway and come when you can.