Must-dos at your school site:
Make readings/videos available to students and staff.
Parent Letter and/or Newsletter to be posted/distributed to parents.
Post/distribute hand-outs.
Recommended reading:
PreK - 3rd Grade
4th - 6th grade
Middle/High School
Disclosure: Some middle/high school readings contain language and/or sensitive topics that need previewing by school before given to youth.
Staff/Parents
Videos:
Elmo Doesn't Give Up (PreK-1st)
Don’t Give Up Bruno Mars (PreK-3rd)
David Beckham: Persistent (PreK-3rd)
Birds on a Wire (PreK - 6th Grade)
The World's Greatest (All students)
Piece of Chalk (All students)
Reporting Risky Behavior (All students)
The Science of Resilience (Staff)
Hand-outs:
99 Coping Skills (All students)
General Warning Signs (All students)
Resiliency Wheel (for all students)
"The Power of Yet" Poster (Elementary)
Potential At--Risk Behaviors (Middle and High School)
Promoting Resilience in Schools (Staff)
Activities:
Rubber Band Activity: show kids the rubber band, ask for a list of characteristics for a rubber band. Have them write down how they are like a rubber band. (The goal is to talk about how a rubber band is resilient.)
Helper Words
I keep my mind open and flexible to help solve problems.
I tell myself to slow down and take a breath when things go wrong. I can do this. I’ll keep working and figure it out.
I’m getting this figured out. I’ll feel good when I’m done.
Activity: (Write the Helper Words on the board for the children to copy. Hand out Post It notes and ask them to write their favorite Helper Words to share with their parents and put on their mirror at home.) Let’s read this list out loud. What other positive things do you say to yourself when things are tough? Which of these Helper Words do you want to remember about working with your feelings? You can feel good about yourself when you put positive Helper Words in your mind. Pat yourselves on your back when you use your Helper Words
Draw and share:
Create a collage with images and words of things you can do to bounce back when there is a challenging situation (these things help build those resilience muscles).
Example: Talking to family for support/ taking a break from the difficult situation, images of places you like to go to chill out and relax/ exercise/spending time with friends telling jokes.
Create a symbol:
A phoenix sometimes represents resilience and the ability to bounce back after a struggle. In a group or individually draw a phoenix and leave a space to add long feathers to its tail. On each feather write some of the things you can do to cope with change such as:
Speak to friends
take a time out
play sports
tell jokes etc.
This phoenix can be added to during the year every time you come up with something new that has helped you to cope. It can also be a reminder of the things you can try when a challenging situation arises.