Topic 11 - Resiliency
Teacher's main goal to help students with resilience: SUPPORT
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Teachers don't always have the right answers or support available to students that come from the teacher personally. In that regard, having access to support for students is the main goal that teacher's can have in fostering resiliency in students.
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External supports and resources would be important for a teacher to know HOW to access, and WHEN these supports would need to be sought out. Examples of these external resources are psychologist, social workers, grief counselors, teacher assistant, other teachers in the school, parents, and the principle. Also extra curricular groups, or activities can be considered and external support that helps a student foster resilience as it connects them to their peers and community and gives them a chance to develop self-respect and self-confidence that are important characteristics that help a person become more resilient.
It is important for the teacher to pay attention to any differences that they notice in students and try and decide if the behaviour or emotional/psychological state of the student is in need of these external supports.
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Internal supports (within the classroom) are also important to provide students with in order to support resiliency. For example, the teacher could foster activities that would target individual characteristics of the 6 Cs - Competence, Confidence, Contribution, Connection, Caring, Character. These activities will help develop qualities of the adolescent so that they will be more equipped to handle difficult situations when they are encountered. Also encouraging these characteristics is important when they happen naturally. If a teacher notices a student becoming more immersed, proficient, or more applied in the 6Cs, the teacher should act warm and caring and encouraging. The student should be acknowledged so that this positive action is rewarded, in the hopes that it will be more likely to be a permanent characteristic for the student that will help them.
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Resources:
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One important resource I thought of is called "Dr. On Demand". It is an app produced by Dr. Phil that can be downloaded on a smart phone, tablet, or device. With this app, within seconds of logging on, anyone can access "face to face" or by video conference a board certified physician. This is helpful for more urgent scenarios when a student needs support or for when a teacher knows the student needs support but is not sure how to provide it. One of the physician s accessed on the Dr. On Demand app can assess the situation and help with a plan personally for helping the student or the doctor can make a future referral for the student to be helped by another professional.
http://www.doctorondemand.com/
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How to measure resiliency being fostered in schools/ students: http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/sept96/vol54/num01/Building-Resiliency-in-Students.aspx
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Important tips and resources for developing resilience in the classroom:
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How to emotionally support students and when to do so:
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