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As a new school year approaches, teachers and parents are sitting somewhere brainstorming ways to effectively incorporate social emotional learning into the lives of their students. Social emotional learning is a process known to help both children and adults learn necessary skills that support self-development, self-awareness, and interpersonal skills. Incorporating the practices of resilience and self-talk on a daily basis within the classroom not only creates a safe space for students, but also sets the tone for fostering a classroom environment that prioritizes both academic excellence and emotional intelligence.
Resilience is the ability to bounce back following a difficult experience and self-talk refers to act of speaking to oneself, whether internal or aloud. These are two essential components for long-term success, helping students navigate through challenges, observe the world around them, and remain motivated no matter what comes their way.
Here are 5 ways to build resilience and positive self-talk for students:
5 Ways To Build Resilience And Positive Self-Talk For Students
1. Create A Positive Classroom Environment
Creating a classroom culture that models positivity sets the tone for how students should carry themselves. Using constant praise and motivating words to push students to excellence allows them to do the same when interacting with their classmates. Letting students know that the classroom is a safe space where they are able to be themselves and speak up, gives them room to be both vulnerable and comfortable. A positive space is a welcoming space where students will want to return on a daily basis.
2. Lead With Positive Self-Talk
Starting each morning with daily affirmations will set the tone for the day. Students should lead the reading of the affirmation each day, allowing them to practice hearing themselves speak positively and confidently.
3. Share Relatable Stories of Resilience
Set aside time to focus on a fun fact or quick story focusing on a historical figure or someone in the media who portrayed resilience. Using someone relatable allows a connection piece resulting in engagement and excitement. This can be done on a daily basis or one day a week. These stories should inspire and uplift. Ending each segment with a brief discussion will push students to dig deep and make strong connections.
4. Incorporate Mindfulness Minutes
Set a timer for moments to reflect. This silent moment gives students a minute to truly practice what they’ve been learning around social emotional learning, specifically navigating internal self-talk. Bonus: Go the extra mile and allow students to get comfortable, closing their eyes and putting their head down on their desk until the timer goes off.
5. Regular Emotional Well-Being Check-Ins
Check-ins have proven to be effective over the years, but adding a new layer and allowing students to break off and check-in with their peers opens space to work on interpersonal skills. This creates a space for authenticity and diverse connections through conversation resulting in relationships and trust being built overtime.
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