Resilience Building Curriculum for K-12 Students

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A Message For Educators
There is so much for today’s students and teachers to learn and accomplish together. Teachers are charged with preparing their students to meet academic standards. Yet teachers no doubt recognize that the most compelling task facing every student is to face a changing and challenging world, whatever it may bring, with strength and hope.

As with math and reading, some students appear to learn on their own, finding this strength easily. And just as some require instruction, rehearsal, repetition and reinforcement to proceed in academic subject areas, others may require extra attention and effort to develop those skills that promote strength or resilience.

Resilience is our ability to survive, and even grow, in the face of trauma and stress. It is neither mysterious nor elusive, and it can be easily understood and readily taught. This guide highlights the three components that build resilience – our actions, thoughts and feelings. It provides a series of grade-level workshops for students to build skills in each of these areas. The workshops are interactive, engaging, and easy to administer.

While resilience can be taught and learned, the workshops contained here are just the beginning. Caring teachers will seek additional opportunities to reinforce and expand the lessons learned here. Significant research on how to build resilience has identified five skill areas/assets that are crucial, including communication, relationships, impulse control, problem solving, and flexibility. More easily remembered as the 5 C’s of resilience:

• C – communication – opportunities to discuss one’s situation
• C – connection – caring people in your life
• C – control – the ability to think before you act
• C – consideration – problem solving skills
• C – compromise – the ability to be flexible

Whenever teachers promote one or more of these skills, they are helping their students grow into resilient young people who can face life’s challenges.