Mental health has been a challenge for educators for years and the pandemic only increased the needs of students and educators. Scared and unhappy kids can’t learn. In this episode we talk to a middle school administrator who has been bringing greater awareness, sharper focus, and useful practices to students and educators in her school and district.
Courtney Rau Rogers is a middle school Assistant Principal in suburban Boston. For the last 7-8 years she has been studying trauma-informed instruction, Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), and looking to find ways to increase students’ social-emotional skills and coping mechanisms. Her school uses their advisory program to deliver instruction and create small groups to make connections. This helps build resiliency and coping skills.
This focused and intentional part of the school schedule works by providing simple tools that target the skill areas students are lacking, such as self-regulation, persistence, and confidence. The advisory program uses daily themes with sample activities that teachers can use or adapt for their own groups. The school uses Sown to Grow as a tool to help keep fingers on the pulse of the population overall as well as on individuals who may need support.
Recorded on 7/10/23
Resources
- Fostering Resilient Learners:
Kristen Souers and Pete Hall, Relationship, Responsibility, & Regulation and Fostering Resilient Learners. Also have related quick reference guides. ASCD publishers. - Sown to Grow
- Sharon Salzberg: Mindfulness resources for your own development
- Center on PBIS (pbis.org) Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports
Find Courtney Rau Rogers: LinkedIn, Facebook (Courtney Rau Rogers), Twitter (@courtneyrau), Instagram (@courtneyrau71)
Massachusetts Department of Education
603 CMR 53.00: STUDENT DISCIPLINE Section 53.01: Purpose and Scope 53.02 :
https://www.mass.gov/doc/603-cmr-53-student-discipline/download