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Positive Education: Using the Science of Positive Psychology to
Help Students Thrive
Jane Gillham, Ph.D.Psychology Department, Swarthmore College
Penn Resiliency Project, University of Pennsylvania
Email: [email protected]
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Educating for ResilienceUniversity of Toronto SchoolsNovember 4, 2013
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Gratitude:
� John Abela
� Rachel Abenavoli
� Afroze Anjum
� Steve Brunwasser
� Derek Freres
� Robert Gallop
� Kevin Haney
� Beth Krause
� John Hamilton
� Mark Linkins
� Donna Mayerson
� Neal Mayerson
� Nansook Park
� Sharon Parker
� Chris Peterson
� Tayyab Rashid
� Karen Reivich
� Martin Seligman
� Clorinda Vélez
� Breanna Winder
� And many, many other members
of the PRP, PPYP, & GT research
teams
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teams
� The many students, parents, teachers, and counselors who have participated in our
projects and whose experiences have informed the development of these programs.
� For funding and supporting this research:
� National Institute of Mental Health
� US Department of Education
� Kaiser Foundation Research Institute
� Swarthmore College & University of Pennsylvania
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Overview
• Background: The case for positive education &
resilience
• Programs & Research (Examples)• Programs & Research (Examples)
• Prevention
• Promotion
• Positive Schools
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Think about an important lesson that you
learned from one of your teachers
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Adapted from work by Mark Linkins,
Mayerson Foundation & VIA Institute.
Used with permission
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What do we want most for our children /
our students?
What qualities and skills will be essential in
their adult lives?
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The Other Side of the
Report Card
Close Relationships
Contentment
Confidence / self-efficacy
Resilience
Balance
Kindness
Contribution
Meaning
Wisdom
Joy
Etc.7
Collaborative for Social, Academic, and
Emotional Learning (CASEL): – www.casel.org
Elias et al (2002, 2008); Seligman et al. (2009)
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“The function of education is to teach one to
think intensively and to think critically. But
education which stops with efficiency may
prove the greatest menace to society. The prove the greatest menace to society. The
most dangerous criminal may be the man
gifted with reason, but with no morals…
Martin Luther King, Jr.Morehouse College Student Newspaper (1947)
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…We must remember that intelligence is not
enough. Intelligence plus character – that is
the goal of true education. The complete
education gives one not only power of education gives one not only power of
concentration, but worthy objects upon which
to concentrate.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.Morehouse College Student Newspaper (1947)
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“Parents want schools to teach more than
academic achievement. They also want us to
cultivate a love of learning, creativity,
resilience, optimism, character strengths, and resilience, optimism, character strengths, and
wellbeing in their children.”
– Geelong Grammar School, Australiawww.ggs.vic.edu.au/Positive-Education/Overview.aspx
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Persistence & Grit
It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay
with problems longer
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-- Albert Einstein
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Mental Health Problems
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Substance Abuse
• Conduct Disorder• Conduct Disorder
• Eating Disorders
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Mental Health Problems
“A typical school of 1,000 students could be
expected to have between 180 and 220
students with diagnosable psychiatric
disorders.”
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disorders.”
-- Beth Doll (1996)
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61%
40%
50%
60%
70%
Percent of Students Reporting
Caring Relationships at School
33%
26%
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
5th grade 7th grade 9th grade
From Benard & Slade (2009) &
California Healthy Kids Survey 14
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60%
80%
100%
Percent Reporting
Meaningful Participation at School
18% 16% 13%
0%
20%
40%
60%
5th grade 7th grade 9th grade
From Benard & Slade (2009) &
California Healthy Kids Survey15
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Programs & Research
(Examples)
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Programs and Research
1. Prevention -- Interrupt downward spirals
2. Promotion – Build upward spirals
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Resilience
• Adaptation in the face of adversity
• Thoughts, behaviors, & actions that can be
learned and developedlearned and developed
•• RR vs. rr
American Psychological Association – The Road to Resilience
http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/road-resilience.aspx#
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Resilience Programs
• Help students handle challenges and stressors
• Teach cognitive-behavioral skills
• Prevent and interrupt downward spirals
• Example:
– Penn Resilience Programs (PRP)
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Penn Resilience Program
• School delivery
• Ages 11-16
• 18-24 hours of content• 18-24 hours of content
• Practice & application outside of course
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A - Adversity(Negative Event / Circumstance)
I didn’t get selected for choir
Intuitive Model of Experience
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C - Consequences(Feelings/Behaviors)
Feel sad, give up on practicing
singing21
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A - Adversity(Negative Event / Circumstance)
I didn’t get selected for choir
Cognitive (ABC) Model (Beck, 1976; Ellis, 1962; Seligman, 1991)
B – Beliefs
I have a terrible voice. I’m
never going to be any good
at singing.
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C - Consequences(Feelings/Behaviors)
Feel sad, give up on practicing
singing
at singing.
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•Pessimism(“It’s never going to work out”)
•Perfectionism
Identify self-talk,
especially maladaptive thinking styles
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•Perfectionism (“I have to be good at everything I do”;“I have to be liked by everyone”)
•Fixed mindset (“If I were smart, I wouldn’t have to work so hard”)
Seligman (1991); Ellis (1962); Dweck (2010)
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Gillham, Reivich, & Jaycox (2009).
The Penn Resiliency Program
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Pessimism � Depression
15%
20%
Development of clinical depression (young adults) (from Abramson et al., 2000)
0%
5%
10%
15%
Optimistic
Pessimistic
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A - Adversity(Negative Event / Circumstance)
Don’t get invited to party /
social event
Identifying Downward Spirals
B – Beliefs(Interpretations, attributions,
expectations)
Nobody really likes me. I’ll never
have any friends
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C - Consequences(Feelings/Behaviors)
Feel sad, withdraw from peers
have any friends
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A - Adversity(Negative Event / Circumstance)
Don’t get invited to party /
social event
Identifying Downward Spirals
B – Beliefs(Interpretations, attributions,
expectations)
Nobody really likes me. I’ll never
have any friends
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C - Consequences(Feelings/Behaviors)
Feel sad, withdraw from peers
have any friends
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A - Adversity(Negative Event / Circumstance)
Receive low grade on math
test
Identifying Downward Spirals
B – Beliefs(Interpretations, attributions,
expectations)
I’m stupid. I can’t do math.
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C - Consequences(Feelings/Behaviors)
Feel sad, hopeless; stop studying
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Flexibility•Consider alternatives (how else
can I look at the situation?)
Challenge negative self-talk
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Accuracy• Examine evidence (for, against)
[Slow + Fast Skills]
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Flexibility•Consider alternatives (how else
can I look at the situation?)
Challenge negative self-talk
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Accuracy• Examine evidence (for, against)
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Behavioral Skills
– Problem-solving
• Assertiveness
• Negotiation
• Creative problem-solving
• Decision making
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• Decision making
– Coping
• Emotion Control (stop, take deep breath, count to 10)
• Relaxation
• Distraction (Changing the Channel)
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A - Adversity
Interrupting Downward Spirals
B – Pessimistic Beliefs
Challenge Beliefs
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C – Maladaptive behaviors
Coping & Problem-Solving
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PRP on NPRJanuary 18, 2010
• AUBREY: And then there's
Bryce Marcus. He says he's
trying to use what he's
learned.
www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122526518
learned.
• Mr. MARCUS: It's come in
handy here sometimes, when
I get mad.
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PRP on NPR
• AUBREY: A few weeks ago, he said he was
furious with his sister when he came home
from school and found his video game broken
on the floor. But before he started a fight, he on the floor. But before he started a fight, he
stopped to find out the facts. Turns out, it was
an accident.
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PRP on NPR
• Mr. MARCUS: I went into the bathroom, and I
looked in the mirror and I was like...
• (Sound bite of breathing) • (Sound bite of breathing)
• Mr. MARCUS: ...and I was trying to calm
down...
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PRP on NPR
• AUBREY: And if he hadn't taken that moment
to reflect?
• Mr. MARCUS: I would have got grounded • Mr. MARCUS: I would have got grounded
because I would have been yelling, and it
would have been a big mess.
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PRP Research: Study 1(Jaycox et al., 1994; Gillham et al., 1995; Gillham & Reivich, 1999)
• School (after school)
• 118 5th & 6th graders at risk for depression
• PRP vs. Control
• Measures: • Measures:
– Pessimistic Thinking Styles (CASQ)
– Depressive Symptoms (CDI)
– Behavior problems (CBCL/ASEBA)
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PRP Study 1. (Jaycox et al., 1994; Gillham et al., 1995; Gillham & Reivich, 1999)
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Also benefits of PRP on
•Thinking style (optimism)
•Behavior problems
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20+ controlled studies, diverse samples
Findings: Benefits
Hope/Optimism*
Summary of PRP studies(Brunwasser et al., 2009; Gillham et al., 2008)
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Hope/Optimism*Depression symptoms*Anxiety symptomsBehavior problemsCoping & Problem solvingAcademic achievement
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• Moving from 0 to +10
• Increasing students’ ability to…
– Experience positive emotions (joy, contentment, awe)
strengths
Positive Psychology & Promotion
– Identify and use their strengths
– Find meaning and purpose
– Develop positive relationships
– Achieve their goals
• Upward Spirals
40From Seligman (2003)
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Positive Education: Geelong Grammar School Model (= Seligman’s PERMA + H)
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Positive Psychology Programs
Examples
High School Positive Psychology Curriculum (Reivich, Seligman, Gillham, Linkins, Peterson, et al., 2003)
Adaptations for younger students
Positive Psychology Programs for older adolescents and young adults (college students) (e.g., Rashid, Parks, Seligman)
Strengths-Based Resilience (Anjum & Rashid)
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High School
Positive Psychology Curriculum
• 9th grade (ages 14-15; transition to high school)
• 3 major units (25 lessons)– Positive Emotion– Positive Emotion
– Strengths
– Meaning
• Curricular integration of positive psychology concepts with major works of literature
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Positive Emotion (Unit 1)
• Savoring
• Blessings
• Gratitude• Gratitude
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The Broaden and Build Theory:
Benefits of Positive Emotions: (Fredrickson, 2001)
• Expanded attention
• Openness• Openness
• Creativity
• Flexibility
• Resiliency
• Seeing the bigger picture
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Upward Spirals
Positive social
interactions
Positive emotions
Interest & Engagement
Positive emotions
Positive relationships
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EffortAchievement
& Success
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Savoring
Qualities
– Attend to, appreciate positive experiences
– Absorption, Mindful attention
– Slowing down, basking
Activities
– Savor….
• A favorite food or a new food
• Music
• A walk through the woods
• An every day experience; take time to enjoy something you usually hurry through
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Blessings
• Qualities:
– Attend to and appreciate good experiences
– Notice what went well
• Activities: • Activities:
– Each evening, write down 3 good things that happened and
why you think they happened
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Gratitude Letter
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Strengths (Unit 2)
• Identifying Strengths
• Strengths Action Plans
• Family Tree of Strengths
• Recognizing strengths in others• Recognizing strengths in others
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Character Strengths
• What personal qualities do we most admire
and appreciate in others?
• What personal qualities do we most want to • What personal qualities do we most want to
develop and exhibit through our lives?
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Values in Action:
Character Strengths and Virtues(Peterson & Seligman, 2004)
Wisdom and Knowledge
creativity
curiosity
love of learning
open-mindedness
Justice
teamwork
fairness
leadership
Temperanceopen-mindedness
perspective
Courage
valor
industry
integrity
zest
Love
intimacy
kindness
social intelligence
Temperance
forgiveness
modesty
self-regulation
prudence
Transcendence
appreciation of beauty
gratitude
hope & optimism
playfulness
spirituality52
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Signature Strengths
• Best describe who we are. Feel that we’re being true to ourselves when we use them.
• Our “go to” strengths in daily life
• Everyone has them
• Vary from person to person
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Linkins (2011)
Peterson (2006)
Seligman (2003)
Adapted from work by Mark Linkins, Mayerson Foundation & VIA Institute. Used with permission
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Brief Strengths Survey
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www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-3IjNr1gCg
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Brief Strengths Survey
Discussion
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The Most (and Least) Commonly Endorsed Strengths
Peterson (2006)
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57Swarthmore College orchestra
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Identifying Signature Strengths
• Values in Action Inventory of Strengths
– www.AuthenticHappiness.com
– www.ViaCharacter.org
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Strengths Reflections
Think of a time when you used a top strength.
• What did you do? What happened?
• What strengths did you use?
• How did this affect you? • How did this affect you?
• How did it affect others?
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Think of a time when you were at your best.
• What did you do?
• What happened?
• What strengths did you use?
Me at My Best
• What strengths did you use?
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Strengths Action Plans
Develop a specific plan to:
1) Use a signature strength
2) Work on a non-signature strength that is truly 2) Work on a non-signature strength that is truly important to you
Your plan must involve some form of doing, not merely thinking
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Family Tree of Strengths
genealogy.about.com/od/free_charts/ig/genealog
y_charts/family_tree.htm
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Other Strengths Activities
• Recognizing Strengths in Others
• Targeting specific strengths (e.g., kindness)
– 5 kindnesses a day– 5 kindnesses a day
– Catch a kindness
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Meaning (Unit 3)
• Meaning Journal
• Community Service and Service-Learning ProjectsService-Learning Projects
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Evaluation of
High School Positive Psychology Program (Gillham, Reivich, Linkins, Seligman, et al., in progress)
• 350 9th grade students
• Students randomly assigned to:• Students randomly assigned to:
• Positive Psychology
• School-as-usual control
• Positive Psychology Program delivered in 9th grade
• 20-25 lessons related to positive psychology concepts
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Key findings through 11th grade:
Social Skills
�Positive social skills
(cooperation, empathy)
�Leadership
�(lower) behavior problems
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43.00
45.00
47.00
Social Skills:Teacher Social Skills Rating Scale (SSRS)
Positive Psychology
Control
35.00
37.00
39.00
41.00
Pre Post 6 months 18 months
Example items:
Compliments others
Makes friends easily
Says please and thank you
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Key findings through 11th grade:
Learning & Engagement
�Learning strengths (e.g.,
curiosity, love of learning)curiosity, love of learning)
�Enjoyment of school
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21.00
22.00
23.00
24.00
25.00
Learning Strengths: Teacher Observation of Strengths Scale
Positive Psychology
Control
16.00
17.00
18.00
19.00
20.00
21.00
Pre Post 6 months 18 months
Items assess…
•curiosity
•love of learning
•originality
•appreciation of beauty
and excellence
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3.33
3.67
4.00
Language Arts Grades (GPA): Students in Honors 9th grade LA Classes
Positive Psychology
Control
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2.00
2.33
2.67
3.00
9th grade 10th grade 11th grade
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3.33
3.67
4.00
Language Arts Grades (GPA):Students in NON-honors 9th grade LA Classes
2.00
2.33
2.67
3.00
9th grade 10th grade 11th grade
Positive Psychology
Control
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Research Summary: Lessons Learned
Programs can…
– Have long-term benefits on students’ well-being
– Produce benefits that are noticeable to students, as – Produce benefits that are noticeable to students, as
well as to their parents and teachers
– Enhance students’ engagement in school and
achievement
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Research Summary: Lessons Learned
Stand alone programs can have benefits in a
variety of domains
– Implication: Power of whole school approach?
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Positive Education provides…
• Framework
• Common Language (especially for strengths)
• Concepts & skills• Concepts & skills
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Positive Schools
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Winnie the PoohA.A. Milne
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Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind.
“Pooh!” he whispered.
“Yes, Piglet?”
“Nothing,” said Piglet, taking Pooh’s paw.“Nothing,” said Piglet, taking Pooh’s paw.
“I just wanted to be sure of you.”
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Strongest predictor of resilience?Strongest predictor of resilience?
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Strongest predictor of resilience?Strongest predictor of resilience?
positive, supportive relationships
(Suniya Luthar)
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Positive Psychology in 3 words?Positive Psychology in 3 words?
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Positive Psychology in 3 words?Positive Psychology in 3 words?
Other People Matter
(Christopher Peterson)
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Positive Psychology in 3 words?Positive Psychology in 3 words?
Other People Matter
(Christopher Peterson)
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Corollary ���� We are the others who matter so much
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Environment (School):
(Strengths)
Examples:
* Caring relationships
* Positive role models
* High expectations
* Opportunities to
Individual (Student): (strengths)
Examples:
* Empathy
* Problem-solving* Opportunities to
learn & contribute
* Problem-solving
* Self-efficacy
* Goals & aspirations
* Character Strengths
Adapted from Bonnie Benard, &
the California Healthy Kids Survey84
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– Creating positive communities
– Empowering our students to create positive – Empowering our students to create positive
communities
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Strengths Spotting
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Noticing & Appreciating Strengths In Others
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• Think of a time when someone else noticed
and appreciated one of your strengths. What
happened? How did this affect you?
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Badge Project
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Character Strengths Initiative at Newark Boys Chorus School
Mayerson Academy and VIA Institute film
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxBcn599-Qk&list=UUHG0wPO9xBSEW73X0oSWJzQ&index=4&feature=plcp
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Character Strengths Initiative
Program Evaluation
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Character Strengths Initiative
Program Evaluation
Themes
– Students appreciate each other more
– Get along better
– Fewer behavior problems, discipline referrals
– Improved in class climate
– Increased engagement
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Whole School Implementation
of Positive Education
• Teach it
• Live it
• Embed it Geelong Grammar School• Embed it
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Geelong Grammar School
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Live It!
• Professional development & Support
– Live & Breathe
– Every day interactions with students, colleagues &
parentsparents
– Feedback we give students and each other
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Embed it!
• Academics
• Vocabulary Lessons
• Literature - character analysis
• History
• Sports & other Co-Curriculars• Sports & other Co-Curriculars
• Counseling
Creating a common language across contexts
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Teaching Character through Reading
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfot-M24pi4
Shanghai American School.
Mayerson Academy and VIA Institute
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Culture & Community
• Catch a Kindness
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Culture & Community
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Questions & Discusson
• What work are you already engaged in that fits with resilience & positive psychology?
• How could positive education be helpful in your work with students?
•work with students?
• How could positive education be helpful in your school?
• Questions for us?
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Thank you!
For more information, please contact Jane Gillham at:
[email protected]
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