Resilience in School Environments: Understanding and Practice (RISE UP)

In support of the Thriving Schools Resilience in School Environments (RISE)  initiative, we created Resilience in School Environments: Understanding and Practice (RISE UP), a professional development program for school staff which utilizes a social emotional arts-based approach to examine mental health challenges in the school environment and create safe spaces to practice resilience tools.

RISE UP offers 3 module options:

Trauma-Informed Approach

Examine the prevalence and potential impact of trauma and stress on student behavior and discover strategies to navigate challenging interactions.

Stress Awareness and Regulation

Increase awareness and redefine stress as a manageable and natural function of the body.

Harnessing the Power of Hope

Explore creative wellness strategies for the classroom and daily life that foster hope and motivate action.

Key Concepts

Through this program, participants will:

Apply a trauma-informed lens to challenging interactions
Practice self-regulation tools to use in moments of stress and conflict
Practice resilience tools and regulation techniques to support staff and student health
Develop supportive relationships with colleagues

What people are saying about ‘RISE UP’

“Several SEL activities used would be awesome for my students!”

Teacher, GA

“This was such a great workshop, and so were the exercises we did. I think now more than ever, and we need help with this. Sometimes we just need a moment to reflect and rethink so we can react differently… more positively.”

Educator, SCAL

“I am grateful to have learned more about trauma and how to move from the survival brain to the learning brain. Amazing course and content.”

Educator, WA

Resources

Handout

RISE UP – Information Sheet

This info sheet provides a brief overview about RISE UP, including a program description, program activities, and booking information.

E-Learning

RISE UP – Video Collection

Managing stress in school environments can be challenging. This collection of mini-training videos provides educators and school staff activities they can use and share with their students to relieve stress, get energized, and stay engaged.

Handout

RISE UP – Regulation Checklist

In stressful situations, it can be hard to remember our preferred strategies for helping students regulate their emotions. This checklist can help you remember which strategies work best for you so you’ll be ready next time you need them.

Handout

RISE UP – Feelings ID Card

Identifying our feelings can help us notice whether we’re acting from our learning or survival brain. This list provides some examples of emotions associated with our different mental states.

Handout

RISE UP – Self-Care Ideas

Self-care is an easy concept to understand, but can be difficult to put into practice. Here’s a simple list of ideas to help you create moments of self-care throughout your day.

Video

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs): Impact on brain, body and behavior (IHDCYH Talks)

This short animated video talks about how Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) impact lifelong development.

Video

How childhood trauma affects health across a lifetime (Nadine Burke Harris)

Childhood trauma isn’t something you just get over as you grow up. Pediatrician Nadine Burke Harris explains that the repeated stress of abuse, neglect, and parents struggling with mental health or substance abuse issues has real, tangible effects on the development of the brain.

Website

Thriving Schools resources

These no-cost resources help to ensure that all teachers, staff, and students have the support they need to thrive — in learning and in health.