When I chose the topic of resiliency to create for my next blog post, I had no idea that I would need to demonstrate how resilient I am. Last week was a tough week. I was pelted with pebbles of not-so-good news the last half of the week. The biggest pebble left a huge knot on my forehead. My current position has been discontinued for next school year. Clearly, not what I want to hear, especially with this being my first year in the position.
This past weekend, I had to dig deep and rediscover my own resiliency. It’s easy to quit and wallow in self-pity, but I don’t have time for that. Instead, I’m choosing to move forward. I’m choosing to create a Plan B. I’m choosing to take control of my own destiny. Why? Because I am resilient. I must keep pushing. I must set an example for my children.
Do Our Kids Know They Are Resilient?
When our students/children face dilemmas or trials and tribulations, will they tap into their own resiliency? Will they realize that they can indeed rise above the issue? Do our students/children even know that they are equipped with such an attribute?
My guess is no. I do believe that our students/children are resilient, but some are more aware of their capabilities than others. I believe this non-academic skill is important for teachers and parents to nurture because life can be relentless and cruel. Thus, the goal of this blog post is to educate teachers and parents on how to help students/children cope with adversity through resiliency.
Ways to Cultivate Resiliency in Our Students
Richard Sagor believes that schools should build daily opportunities for students to experience CBUPO, components that create resiliency: Competence, Belonging, Usefulness, Potency, and Optimism. Some strategies to assist with this endeavor are as follows:
- Competence-Student Portfolios
- Belonging-Appropriate Instruction of Students’ Learning Styles
- Usefulness-Service Learning
- Potency-Student Led Parent Conferences
- Optimism-Career Day, College Fairs
My First Guest!
Allow me to introduce Marcia Collins-Brown. Marcia is a literacy professional, transformation coach, speaker, and author. Marcia knows about resiliency. Her own life experiences forced her to discover how resilient she really is. As a result, Become Your Absolute Best, a book to guide teachers into finding their own resiliency was created. Her new book, Removing the Mask provides resiliency principles that anyone can tap into.
Contest! Contest!
I am so excited about my first guest that I’ve decided to hold a contest! Everyone who leaves a comment for this particular blog post will be entered in a drawing to win an autographed copy of Marcia’s new book! Also, Effectively Yours friends can also get another opportunity to place their name in the hat for the drawing! They must LIKE my Effectively Yours Facebook Page and SHARE the Resiliency post. Drawing will be held Friday, May 3rd.
Please enjoy the interview. The end of the interview will provide a clearer picture as to why Marcia is so passionate about adults and children discovering how resilient they are. As always, please Read, Subscribe, and Share this blog. Thank you for supporting Effectively Yours! The best is yet to come!
You many not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them. -Maya Angelou
