Fifth and sixth grade ELA trainer and college librarian Amy Brownlee is aware of how highly effective it may be when college students join with a lesson in surprising methods. When she introduced Ask, Pay attention, Be taught‘s underage consuming and hashish use prevention sources into her fifth grade classroom, what began as a easy lesson plan grew to become a day filled with engagement and studying. The lesson hooked her college students instantly, sparking curiosity and dialog about decision-making and psychological well being.
The dialogue flowed naturally into “teachable moments” about selections, peer stress, and the way alcohol and hashish usually are not solely unlawful, however how they have an effect on creating brains and psychological well being. Amy discovered that the mixture of interactive content material and science-backed classes gave her college students the boldness to ask trustworthy questions and mirror on their very own decision-making. Right here’s her Trainer Picks evaluation of Ask, Pay attention, Be taught‘s classes and sources.
What grade ranges and topic areas do you assume the Ask, Pay attention, Be taught classes are greatest fitted to?
These classes are nice for well being lessons for fifth and sixth grade college students. They’d additionally work nicely for college students in grades 4 by 8. They’re participating and invite participation.
How did you utilize these classes in your classroom?
Psychological well being is such an essential matter—and it’s related to prevention training. It’s important for lecturers and counselors to offer college students the chance to speak about their psychological well being and stressors. Moreover, they want to have the ability to share how they cope with the pressures they face. Broaching this topic as a category lets college students know that this isn’t a taboo topic and encourages them to speak about it. It makes them extra more likely to really feel snug speaking to a trusted grownup about psychological well being struggles they might be going through.
How did your college students react to the lesson?
Many college students weren’t acquainted with the time period “psychological well being,” however they did have prior information about methods for relieving stress.
College students actually responded to the opening exercise, the place they listed stressors of their lives and the way they cope. It led to some wonderful discussions. So many college students needed to share in the course of the dialogue that I prolonged the time for that a part of the lesson and pushed a few of the actions to a separate session. The youngsters had so much to say, and I feel anytime we will normalize speaking about psychological well being, that’s a win-win.
The scholars actually preferred the animations within the video. One scholar stated she had by no means seen an image of a mind earlier than and was curious. It gave me an opportunity to introduce the time period “mind stem.” Then, I talked a bit about how the mind connects to the backbone.
This lesson led to teachable moments that allowed me to take further time for teenagers to share extra specifics once they expressed curiosity. The lesson was undoubtedly participating and received children speaking and considering.
How simple was it to make use of and implement in your classroom?
Ask, Pay attention, Be taught‘s writers laid out the lesson plans very nicely. I really like all of the completely different sources just like the video, comprehension questions, and vocabulary sources. The wholesome coping technique toolbox is a superb strategy to get college students to use what they’re studying to their lives.
What have been the highest two options you preferred most in regards to the Ask, Pay attention, Be taught lesson?
I preferred the number of actions. It was useful to have vocabulary assist as there are lots of scientific phrases launched within the lesson. I additionally cherished the Kahoot! exercise and the way it may very well be performed in a wide range of methods: as a big group but additionally individually as a studying exercise or in three completely different sport modes.
What makes the Ask, Pay attention, Be taught lesson particular or distinctive in comparison with different psychological well being sources you’ve seen or used?
Ask, Pay attention, Be taught focuses on neuroscience and talks about elements of the mind and their features. It offers college students science-backed the reason why alcohol and marijuana use usually are not efficient methods to alleviate stress and provides them instruments to discover ways to cope with stress in a wholesome method, preserving their psychological well being. There are additionally mum or dad parts to ship house so the scholars can proceed these conversations with their households.
How do you propose to make use of Ask, Pay attention, Be taught classes once more sooner or later?
These classes are wonderful for well being lessons to assist college students discover wholesome methods to cope with stress and study accountable decision-making. They’d be very helpful to counselors. Academics can use them throughout morning conferences to cowl essential subjects like peer stress.
How would you sum up your general expertise?
Ask, Pay attention, Be taught supplies a complete assortment of sources that saves lecturers time. It consists of each part you would wish, together with dialogue starters, comprehension questions, vocabulary actions, and an in depth lesson plan aligned with nationwide instructional requirements. The video and gaming parts captivate college students, and the written sources assist them join the content material to their lives. These instruments are wonderful for educating important wholesome subjects.
What else would you want different lecturers to find out about your expertise?
The US is at the moment experiencing a psychological well being disaster with kids and younger folks. These classes serve an essential goal in destigmatizing the dialogue of psychological well being points.
Watch Amy’s evaluation of Ask, Pay attention, Be taught classes beneath:
Be taught extra on the Ask, Pay attention, Be taught web site.
Plus, learn extra about Ask, Pay attention, Be taught‘s classes and play their sport right here on We Are Academics.
Trainer Picks is a sponsored program out there from We Are Academics. All opinions shared within the evaluation are trustworthy and primarily based on the trainer’s direct expertise. To be taught extra about our pointers and evaluation course of, click on right here.
