Write and talk about setbacks and human resilience

Writing assignments in middle and high school that focus on "sources of personal strength" might help students explore different approaches to building resilience. The teacher can provide a few prompts to get started: “write about a person who supported you during a particularly stressful or traumatic time. How did they help you overcome this challenge? What did you learn about yourself?” Another idea is that: “write about a time in your life when you had to cope with a difficult situation. What helped and hindered you as you overcame this challenge? What learning did you take away that will help you in the future?”

However, the theme of resilience is applicable across the curriculum and is not limited to one class. There are several opportunities to link resilience to personal success, achievement, and positive social change. Teachers should broaden conversations about political leaders, scientists, literary characters, entrepreneurs, and inventors beyond what they accomplished to include personal strengths and the challenges they faced and overcame in order to achieve their goals. Through these success stories, teachers help children learn to see themselves and their own abilities.