1. The Resilient Classroom A Collaborative Consultation Project
Consultation is a collaborative problem solving process. Together with the help of your students, we will reflect and identify one aspect of your classroom that you would like to make stronger, more effective and more resilient.
What is a Resilient Classroom?
The students believe that they can succeed
The students do their best to control their own behavior
The students set goals to reach for
There is a positive teacher/student relationship
The students support each other
There is a positive home-school relationship
Resilient kids “bounce” forward in the midst of adversity
The Project Process:
We will meet initially to discuss the project and set a time table
The students will participate in a survey (about 20 minutes) which assesses the resiliency characteristics above
We will meet again to look at the data from the survey and identify a possible goal for change
Then we will have a short class meeting and discuss the class data with the students
We will meet again and make a plan for change. We will decide on one specific intervention (Example: A first grade class using a jar of marbles for tattling). We will make a plan and decide on how you will collect data.
You will implement the intervention for a week or two and collect data
We will meet again, discuss the progress and survey the students again (with a shorter version)
Hopefully, the class has made a step in a more resilient direction!
The ideal teacher for this project is someone who is looking for a unique professional development experience, enjoys reflection and would like to try a consultative experience!
Jennifer Bassett
The College of William and Mary
Graduate Special Education Program
(Consultation in Schools, Dr. Sandy Ward)
This project is based on the book, Resilient Classrooms:
Creating Healthy Environments for Learning, by Doll, Zucker & Brehm