Lori Heydt, Reading Specialist, Century Elementary. I know my daughter is involved in Sources of Strength at RRHS (I probably should know more about it!) #gfedchat
Tracy Jentz, Communications Coordinator, I participated in the advisor training in September. So excited to have all our MS/HS on board by the end of this school year! #gfedchat
#gfedchat Amanda Weston, school counselor, South Middle School. Happy to share my journey through SOS. It has not only changed me professionally, but personally as well. I am a regional trainer, and in 2nd year implementation at South. #sourcesofstrength
Jessie Erickson, CTP @ South and Twining... Amanda (my Source of Stength - Positive Friend) is here to keep me awake! Long day! UP at 4:30am on the road to Oakes and back home again Yawn! #gfedchat
Question #1 coming up soon. Be sure to take a few minutes to respond to your peers tonight - We can Support each other! Strength in numbers! Together we are so much better - #gfedchat
A1: On the wheel = areas where one finds his/her personal strength (esp. in difficult times) ---- Not always the strongest, but most important to me is probably spirituality. #gfedchat
A1: Family Support, Positive Friends, Healthy Activities, & Spirituality are the top for me. All of these connect in some guiding and nurturing format:) #gfedchat
A1: Family support. I have an amazing family who support each other through our challenges and celebrate the the good times as well. I am fortunate and never want to take my family support for granted. #gfedchat
A1: Basically the social aspects of the school environment - positive peers, family, mentors, etc and how each of these can be built up in the school environment to offer support to each other.....#gfedchat
A1: I think spirituality is my strongest/most important. For me, my faith has been an anchor and a true source of strength, hope, and light in the very darkest times #gfedchat
#gfedchat A1: Strongest for me would be family support and spirituality. I would hope it would be healthy activities, but that has been lacking lately due to the weather.
A1: i have learned all about the wheel from Amanda. And, have been to this website: https://t.co/1fjgoQhwkw#iamstronger I think the right side of the wheel is strongest for me. Simply put I am surrounded by amazing humans! #gfedchat
A1: The wheel is comprised of segments that together comprise a network of people that are our sources of strength. The strongest for me would be family - my family is amazing! #gfedchat
A1: probably family support and generosity...mainly because I was raised in a family that focused on being helpful to others which makes them a great support system #gfedchat
Family support can look different from person to person. For some of our students whose home lives are complex, a best friend's mom or dad may step in to be family support. It's fun to think outside the box in relation to family. #gfedchat
A1: Mental health and family support are the most important--family support is so important. you need the guidance and backing of family for when you succeed or fail and mental health so I am able to function. #gfedchat
#gfedchat - Faith, Family and Friends are great supports most of us have, and always have had. Aren't we blessed. Now, think about our students that don't have these supports... how do we help them?
A2: I love having positive friends at school, and I see Ss utilize this in the classroom!, but I’d like to work more on expanding healthy activities for myself and Ss. #gfedchat
I don't know about my fellow contact wearers, but I am so glad that I can see every day! Love medical access that sometimes I take for granted a "given" because I am blessed with its accessibility!
I also love my mentor Jessie who encouraged me to host! #gfedchat
A2: Mentors and positive friends are my strongest at school. I would love to see more generosity at school whether it's more options or more student driven. #gfedchat
A2: I really need to improve my list of mentors and ways to grow and improve mental health. This is also true in helping kids foster the right and winning attitudes about growth and learning. #gfedchat
A2: At school it's mostly beneficial mentors. But I would really like to work on my mental health. Having more of a positive attitude would make life so much easier #gfedchat
A2: positive friends and colleagues (wouldn't really call them mentors,)
the https://t.co/6j4mHNRpV2 component I think gets neglected.....not enough sleep and the ever-present flu bug, we often fail to take care of us first....#gfedchat
A2: I hope I am a positive friend, maybe even a mentor, to my colleagues. A goal in my 30s is to focus on my health - so medical access and mental health are my works in progress. #gfedchat
A2:Mentors is my strongest at work, I have a great PLN network to learn from. The one I need to work on would be healthy activities (home and school) #gfedchat
A2: My strongest source would be mentors, in my past 2 and half years at GFPS I have met some really great teachers/mentors. One I could work on would be generosity #gfedchat
a2: at school, mentors are my strongest source. Even though most of my job is focused on the mental health of children, I know i need to work on my own mental health and self care more often. #gfedchat
A2: Strongest: Positive Friends and Mentor Support, we have a humble and motivated staff at Wilder. Continue to work on: generosity, trying to see what I can do more for others. #gfedchat
A2: Spirituality never really leaves - its always a source. I am more actively engaged with mentors and positive friends. I am pretty generous with my time for others - that's why paperwork comes home. #gfedchat
A2: I would have to say Generosity. I find that while I try to do all I can to help students & families, they not only show appreciation, but often show generosity in return.
#gfedchat
A2: I've had mentors & positive friends at my school in the past (and still have them!), but moving to a new building this year, I know relationships take time to build. I want to work on healthy activities to practice self care! #gfedchat
A2: Again the right side of wheel is strong at work, and I can model these for students. I would love to work on modeling generosity ( a strong foundation in our family) I think students would soon see that they gain more by giving! #gfedchat
#gfedchat A2: Positive friends/co-workers at school are the strongest. I'd like to work on family...I want my students families to be a bigger part of school activities.
A2: Positive friends like @SWallsRRHS@SWallsRRHS@MsHellyersClass ironically all named Sara(h) I'd love to work more on the mental health to help those around me such as Ss at times #gfedchat
A2: strongest is mentors, I try 2 find people who know what I want 2 do & get advice from them. I'd like 2 work on mental health...its easy 2 get overwhelmed with all we have 2 do during the day & forget about other things in your personal life due 2 so much 2 do. #gfedchat
A2: Positive friends like @SarahBoese@SWallsRRHS@MsHellyersClass ironically all named Sara(h) I'd love to work more on the mental health to help those around me such as Ss at times #gfedchat
A2: My biggest source at school is the awesome support staff I have and my paras. The one I would like to get more into is finding a mentor in the area of multiple disabilities and medically fragile. #gfedchat
A2: I would like to work on healthy activities... I find I do a good job during th warmer months taking time to be outside, which helps clear my mind and makes me feel good. Winter, not so much. #gfedchat
A2: positive friends and mentors are the most used at school. Mental health is probably the one I should work on, just because I never have! Now I come to realization that it should be taken care of, just like our bodies! #gfedchat
A2: Generosity & Positive Friendships are my strongest at schools. I have amazing teacher friends that help me grow and learn each day! I love being a Rocket! #gfedchat
A3: Focusing on being a mentor for Ss, not just an educator. Also listening to Ss and helping to increase their confidence and improve mental health. #gfedchat
A3: I think being more generous and displaying a positive outlook....what's in your head is often shown with your face and non-verbals.....keep things light and optimistic...#gfedchat
A2: I learn a lot from my positive friends and mentors at work. I need to focus on improving my physical health with healthier activities. Make healthier choices. #gfedchat
A3:t's kind of hard to answer this if we don't really know anything about SOS..Pick something on the wheel? positive relationships and generosity. #gfedchat
A3: With very young Ss, would like to encourage positive friendship and generosity as appropriate for them developmentally. I have a few older Ss I struggle with how to help in re: to mental health and family support. #gfedchat
A3: generosity and positive friends. I can do little things to be generous with thoughts and ideas - we can also work on a more positive learning environment #gfedchat
A3: I try to model generosity and encourage it when I see students trying to as well! Our role as teachers is to be positive mentors for the kiddos—building and maintaining those relationships! #gfedchat
A3: Some of my Ss are struggling with positive friends right now so I have been working on that in morning meetings. @atunseth kindness challenge has been a great addition to this #gfedchat
A3: I will be a positive friend to @emiliahodgson (who wants to be healthier) and keep her away from my candy. Sidenote: I'm going to be locked in my office all day reviewing data, so two birds... 😉 #gfedchat
A3: Work on BEING that mentor for students -- form relationships, relate to them and their interests, ask questions, point out if there is something concerning that I'm observing, etc. #gfedchat
A3: I can take at least 5 minutes with each teen who recognizes me as a mentor and just spend time with them & focus on them to make sure they have a good day
#BuildABetterClimate#gfedchat
A3: Post the wheel in my classroom for daily remind, use it in lessons, ask students to brainstorm writing/social skills / technology projects. It can always be used a safe tool for students needing time and a trusting ear to open up to. #gfedchat
A3: I try to model generosity and encourage it when I see students trying to as well! Our role as teachers is to be positive mentors for the kiddos—building and maintaining those relationships! #gfedchat
A3: I think I can always continue working on being a positive friend at work... you don’t always know what your colleagues/students are going through. Be positive! #gfedchat
A4: I think the medical part, that's kind out of our hands. The hope is that is being taken care in some capacity beyond the school. But sometimes the school needs to step in and provide the care....#gfedchat
A4: Just so everyone knows, you can substitute "Thankfulness" for spirituality in the school setting. In other words, asking students to focus on what they are thankful for
#gfedchat
A4: I would say the toughest is spirituality due to needing to walk a fine line. Also access to medical care, since we can help with access for Ss, but still relie on parents to go through with this. #gfedchat
Another way the Sources of Strength team might interpret Spirituality in the school setting is to ask students, "What makes your 'spirit' soar?
#gfedchat
A4: Talking about mental health with students. Letting them know it’s okay to fail but it’s even better to get up and try again. Students need to see and believe the real-ness in everyday life. #gfedchat
A4: I feel like we are all concerned about our Ss mental health and sometimes we forget that adults need that support too. It can also be difficult to get family support for some Ss. #gfedchat
A4: Spirituality --- But in literature, there is room for at least SOME discussion (Not usually, "What do YOU believe?" but analyzing what others believe and discussing why.) #gfedchat
A4: Medical access maybe? I'm starting to run out of bandaids right now in my room. Seriously though probably spirituality due to where we are all day #gfedchat
a4 spirituality...if meaning religion. But I do talk about mediation, self reflection, and what is my purpose in this world w my 7th grade health class #gfedchat
A4: I feel like we are all concerned about our Ss mental health and sometimes we forget that adults need that support too. It can also be difficult to get family support for some Ss. #gfedchat
A3: I think being more generous and displaying a positive outlook....what's in your head is often shown with your face and non-verbals.....keep things light and optimistic...#gfedchat
A4: Medical access - not readily available if a child is in crisis and needs immediate mental help. Spirituality because of the school policy. #gfedchat
Another way the Sources of Strength team might interpret Spirituality in the school setting is to ask students, "What makes your 'spirit' soar?
#gfedchat
A4: just thinking outloud...with SOS, is the thought to help the student tap into his or her own sources of strength - not necessarily "impose" (for lack of a better word) our sources onto them? #gfedchat
Medical access can include providing students with the skills to educate themselves. Using relevant and appropriate websites to find resources and accurate information.
A4: I think so many things overlap that impact a Ss mental health and self regulation at school. You can't change every circumstance in a Ss life, but would be great to help them cope; have an impact on mental health. #gfedchat
A4: Agreed! Sometimes the focus is to help students understand at the elementary level what is out of their control. They rely on their parents for many things at this age as they cannot drive themselves to school, etc. #gfedchat
Amen Kevin! Esp. for our HS students. They don't have time to build relationships with their teachers - we need to be aware that they rely a lot on body language and take our voice literally. Give them joy, laughter, and optimism! #gfedchat
A3: I think being more generous and displaying a positive outlook....what's in your head is often shown with your face and non-verbals.....keep things light and optimistic...#gfedchat
I would say these are similar in nature...maybe not an exact substitute...kind of like if you add vinegar to milk to substitute for buttermilk...similar but different :)
#gfedchat
A5: Prevention to me means being proactive and helping students/adults stop a problem before it starts. If we can find strategies to prevent negative things, then we don't have to intervene in the middle of a situation. #gfedchat
A5: With some things, even after an intervention, the damage is already done. So with prevention you can potentially save students from long term harm. #gfedchat
A5: Prevention is working together and helping an individual find their sources. Intervention is identifying the problem and hoping for the best. #gfedchat
A5: Prevention to me means being proactive and helping students/adults stop a problem before it starts. If we can find strategies to prevent negative things, then we don't have to intervene in the middle of a situation. #gfedchat
A5: Hopefully with a focus on prevention, we can address problems before they arise. As someone else said, being proactive rather than reactive. #gfedchat
A5: Just like in speech, prevention leads to shorter intervention times, better results overall, and SOS is great because it creates a community with a common goal. #gfedchat
A5: Prevention helps when students are thinking of or when something happens --intervention is after the have already went there ---Check out the show "Intervention" channel 40? #gfedchat
A5: I think it’s easier to prevent something than have it get to the point of needing an intervention. If you can teach a skill and the Ss can learn it and practice it enough an intervention will be prevented #gfedchat
A5: focusing on prevention can help nurture healthy students, healthy classroom, and healthy schools...and, in turn, produce healthy contributors to our community! #gfedchat
A5: It's more important to educate BEFORE we actually need the interventions. SOS is a suicide awareness program. I would rather educate students about their strengths & what's important than deal with the aftermath #gfedchat
A5: Prevention focuses on teaching the skills Ss need to face the challenges of life. Life is VUCA: Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and full of Ambiguity. A lot to navigate alone! #gfedchat
A5: It is easier to talk about things before they happen than it is to clean up the mess after something happens. We can focus on the positive to prevent the negative from occurring.
#gfedchat
It seems relationships almost always works itself into our #gfedchat topics. Such an important aspect of education to keep in mind every minute of every day.
Medical access can include providing students with the skills to educate themselves. Using relevant and appropriate websites to find resources and accurate information.
A6: Keep talking about suicide and mental health. Pushing it aside or disregarding it doesn’t make it go away - validating Ss feelings and talking about their difficulties creates a better environment and allows for prevention. #gfedchat
A6: It should be as normal to discuss these things as it is to breathe. Don't keep mental health issues in dark any longer. When in dark, there's fear. Be proactive by talking about it. #gfedchat
A6: Encouraging teachers and staff to look for warning signs and error on the side of caution.....if you see something that doesn't fit, say something or follow-up on it....we might be the most stable, aware or perceptive adult in their lives at that point.....#gfedchat
a6: unfortunately i think for any big organization to make change, something extreme happen. Since our district has had that extreme, I think the mindset of most people are ready for change.
#gfedchat
A6: Having all of our MS/HS using the SOS model will get the info to our most important people - our students and their families. For admin, ongoing updates, training, etc. = keep it fresh in mind. #gfedchat
A6: I've always felt that we've at least tried in the district but it's important to keep this thinking in the forefront always and as a focus #gfedchat
A6: Teamwork & Collaboration! Everyone needs to understand the importance to have a full buy-in. We need to have these tough conversations and understand the importance it could be towards our students! #gfedchat
A6: Being mindful of student needs and caring for them. Being present in our classrooms, being joyful, hopeful and kind. We need to model the skills we want our students to master for their mental health and success. #gfedchat
A6: make it a priority, help with awareness, make it normal to talk about, let it be known that talking about it makes us stronger, that it’s okay to ask for help, you are not alone #gfedchat
A6 Sources of Strength focuses on #HopeHelpStrength rather than Sad, Shock, Trauma. It's founder says it can create a contagion of hope. 1 year ago, only 1 GF school had a Sources of Strength https://t.co/r1rkkPSF8n next month, every MS & HS in GF will have one #gfedchat
A6: The mindset must define the culture in which relationships, awareness and listening should be a natural components of our role as educators. #gfedchat
This can absolutely be true. But - how do you define family? Can it be people you aren't related to, don't see often, etc.? Absolutely! AND - there are seven additional segments to focus on. Keep trying to see what works for each individual. #gfedchat
Family as a support system is often what separates our successful students from unsuccessful ones. Students in poverty don’t have the support system in place that others do.
I had two HS boys from Oakes today tell me about growth mindset, change and facing challenges (literally brought tears to my eyes)... our students are so smart and we can empower them to be great sources of strength. They are AMAZING - listen to them! #gfedchat
A6: The mindset must define the culture in which relationships, awareness and listening should be a natural components of our role as educators. #gfedchat
Teachers forget to check on each other- teaching is emotionally draining. Wearing and carrying your students pain while balancing your own is arduous. You need Teacher friends to support you and keep things in perspective. #gfedchat
