A critical part of education is helping students build the life skills and resiliency they need to complete high school and successfully transition to adult life. Branching Minds partners with The Jed Foundation (JED) to bring practical resources to high school classrooms that are informed by direct research with high school students about what they need as they graduate. These areas include:
The ability to build healthy and meaningful relationships with others
Perseverance, willingness to face challenges, and openness to constructive feedback
Being able to communicate their wants and needs — especially in a crisis
Understanding and acceptance of those who may be different from themselves
The ability to think critically about a situation and problem-solve.
As part of a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), these lessons can be used as a universal support for all students in a particular grade or setting, or can be targeted for small groups or individual students who are struggling. Teachers, school counselors, interventionists, behavior staff, or anyone who works with older students can decide how they want to use these lessons and adjust the components and activities to meet the needs of their students.
💡 TIP: These JED Foundation Lessons and more are already included in the Branching Minds Intervention Library, where they can easily be added to a group or student plan! Each JED card in the BRM library has full instructions, activities, downloads, and research — and the Branching Minds platform makes it simple to detail how the intervention will happen and what modifications are needed.
Lesson #1: Growth Mindset
“Individuals who believe their talents can be developed — through hard work, good strategies, and input from others — have a growth mindset,” says Carol Dweck, a Stanford professor of psychology who studies mindset.
Some ways to build a growth mindset are:
Identify when you feel stuck
Practice and perseverance
Be open to both positive and constructive feedback
Executive functioning is loosely defined as a set of mental skills involving memory, flexible thinking, and impulse control. These skills help us focus, complete tasks, understand others’ points of view, and develop self-awareness. Studies have shown that the ability to use executive functioning effectively is a greater indication of success than socio-economic upbringing or test scores.
The months and years after high school involve big transitions, increased responsibilities, more freedom and independence, and a set of new and different life challenges. A significant barrier for many teens and young adults is that they don’t know where to find help when they need it. But there are lots of good options they can tap into.
These lesson plans can spark meaningful conversations with students about the transition from high school along with practice of the skills they need for success beyond your school walls. It is our hope that these resources will help you equip your students to handle the challenges of young adulthood.
Download the "3 Lesson Plans to Build Resilience and Help High School Students Succeed in School and Beyond" with The Jed Foundation below 👇
JED is a nonprofit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for our nation’s teens and young adults. They partner with high schools and colleges to strengthen mental health, substance misuse, and suicide prevention programs and systems. They equip teens and young adults with the skills and knowledge they need to help themselves and each other. They encourage community awareness, understanding, and action for young adult mental health.
“The thing that I really love about Branching Minds is that it has a library of resources. So not only are we able to tier our students, but we are able to match the appropriate resources from the library that is in Branching Minds, right inside the platform.”
- Krissy Martin,Coordinator of MTSS, Roanoke Rapids Graded School District (North Carolina)
💛 Support Your Students' Well-being 💛 Put screening and intervention planning resources at your staff’s fingertips with Branching Minds.
Rachel Butler is the Content Specialist for Branching Minds. Rachel is a former Chicago Public Schools middle school special education teacher and case manager. She has experience with school leadership, intervention implementation, and working with a team of stakeholders to ensure each student receives the support they need. Rachel is passionate about social-emotional learning, school-based behavioral health, and providing all schools and students with access to high-quality resources.
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