"At a time when student testing is at an all-time high, Kate Thomsen reminds us that as educators we are in the human potential business. This user-friendly book provides an overview of key educational trends, so teachers can easily incorporate the best of what works." Rob Bocchino, Co-founder Heart of Change; Change of Heart Associates Author, Emotional Literacy "Kate Thomsen's book is a must-read for every educator. She has synthesized the wisdom from educational megatrends of the past decades and shows us how to foster healthier, safer, and more resilient student by integrating these major learnings into what we already do. I love this book!" Beverly Title, Co-founder Teaching Peace Hygiene, CO  Create a nurturing, supportive environment where students can nurture their own resiliency! What makes one student overcome obstacles, while another cannot seem to cope? What makes one student rise above difficult circumstances, while another flounders? Identifying the attributes of the resilient student is the first step in building resiliency in all of your students. This resource provides busy teachers with practical, concrete applications and activities for reframing the actions of even the most at-risk students, changing the focus from problems to solutions, from deficits to strengths. Building Resilient Students connects resiliency to five major educational megatrends—character education, multiple intelligences, emotional intelligence, service learning, and violence prevention—and gives educators proven strategies for incorporating the "resiliency attitude" into everyday classroom experiences. Thomsen identifies a myriad of easy, yet innovative applications through six resiliency-building strategies: Care and support through meaningful relationships Opportunities to participate and contribute in meaningful ways High expectations, knowing that others believe they can be successful Pro-social bonding through positive connections with peers and adults Clear boundaries and expectations that are fair and consistent Life skills such as decision making, effective communication, and stress and conflict management There are seeds of resiliency in all of us. We can nurture those seeds in all students, giving them the life skills they need to become competent, healthy adults.

Table of Contents:
Foreword - Nan Henderson Preface Who Is Responsible for Building Resilience in Students? Using Resiliency Theory Is Good Educational Practice Validating the Art of Teaching and Common Sense Acknowledgments About the Author 1. Resiliency: The Basics Nan Henderson and the Resiliency Attitude Enter Henderson and Milstein′s Resiliency Wheel Foundations of Resiliency Overview of Benard′s Model Overview of the Wolins′ Model The Challenge Model as It Relates to Brief, Solution-Oriented Therapy Overview of Asset Building Summary 2. Character Education and Building Resilience Character Education Lost What Is Character Education? Working the Wheel Summary 3. Multiple Intelligences Theory and Building Resilience Multiple Intelligences and Resiliency Introduction to Multiple-Intelligences Theory The Eight Intelligences How an Intelligence Develops Putting Multiple Intelligences to Use How Learning Styles and Multiple Intelligences Interrelate Working the Wheel Summary 4. Emotional Intelligence and Building Resilience Emotion Is the Key Emotional Intelligence Theory The Physiology of Emotions Putting Emotional Intelligence Theory Into Use Working the Wheel Summary 5. Service Learning and Building Resilience Origins of the Concept of Service Learning Confusion Surrounding Service Learning Your Goals Drive Your Service Learning Continuum of Service Learning Service Learning and Building Resilience Working the Wheel Summary 6. Violence Prevention and Building Resilience Understanding Low-Level Violence Working the Wheel Summary Conclusion Resource A: Checklist for Assessing Students′ Multiple Intelligences Resource B: True Colors Word Sort Resource C: Additional Resources References Index