BubbleUp Take5: Mental Health, Restorative Conversations, Capturing Student Voices, Discussion Strategies and Dogs!

This week's Take5 is full of strategies to promote student engagement and even more important, student well-being. From a new teaching practice -- Restorative Conversations -- to giving students a bigger voice in schools to the use of therapy dogs in classrooms across the country, we're focused on students' ability to communicate and to feel a sense of belonging at school. Together, we can all take steps -- big and small -- to help our students thrive not only academically but also emotionally.

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In his article, In High School, the Kids are Not All Right, David Tow offers straightforward strategies for teachers to create a safety net to make sure any child suffering from mental illness is heard and supported.

You've probably heard of restorative justice, but have you heard of restorative conversations? One school tried it and saw discipline issues decline and achievement rise. Read: A Deeper Look at the Whole School Approach to Behavior. ​

We talk a lot as educators about school culture. One school took extra steps to ensure that they captured student voices to drive change in their school programming. It's doable and it works. You can read about this school's efforts in this month's issue of ASCD Express.

I would be remiss if I didn't share with you a resource that I recently discovered when looking for discussion strategies. If you haven't see this video of School21 using discussion strategies, watch it first. These kids and teachers blow me away with their whole school integration of discussion. Next, check out the resources tab from Voice21 -- including the "toolkit" full of discussion strategies. You have to provide an email to sign up but the resources are free and definitely worth exploring. Discussion is a way to build student empathy and understanding of different perspectives.

Okay, so I am getting a dog -- and I am a little dog obsessed as of late (just ask Gretchen), but it turns out that I am not alone. Apparently, more and more schools are turning to canine friends to help ease anxiety and stress and to foster a sense of belonging. Check out Why Schools are Going to the Dogs. I might leave this article on my principal's desk...I mean what school doesn't need a dog?

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What are you reading this week? 
​-Corey

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You might also like:

• Lessons Learned as a Middle School Parent (October 10, 2017) 
• BubbleUp Take5: Gratitude (November 15, 2016)