RESCUR: Surfing the Waves
Abstract
RESCUR Surfing The Waves (Revised) is a resilience programme for early years and primary schools developed by six European universities, published in 10 languages and implemented in schools across Europe and other countries. The programme seeks to empower children at risk of early school leaving, absenteeism, disengagement, bullying, social exclusion and marginalisation through a universal intervention implemented within an inclusive context. The key competencies promoted in the curriculum include developing a growth mindset, identifying and using one’s strengths, developing self determination,, developing effective communication skills, building and sustaining healthy relationships, and overcoming and dealing with challenges and obstacles.. Amongst its special features, it includes story telling based on two specially designed characters, mindfulness activities, ready-made activities and resources for the classroom teacher, interactive multisensory activities, take home activities, and teacher and self-assessment checklists for each theme. The key competencies promoted in the curriculum include developing a growth mindset, identifying and using one’s strengths, developing self determination,, developing effective communication skills, building and sustaining healthy relationships, and overcoming and dealing with challenges and obstacles.
This workshop first discusses the promotion of resilience amongst school children, followed by an overview of the programme and a number of skills based, practical activities on the implementation of the programme in the classroom.
Learning Outcomes:
During this workshop, participants will be able to:
- identify the key protective factors for children at risk in their development;
- explore the various components of the programme;
- and implement activities from the programme, including simple mindfulness exercises, storytelling, and practical activities such as role plays, drama, and group work
Ideal Audience: Classroom teachers, support teachers/educators, social workers and school counsellors
About Carmel Cefai
Carmel Cefai PhD, FBPS, is the Director of the Centre for Resilience and Socio-Emotional Health, and Professor at the Department of Psychology, at the University of Malta. He is Honorary Chair of the European Network for Social and Emotional Competence, joint founding editor of the International Journal of Emotional Education, and member of the European Commission Network of Experts on Social Aspects of Education and Training. He has led various local, national, European and international research projects in social and emotional learning, resilience and wellbeing in children and young people, and students’ voices. He is the coordinator of the first Masters programme on Transdisciplinary Childhood Studies at the University of Malta and the first Joint Masters in Resilience in Educational Settings (Erasmus Mundus). He has published extensively with numerous books, research reports, journal papers and book chapters.
