Module Introduction
As educators, we face classroom challenges, from fostering a safe and inclusive, as well as engaging, learning environment to supporting students’ emotional and social development.
We may also contend with broader system-level challenges including disgruntled community members, outdated school policies, relentless workload and time pressures–as well as students’ growing mental health issues. To face these obstacles on a daily basis and not succumb to a world-weary sense of grief or Monday-morning dread requires COURAGE.
Courage is the ability to take noble action in the face of uncertainty and risk. In other words, courage can help us be the people—and the educators—we want to be.
Spark Interest
Watch this video [5:15] of educators talking about courage.
Reflection
- How would you describe courage in 1-2 sentences?
Learning Objectives
In this module, we will:
- Identify the various components of courage
- Understand the difference between “general” courage and “personal” courage
- Define academic courage and its role in our learning and growth
- Understand what moral courage is and how it plays out at work and in life
- Examine the benefits of a courageous mindset
- Explore tools and practical strategies for cultivating courage in ourselves
Module Resources
This toolkit includes additional resources, including classroom lessons and practices organized by developmental level, staff meeting activities, videos, podcasts, articles, and professional learning opportunities, as well as supporting materials for group facilitation on the topics of "Courage for Adults" and “Courage for Students.”
Individual Exploration
What is Courage?
In this first video, learn how researchers define courage, discover the different types of courage, and identify the six factors that influence courage [13:13].
Reflection
- If courage features an “intention” a “risk,” and a “goal or value” that benefits others, then describe something courageous you would like to do (an intention), the risks involved (e.g., judgment of others, failure, etc.), and/or a goal or value (e.g., creativity, loyalty, fairness) that drives you to be courageous.
- Reflecting on your own experiences, what challenges have you encountered in practicing courage as an educator, and how have you overcome them?
Why is Courage Important for Educators?
Courage empowers us to become the type of educator we aspire to be – it also provides profound benefits to us as individuals and to our school communities. In this video we are going to explore courage as a grounding virtue and how it helps us grow as educators. [5:37].
Reflection
- Do you feel like you need more courage now than you did a few years ago? Why or why not?
- Have you personally experienced the benefits of courage? What does it feel like when you are courageous?
Cultivating Our Courage as Educators
In this final video, learn how we can develop and strengthen courage in ourselves [10:33].
Reflection
- What additional practices, methods or approaches could you explore to further develop your capacity for empathy and deepen your understanding of others’ perspectives?
Links from video
Practices to Your Clarify Values
Self Check-in Journal Use a values-informed reflective process to make ethical decisions with open-mindedness, integrity, equity, and justice in order to respond in a meaningful and responsible manner. (less than 15 minutes)
Making Values-Informed Decisions Staff use reflective questions to assess possibilities, navigate dilemmas, and make the best possible choice to serve the needs of the individual, team, community, and learning environment. (less than 1 hour)
Practices to Reflect on Your Strengths
Use Your Strengths Choose a personal strength, write how you’re going to use the strength today, and then carry out your plan. (less than 15 minutes)
Eight Inner Strengths for Leaders School and teacher leaders use reflective questions to assess leadership strengths individually, with each other, or as a whole group, and then develop a plan for improvement. (less than 15 minutes)
Reminders that Encourage Moral Character Strengths. Students identify important character strengths for the classroom, create a classroom character strengths board, and write stories of themselves that include the character strengths the classroom has agreed are important. (less than 1 hour)
Other Links
Courageous Dialogue Toolkit This resource designed by Karen Bohlin features tips to help you prepare for a difficult conversation.
Speak Up at School This handbook created by Learning for Justice helps you and your students respond to microaggressions.
7.6 Take It Deeper: Your Courage Hero
When we want to foster more courage in ourselves, it can be helpful to look to the people we admire or who show great courage in our lives.
Module Resources
This toolkit includes additional resources, including classroom lessons and practices organized by developmental level, staff meeting activities, videos, podcasts, articles, and professional learning opportunities, as well as supporting materials for group facilitation on the topics of "Courage for Adults" and “Courage for Students.”
When we want to foster more courage in ourselves, it can be helpful to look to the people we admire or who show great courage in our lives.
Group Facilitation
Before facilitating groups, spend time in individual exploration in order to experience and embody the learning. And if you haven’t yet explored our introduction to SEL in California, make sure you explore those resources.
Module Resources
This toolkit includes additional resources, including classroom lessons and practices, staff meeting activities, videos, podcasts, articles, and professional learning opportunities, as well as supporting materials for group facilitation on the topics of "Courage for Adults" and “Courage for Students.”
A revisable, turnkey powerpoint slide deck to use for professional learning sessions on the topic of "Courage for Educators."
A powerpoint slide deck with welcoming and closing activities to include in professional learning sessions.
When we want to foster more courage in ourselves, it can be helpful to look to the people we admire or who show great courage in our lives.
“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I’ll try again tomorrow.”
Do you want to dive deeper into the science behind our GGIE practices? Enroll in one of our online courses for educators!
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