Welcome to RISE for Education!
Why RISE?
After over a decade of teaching in one of the lowest performing middle schools in the nation, it has been my experience that most people outside of education simply don’t understand it. They think back to their experiences in school and assume it is the same as their faded memory of being a young student. The truth is, the experience for students and teachers currently in our society is one filled with stress, depression, frustration, and anxiety.
Due to issues like the lack of appropriate funding, teacher and student supports, and chronic absences these aforementioned issues are growing, becoming deeper and taking root. These issues have been increasing for years until the COVID pandemic threw gasoline on the fire pushing teachers and students alike to breaking points. Since 2020, the increase of teachers leaving the profession and the student achievement gap has been staggering. It is my belief that solutions are not going to come from outside of our school buildings. It is up to us to find solutions to the current landscape in education.
Who is RISE?
RISE is first and foremost created by teachers and students, for teachers and students. Together we identified common issues throughout our classrooms. Together we then identified the needs of both students and teachers to find solutions. Next we worked together to create the materials, lessons, activities, and meditations.
Unlike other SEL (Social Emotional Learning) programs, RISE for Education focuses on how students and teachers feed off of each other's energy. It is difficult for teachers to perform for students five to six times a day, day in and day out, willing them to learn. It is difficult for students to learn with all of the modern distractions. The RISE curriculum focuses on both academic and emotional growth.
How to RISE?
Simply put, RISE is an acronym that stands for Relax, Imagine, Suggest, and Empower. Each letter represents a step that students and teachers can use to help regulate their central nervous system during times of great stress. This can be done through journaling, meditation, art, and other avenues. There are several tools presented in the curriculum for each step that students and teachers can use at their discretion. Teachers know that all students do not learn in the same way. Likewise, students do not find the ability to focus, find calm, or retain information in the same way.
The RISE for Education curriculum provides students and teachers with various ways to:
Academic Learning
1. Prepare for the Lesson
2. Check for Understanding
3. Transfer Learning
Emotional Learning
1. Test Taking Anxiety
2. Reacting to Re-directions
3. Behavior Goal Setting
These are just a few of the examples that are found within the RISE for Education Curriculum!
