TRAILS gives students opportunities to examine
the internal and external influences on the choices they make, as well as the
long and short-term consequences of those choices. Giving students a variety of
choices, and demonstrating the outcomes, provides them with a sense of
empowerment and vision in their decision-making.
The units included in the
TRAILS curriculum offer many opportunities for students to initiate
conversations, express thoughts and feelings, actively listen to others, and
agree or disagree with others' opinions. This type of skill development
promotes a student's social competence and interpersonal relationships, and
provides valuable feedback on how the child is processing the
information.
The activities in TRAILS
build goal-setting skills which help students realize the importance of looking
ahead and considering the future impact of their decisions. Through
experiencing the stories, the students further realize the impact of health
related decisions on their ability to accomplish goals.
TRAILS allows students
to have an interactive role in helping make the best decisions in a social
context or physical environment that presents a difficult issue. Through
examples of advocacy skills and responsible decision-making, students learn and
experience ways to change outcomes.
By using the TRAILS curriculum along with
teaching skills, teachers play an important role in the classroom and in the
development of their students by:
- encouraging expression of their
beliefs in the classroom
- teaching the difference between aggression and
assertiveness
- teaching students skills for conflict resolution
- challenging them to articulate the reasons behind their
decisions
- promoting interaction and friendship-building
- teaching planning and organizational skills
- teaching them to handle criticism in constructive ways
- encouraging and supporting them in pursuing their own
dreams
By strengthening resiliency and
building internal assets, everyone benefits. Raising children to be resilient
and asset-rich will greatly enhance their lives and the lives of
others. |
