The 7 Foundations of Positive Education in Schools

Introduction

Positive education is a relatively new approach to education that focuses on promoting wellbeing and happiness in students while also teaching the traditional academic curriculum. The goal is to nurture not only academically successful students but also flourishing human beings. There are 7 main foundations of positive education:

1. Teach wellbeing literacy

Educate students on what wellbeing means and why it is important for health, relationships, and success. Help them understand the components of wellbeing like positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning and purpose. Teach practices that support wellbeing.

2. Integrate learning about character strengths

Have students discover their unique strengths and virtues and learn how to apply them. Strengths like creativity, perseverance, honesty, forgiveness etc. Help students recognize and appreciate strengths in themselves and others.

3. Embed mindfulness practices

Incorporate mindfulness techniques like meditation, mindful breathing, body scans etc. into the curriculum. These encourage present moment awareness, reduce stress and improve cognitive skills.

4. Promote positive relationships

Foster positive relationships among students as well as between students and teachers through cooperative learning strategies, peer support programs, cross-age tutoring etc. Relationships are foundational for growth.

5. Encourage engagement through strengths

Help students identify activities in academics as well as extracurriculars that align with their strengths and interests to promote engagement and motivation to learn.

6. Develop healthy habits

Teach students good lifestyle habits related to sleep, nutrition, exercise and nature exposure that support mental and physical wellbeing so they have energy and focus.

7. Enable positive accomplishment

Structure learning tasks and assessments in a way that allows students to experience positive accomplishment and celebrate growth. This gives them confidence to take on challenges.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is positive education?

Positive education is an approach to education that focuses equally on academics as well as wellbeing and character strengths to promote flourishing students.

Why is it important?

It leads to improved learning outcomes as well as better health, relationships, engagement, purpose and resilience.

How can schools implement it?

By training staff, integrating wellbeing content into curriculum, incorporating evidence-based practices, assessing wellbeing and structuring supportive learning environments centered on positive relationships.

What are some key principles?

Teaching wellbeing literacy, identifying character strengths, mindfulness, cooperative learning, strengths-based engagement, healthy habits and positive accomplishment.

What are benefits for students?

Higher wellbeing and academic performance, better relationships, reduced anxiety/depression, healthier lifestyles, finding purpose and living meaningfully.