Why Try’s curriculum of ten visual analogies are reinforced through the creative use of music, videos, hands-on activities, stories, and multi-media. Why Try’s curriculum engages all major learning styles (visual, auditory, and body-kinesthetic.)
Why Try’s ten visual analogies teach these essential resilience life skills:
Why Try is a flexible toolkit and curriculum for K-12 teachers and counsellors. It provides simple, hands-on strategies and resources to help motivate the unmotivated student, support students with trauma, improve engagement, and increase academic success. The idea is straightforward: teach life skills and resilience to youth in a way they can understand and remember The Why Try Program can be used as a flexible toolkit for teachers and counsellors or as a classroom curriculum taught for a school term or over a school year. Delivered on a one-to-many and/or one-to-one counselling context.
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Why Try is an evidence-based social and emotional learning (SEL) program. We use the CASEL definition of social and emotional learning:
“…the process through which children and adults acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships and make responsible decisions.”
-The Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL)
Researchers have independently verified that Why Try effectively accomplishes all the objectives of social and emotional learning as outlined by CASEL. Students who participate in a full-fidelity implementation of the Why Try Program demonstrate improved:
The National Centre on Response to Intervention (NCRI, USA) outlines the following standards for research-based interventions:
“…(an) evidence-based intervention (is) as an intervention for which data from scientific, rigorous research designs have demonstrated (or empirically validated) the efficacy of the intervention. That is, within the context of a group or single-subject experiment or a quasi-experimental study, the intervention is shown to improve the results for students who receive the intervention.”
The Why Try program also delivers a research-informed curriculum, defined by US-based NCRI, as:
“…incorporating design features that have been researched generally…”
Educators implement Why Try using the ten visual metaphors that form the cornerstone of the program. These ten metaphors teach life skills critical to the future success of every student or adult. The ten visual metaphors use a variety of strengths-based therapeutic approaches. These include:
While these are well-established therapeutic practices, educators don’t need to be trained in these modalities to use the program.
1. RELATIONSHIP
Teachers or counsellors who implement the Why Try program establish a strong relationship of mutual respect and trust
1. RELATIONSHIP
Teachers or counsellors who implement the Why Try program establish a strong relationship of mutual respect and trust with students. Establishing a relationship is foundational to a full fidelity implementation of the program, and Why Try improves the relationship students have with educators. For example, in a pre/post
2. RELEVANCE
Why Try motivates students to take a greater interest in their academic success and long-term personal development.
2. RELEVANCE
Why Try motivates students to take a greater interest in their academic success and long-term personal development. Students understand the relevance of actively participating in school and are motivated to make long-term goals and apply themselves. For example, Baker (2008) found that students who participated in the
Why Try program had improved self-efficacy as measured by the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA) when compared to the control group. The Why Try program also uses a variety of research-informed techniques to capture students’ attention and help them engage with the material. Our multi-sensory approach engages learners of all age groups. We accomplish this by using relevant videos, music, and images and by engaging students in physical activities. A multi-sensory approach is well-documented in academic literature to improve comprehension, retention, and overall engagement. Why Try uses a variety of multisensory tools to make lessons more relevant to the learner.
3. RESILIENCE
Why Try helps students to develop greater resilience. When students are more resilient, they are better prepare
3. RESILIENCE
Why Try helps students to develop greater resilience. When students are more resilient, they are better prepared for all the challenges life brings… at home, at school, and with friends. A number of studies establish the value of resilience. Resilient students are more likely to get better grades, attend classes, and find success in life.
Researchers have demonstrated that Why Try improves resilience according to a variety of measurement instruments. These include:
Behaviour Assessment System for Children;
Children’s Hope Scale
Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment;
Why Try Measure R Assessment Tool;
The Why Try Measure R instrument are independently validated against the Nowicki-Strickland Locus of Control Scale (N-SLOC). This instrument allows educators to measure pre/post results and ensure program implementation is improving key SEL metrics. Why Try teaches students the social and emotional skills they need to succeed in school and in life. Why Try is validated by independent research and uses a variety of research-informed tactics. We are continuously measuring the effectiveness of our program and working to improve its efficacy.
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