Positive Education

Positive Education brings together the science of Positive Psychology with best practice teaching to encourage and support individuals, schools and communities to flourish. We refer to flourishing as a combination of ‘feeling good and doing good’. Positive Education focuses on specific skills that assist students to strengthen their relationships, build positive emotions, enhance personal resilience, promote mindfulness and encourage a healthy lifestyle.

At our school, students are involved in lessons that focus on embedding Positive Psychology into our programs, with the aim of improving student wellbeing and academic performance. Many of our staff are trained in Positive Education and continue to work with staff and students to improve wellbeing at the school.

Positive Education is not only for school, it can become part of family and community life. Simple activities can help to build PERMA at home.

To build…	Things to try!
Positive Emotion	Write down three good things that happen in a day and reflect on why they happened Tell someone how much you appreciate them Listen to positive music Go for a walk somewhere new and exciting
Engagement	Turn a routine task (eg homework or housework) into a game with goals to achieve Read an absorbing book or watch an absorbing film Do something you find deeply rewarding (fishing, playing sport, painting, cooking…) Use your strengths in the things that you do each day
Relationships (Positive)	Tell someone how much you appreciate them Be kind to others Listen to someone with all your attention Celebrate a friend’s success Let go of grudges – forgive
Meaning	Give someone a helping hand without being asked Spend time doing something with a family member Try taking time and really focusing on the good things in your life Think about what you would like to be remembered for in the future (by your friends, children, grandchildren…)
Accomplishment / Achievement	Set yourself small goals and plan steps to achieve them Remind yourself – mistakes are research not failure (use positive self –talk – “I can’t do it – yet!”) Practice that instrument/sports skills/ maths task/drawing skill… you want to improve! When someone tells you how you can improve listen and try out their suggestions

It is easy to focus on the negative – we have a natural tendency to do so! Remember to challenge your negative thoughts, ask yourself what evidence supports them, and look for the positives that happen each day! (Sometimes these are easier to find than others!)