If You Fix This One Classroom Issue, Then 2025-2026 Can Be Your Best School Year Ever!

Reclaiming Back The Power of Education

By Catherine Patterson-Sterling, PhD, RCC

Learned helplessness is a contagion in classrooms because in an insta-world where every adventure, object, or experience we ever want can come with the click of a button, means that people lose three things…

1.       Imagination which is the ability to see beyond the limits of what is presented in delightful and fantastic ways!

2.       Critical Thinking which is the ability to think beyond the information presented!

AND…

3.       Resiliency which is the ability to bounce back from situations with more fortitude, pep in your step, and grit! This means leaning into problems so that you are in charge of challenges and they are not in charge of you!

When this pesky little visitor called learned helplessness invaded classrooms, learning became hard or challenging  so we reduced the expectations as educators, because of course life happens, so adjust.

Students lost their purpose in learning and it was about socializing, as school then became a place to see their friends.

Then school (which became irrelevant, hard, and inconvenient) got in the way of other priorities like technology and making up for lost sleep time which now is the source of our disengagement as well as chronic absenteeism issues.

Now we are here and things feel even harder!

Students need resiliency (the ability to lean into challenges with strength) so that they can reclaim back their imaginations and critical thinking to live in a world of possibilities as well as personal growth.

Your Best School Year Ever!

Now is the opportunity for Teachers and Administration to become resilient by addressing the underlying issues that erode away education.

With a new set of emotional glasses and a FOCUS ON RESILIENCY, as educators we can shift school culture by helping students get back their resiliency.

This is what we can do…

Resilience is a Teachable Skill

Students are not born with or without resiliency, and instead, this is a skill that can be identified, cultivated, practiced, and grown within a larger school culture. Teachers play a pivotal role in shaping how students respond to challenges. By modeling resilience, celebrating effort, and creating safe spaces to take learning risks, educators can turn classroom lessons into knowledge for how to set ourselves up for success not just in the class but for life.

The Ripple Effect of Resiliency

When resiliency is woven into daily teaching, the impact extends beyond academics. Resilient students become resilient adults who are better equipped to face the realities of life, from workplace stress to personal challenges. They learn that persistence pays off, that setbacks do not define them, and that growth is always possible.

What about Teachers?

A resilient classroom is one where students often feels more engaged, motivated, and connected. When students believe they can overcome obstacles, discipline issues decline, creativity expands, and the joy of learning flourishes.

As you plan lessons, design projects, and set goals this year, remember that teaching resiliency may just be the most important lesson of all.

Some Resources

LOTUS School-Wide Positive Behavior & Resilience Program for K to 8 filled with school-wide and classroom-based activities supporting students around resiliency with ready-made materials and resources.

TWENTY for Grades 5 to 10 which includes over 70+ animated videos, quizzes, reflection prompts supporting students with screen time overload, future planning, self-regulation, managing anxiety, executive functioning and school engagement skills in an engaging way that supports 6 characters through their adventures at Urschool.

For a limited time receive your FREE TEACHER’S COPY of both programs in one. Order individual logins for students to unlock the quizzes, self-reflection, and writing activities. These materials are ready-made and loaded on to a learning management system so you can set yourself up for success with your school annual goals today while also building capacity for positive learning and resiliency in your school culture.

For more information and to access your Free Teacher Copy visit: https://www.softskillstrainingcenter.com

This site also includes school-wide or even district-wide infographic implementation plans for quick reference and use amongst educators.

About The Writer:

Catherine Patterson-Sterling, PhD, RCC is an educator of 20+ years with diverse experience in all levels of elementary, high school, and post secondary education as a teacher, counsellor, and clinical supervisor. With extensive experience in research and counselling, she understands the impact as well as sources of disengagement as well as chronic absenteeism on learners at all levels. She is also the creator of these new innovative programs “Twenty”  & “LOTUS” sponsored by Soft Skills Training Center and Patterson-Sterling Consulting and Counselling Services.