Building a generation of self-aware humans!
The Positive Action Curriculum!
Imagine a younger generation of self-aware humans who understand their strengths and weaknesses, are cognizant of their responsibilities and behaviour towards the world and can manage their emotions and well-being like experienced adults.
Sounds unrealistic? or Too ideal?
But it's not. All of this is possible.
Recently I got introduced to the Positive Action Curriculum and I wonder why didn’t I know about it earlier.
What is Positive Action Curriculum?
Positive Action is based on the intuitive philosophy that we feel good about ourselves when we do positive actions.
The Thoughts-Actions-Feelings Circle (TAF) illustrates how this works in life: our thoughts lead to actions and those actions lead to feelings about ourselves which in turn lead to more thoughts.
The Positive Action Curriculum aims at keeping the Thoughts- Actions- Feelings cycle positive leading to better outcomes for children.
What if this cycle is negative?
The negative thoughts will lead to negative actions, which in turn will lead to negative feelings about self and this goes on. In such a case, students would not want to learn as they are neither intrinsically nor extrinsically motivated.
Thus as an educator or parent or curriculum specialist, the aim should be to keep this cycle positive most of the time.
How does Positive Action Curriculum work?
It comprises 6 steps as shown:
Step 1: Help students identify themselves and understand their Self-Concept. Students learn that self-concept means the way they think and feel about themselves and that families and friends influence their self-concepts.
Step 2: Once they are aware of themselves, and their likes and dislikes, they are introduced to their responsibility towards their body and mind.
Step 3: As they learn about the impacts of positive actions on their body and mind, they are introduced to applying the same to their real life. Thus making them manage themselves better.
Step 4: At this stage, the program shifts from introspection to social interactions. Once they manage themselves better, they understand how their behaviour can affect their social interactions.
Step 5: This stage introduces the concept of self-honesty i.e being real with yourself. Students practice telling themselves the truth, accepting mistakes and keeping their word.
Step 6: Finally, once they realize their mistakes and faults, they automatically start working on improving them. Thus making them consistently work themselves and improve.
Isn’t this process amazing?
The beauty of the positive action curriculum is moving from self-discovery to social interactions and to then finally introduction to self-honesty.
<You can find more details about the steps here.>
How can I apply Positive Action Curriculum as an educator/ parent/ teacher?
The best way to do this is to integrate it with the regular school curriculum and day to day activities. PAC would be more effective when practised daily. The intention here is to have a positive child-parent or teacher-student relationship which forms the base of its effectiveness.
- Support children through every stage
- Answer their queries and do not shun them
- Discuss the case of misbehaviour and guide them using the 6 steps of the curriculum.
- Be a role model for the expected ideal behaviour
- Push their thinking by questioning their choices and helping them realize their rationale.
- Appreciate their efforts etc.
Advantages of Positive Action Curriculum:
- Improved behaviour
- Reduction in conflicts among children
- Better classroom management
- Effective parenting and enhanced parent-child relationship
To summarize, Positive Action Curriculum focuses on the positive actions and how just doing that can boost your confidence, make you self aware and a better human day by day.
Not just children, even adults can apply this to their day to day decision making and see its effectiveness.
After all:
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