Introduction to the Welcome to Well-Being Programme
Welcome to Well-Being is a new 3-level well-being programme for Junior Infants, Senior Infants and First Class (ages 5 to 7+). It is based on Positive Psychology, which is the science of well-being and is designed to be implemented as part of the SPHE curriculum.
The programme aims to enhance young children’s wellbeing and resilience through developing specific skills including emotional intelligence and regulation, boosting positive emotions and enhancing social skills and self-confidence.
The theme of the programme is that two small aliens called Mo and Ko arrive from a planet called Zo to help children feel happy, strong, kind and brave, loving and well. Each week they introduce children to a new idea and they set a challenge for the children to try it out for the week – at home as well as at school. By default, the characters Mo & Ko are gender-neutral. A gender-specific version is also available which can be ordered HERE.
Each of the three levels of Welcome to Well-being comes with a Teacher Resource Book (with a comprehensive online Digital Companion Page – DCP) and a Pupil Book (Reflective Journal). The DCP contains PowerPoint presentations for each lesson, supplementary worksheets, classroom posters and much more. The pupil book has two activities per lesson as well as a homework activity. A pull-out Parent Information Guide is included in each child’s Pupil Book to support parental involvement.
The programme has been written by Fiona Forman, co-author of the extensively used middle to upper primary school programme Weaving Well-Being and author of the Secondary school programmes Wired for Well-Being (Junior cycle) and Tools to Thrive (Senior cycle).
Junior Infants
(Age: 4.5 to 5.5)
Senior Infants
(Age: 5.5 to 6.5)
First Class
(Age: 6.5 to 7.5)
Welcome to Well-Being Methodologies
The Welcome to Well-Being programme uses the approaches and methodologies outlined in the SPHE curriculum guidelines (DES, 1999). These are based on the concept of active learning; as the children engage with the lesson, they are encouraged to actively apply the skill or idea in their own lives, through the weekly challenge. Other activities include talk and discussion, responding through art, visual organisers, reflecting, poetry and mindfulness activities. Each lesson also contains a multi-media component, usually a song or video story.
Outline of Lessons
Each level has 10 lessons covered in the Teacher Resource Book, Digital Companion Page and Pupil Book (Reflective Journal) containing the following elements:
- Lesson plan – containing relevant SPHE links, supplementary photocopiable resources and classroom posters
- PowerPoint slides – containing all relevant material for the presentation of the lesson, including a multi-media element
- Pupil Book (Reflective Journal) – containing 2 pupil activities per lesson, self-assessment and homework activity
- Parent/Guardian/Carer Information Guide – (in the centre of each Pupil Book) to encourage parents to support their child
Click on the programme ‘Framework’ image to see what’s covered at each of the three class levels.
Framework
Well-Being Brochure
(Primary & Post-primary)
Click on the catalogue cover above to browse the comprehensive (24-page) Well-Being School Programmes’ Catalogue. You can also download a pdf of this catalogue and/or request a copy to be sent to your address.
What people are saying
Sample Teacher Feedback (from pilot stage of Welcome to Well-Being):
I have loved implementing this programme in my class. It has been very beneficial and feels as though we are providing the children with key life skills from such an early age. It is fantastic to see the children in tune with their feelings and emotions and using the skills to navigate through difficulties. It was fabulous, the age-appropriateness of having ‘Mo and Ko’ was invaluable!
Sample Parent feedback (from pilot stage of Welcome to Well-Being):
This is an amazing programme and the most important subject in school if you ask me. Excellent programme. Very valuable for young children.
Sample Children’s feedback (from pilot stage of Welcome to Well-Being):
This is fun! I love the characters! Mo and Ko have different feelings just like us – I like talking & singing about them.
Click HERE to see photographs of Welcome to Well-Being in action in Killester Raheny Clontarf ETNS.
Author
Fiona Forman is an author, speaker, facilitator and trainer in the area of well-being and Positive Psychology. Click HERE to find out more about Fiona.
Free Download for Parents
Welcome to Well-Being Products
- Weaving Well-BeingQuick View
Welcome to Well-Being – Book A: Meet Mo and Ko (Junior Infants / Ages: 4-5+)
€4.95 – €44.55 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page - Weaving Well-BeingQuick View
Welcome to Well-Being – Book B: Good to Be Me with Mo and Ko (Senior Infants / Ages: 5-6+)
€4.95 – €44.55 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page - ECCE: Early Childhood Care and EducationQuick View
Welcome to Well-Being – Book C: Feeling Good with Mo and Ko! (1st Class / Ages: 6-7+)
€4.95 – €44.55 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page - Emotional Issues & SPHEQuick View
Welcome to Well-Being: Starter Kit (Lower Primary – Junior Infants to 1st Class / Ages: 4-7+)
€89.50 – €140.00 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page