About Well Aware
We see it every day: students who are repeatedly distracted, preoccupied, sad, angry, or disorganized, or who feel confused and hopeless. We realize that as educators we have the opportunity and the responsibility to help students thrive, flourish, feel hopeful, and become socially and emotionally responsive.
Addressing mental well-being in our classrooms can be a sensitive and even a controversial subject. That is why we hope Well Aware will help you to feel confident as you share important positive mental health information, strategies, and skills with your students through powerful literature and non-fiction texts.
The Well Aware series offers
- engaging student books at a variety of reading levels and in a variety of text forms to elicit students’ interest and promote thoughtful conversation in a variety of settings
- supportive Teacher’s Resources that include research related to positive mental health and current literacy approaches, plus comprehensive teaching plans with a menu of ideas and strategies from which to choose so you can connect learning about mental health to a variety of curriculum areas
- resources that allow you to integrate mental health literacy into your literacy program so there is no need to fit an extra program into your already packed schedule
Resource Overview
Student Resources
Grade 4
19 Things: A Book of Lists for Me
Alison Acheson
A child develops mindfulness by creating a variety of lists about favourite and non-favourite things. Lists include “Things I Can’t Control” and “What I Am Thankful For.”
(Non-fiction–Report)
Mental Health Focus
- Connecting emotions to actions
- Friendship
- Risk-taking
Three Plays
Deborah Ellis
Characters in these plays discuss and learn about dealing with their emotions and consider some coping strategies.
(Fiction–Plays)
Mental Health Focus
- Promoting self-esteem and confidence
- Understanding the signs of stress in ourselves and others
- Collaboration and cooperation
Get Real!
Robert Cutting
Grandpa teaches Jake how the teachings of their Kanienkeha’ka culture support emotional well-being.
(Informational Fiction–Indigenous)
Mental Health Focus
- Healthy, harmonious balance
- Respect and responsibility
Creepy Crawley
Steve Pitt
Joseph makes friends with Doug Crawley at his new school. But why does Doug start avoiding Joseph? This story features a family coping with the stigma of mental illness, and learning that it’s more helpful to talk about their difficulties than to hide them.
(Realistic Fiction)
Mental Health Focus
- Stereotyping and stigma
- Bullying
- Empathy
