The Blog

Thank You, Educators!

Now that spring break has come and gone, standardized testing season is here, and summer is inching closer, we know your job can be just as challenging as it is rewarding. This year for Teacher Appreciation Week—just like in years past—we want to say two simple words: 

THANK YOU

Thank you for working with families to make sure kids are reaching milestones both in and out of the classroom. 
 
Thank you for focusing on mental health and social and emotional foundations to empower kids to make good decisions. 
 
Thank you for engaging in conversations to help your students say “YES” to a healthy lifestyle and “NO” to underage drinking. 
 
Thank you for showing up every day to help shape your students into the best young adults they can be. 

If you’re looking for some ideas to engage with your students, especially this week, which is National Prevention Week, we’d love for you to #Take20withKids. This year, in addition to celebrating the fact that underage drinking is down–53% over the last two decades!–we are also celebrating 20 years of Ask, Listen, Learn. Together, we have been working to start conversations, empower kids to make informed decisions, and model responsible behaviors. These efforts are critical to keeping kids healthy, and it only “takes 20.”  

  • Start by taking 20 minutes to check out our Brain, Body, Behavior materials, developed in partnership with Discovery Education. They include interactive modules about how alcohol affects the developing brain, body, and behavior. Student learning focuses on social and emotional foundations, such as personal responsibility and making smart and healthy choices.  
  • Take 20 minutes of class time to engage your students in Refusal Role Play. Practicing role playing refusal strategies helps kids learn and understand effective ways of saying “NO” to underage drinking and stay substance-free.  
  • Take 20 seconds at the end of class to celebrate how they avoided making unhealthy choices! 

Find out more about how you can #Take20withKids here, and plan to share your #Take20withKids over social media tagging us in your Instagram Stories at @Ask_Listen_Learn

As you #Take20withKids, don’t forget to “take 20” for yourself, too! Take 20 seconds to breathe during the school day and 20 minutes when you get home to reflect on a job well done. You deserve it! 
 
From our team to you—THANK YOU, EDUCATORS!