Our Approach
Connect is based on a model called DNA-V, which stand for four skills – Discoverer, Noticer, Advisor and Values.
Research shows that children’s emotional resilience improves when they learn these key skills. DNA-V exercises help children learn to use these skills in relation to how they see themselves and the social world.
Meet the family…
DISCOVERER
The Discoverer skill is about learning to explore the environment in a fun and open way.
NOTICER
The Noticer skill is about becoming aware of and labelling experiences in the present moment.
ADVISOR
The Advisor skill is about weighing up the reasons for and against pursuing a particular course of action.
VALUES
The Values skill is about identifying the qualities we want to reflect in our behaviour.
SELF & SOCIAL
Our four core DNA-V skills tend to be impacted by thoughts about ourselves and others. Hence the curriculum teaches students to adopt a more flexible view of these concepts.
DNA-V (Hayes & Ciarrochi, 2015). Used with permission.
If you would like to find out more about DNA-V and the science behind it, see thrivingadolescent.com or the book, The Thriving Adolescent. Additionally, the video below illustrates the core principles.
What makes Connect really unique is that the termly themes are derived from the psychological wellbeing literature, and specifically the work of Dr Geetanjali Basarkod. Dr Basarkod’s PhD thesis expanded on the work of the New Economics Foundation by empirically showing that psychologically healthy people tend to engage in 6 behaviours, and our curriculum is built around them. They are…
Connecting with others – this involves having healthy social relationships.
Challenging oneself – this involves continually trying to improve via learning.
Giving to others – this involves spending time and resources helping our fellow human beings.
Exercising – this involves engaging in physical activity.
Embracing the moment – this involves mindfully interacting with our thoughts and feelings.
Self-care – this involves looking after oneself, such as through healthy eating and improved sleep quality.
Connect is the only PSHE curriculum specifically designed to support children to engage in the six wellbeing behaviours.
