Sec Values - Courage & Resilience 6: Josien

Teacher notes

In this final session of the Courage & Resilience unit, students meet Josien, a young girl who shares what it's like to live with and care for her mother after a stroke. Her story brings a vital new dimension: courage as something shared - lived not only by the person affected by a challenge, but by the people around them. Where Tamara taught us about healing and reclaiming voice, Josien helps us see how empathy, patience, and love become quiet forms of strength too. **Themes**: Courage in the face of unexpected challenges Resilience and perseverance in recovery Communication and self-expression Disability awareness and inclusive cities **Values Focus** This story deepens students’ understanding of courage as something that grows in tough times, and resilience as a strength we use to keep going and find new ways forward. Suggested introduction for each session in Year of Values: Each week, we explore a powerful human story from a different part of the world, using real-life voices and experiences to help us better understand the values that shape our lives. **National Curriculum Links** This lesson strongly supports: PSHE: empathy, care, resilience, emotional literacy, relationships. Citizenship: responsibility, inclusion, awareness of carers. English: listening, emotional interpretation, reflective writing. SMSC: compassion, moral courage, relational ethics. More detailed National Curriculum links: PSHE KS3 H1 – to assess emotional and social wellbeing and understand how to maintain it. H3 – how to manage growth and change, including emotional changes. H4 – strategies for resilience and managing influences on wellbeing. R1 – about different types of relationships and the importance of respect and care. R33 – the impact of relationships on emotional health. L1 – recognising personal strengths, qualities and values. L4 – developing resilience and adaptability in the face of change. PSHE KS4: H2 – how to recognise and manage influences on wellbeing, including stress and pressure. H3 – how to maintain emotional and mental wellbeing, including strategies for resilience. H4 – how to manage stress and change and build emotional resilience. R1 – the importance of healthy, supportive relationships. R34 – the impact of supportive relationships and community on wellbeing. L8 – active citizenship and contributing to the wellbeing of others. KS3-4 Citizenship Responsibility; caregiving; inclusion; disability awareness. Raises awareness of the role of carers and empathy in diverse communities. SMSC / RE Whole school: Moral courage; compassion in action; family and community ethics. Builds ethical awareness, empathy and understanding of moral care. KS3-4 English Active listening; interpreting dialogue; expressive response writing. Develops emotional literacy through reflection and discussion.