What are the WITS Programs?
The WITS Programs bring together schools, families and communities to create responsive environments that help elementary school children deal with bullying and peer victimization. There are two components: WITS, for students in Kindergarten to Grade 3; and WITS LEADS for students in Grades 4 to 6/7. Both include a range of carefully selected books and accompanying lesson plans designed to achieve social emotional learning objectives.
Community leaders are key participants in several components of the program and may be Elders, high level athletes, first responders, or anyone trustworthy and of prominence in the community. They help launch the WITS Primary Program with a WITS Assembly where students recite the WITS Promise. The WITS LEADS Program includes a skit called the Tug-of-Help. These community leaders also make school visits throughout the year.
How can I learn how to implement the program?
We have several resources for learning how to use the WITS programs: a Resource Guide, implementation guidelines, and training.
We have three options for training: self-paced online, live remote, and live in-person. Our self-paced online training, combined with our resource guide and implementation guidelines, provides educators with all the information they need to successfully implement the WITS Programs. The Resource Guide is available in the WITS & LEADS Core Modules, and implementation guidelines are found in every Classroom Module.
Live training is led by an experienced WITS educator. Its content is more in-depth and provides school personnel with the option to ask questions and receive feedback. To book live training, contact us.
What do I need to start WITS in my school?
Once you have determined that a program like WITS is important to have in your school, ordering WITS materials and organizing program training is simple. Every WITS school first requires a subscription. This should be available to all personnel in your school and allows you to access program materials. Your subscription allows everyone in your school to access our online WITS Educator Training, an important step in program implementation. A typical school requires WITS and/or LEADS Classroom Modules for each classroom, and a Core Module for common areas. These contain all the materials you need, including a detailed Resource Guide and implementation guidelines, to start the WITS Programs.
What if my school is small or different than a typical school?
We are committed to helping as many kids as possible, so we can work with you to find a solution that fits your particular circumstances. Please contact us.
Why did you update your materials?
In 2021 we updated all program educational materials, teacher resources, lesson plans, online training and more. What makes WITS effective has not changed, but this update helps our programs stay fresh with current designs and language, ensuring that WITS fits with today’s social-emotional learning objectives.
