USE YOUR WITS®
We promote kindness, encourage positive actions, and prevent victimization such as discrimination and bullying. From the widely-used WITS Program to our new child and youth programs, our work helps kids of all ages.
Schools now subscribe to access WITS lesson plans, videos, training and more. Our youth programs are Canadian Kindness Leaders and Pink Shirt Project, and their French counterparts.
Accredited by CASEL as a promising Social Emotional Learning program, the easy-to-teach WITS strategies have been proven effective via formal evaluations. In 2016, WITS was acclaimed as the “best school program of its kind” in Canada by researchers at Dalhousie University. The WITS Programs are trusted by over 1500 schools worldwide.
The WITS Program provides children from Kindergarten to Grade 3 (up to grade 6/7; age groups are flexible) with skills and language to manage peer victimization. Using carefully chosen children’s books, engaging resources, and cross-curriculum lessons, educators find WITS easy to implement and effective in reducing peer victimization like discrimination, bullying, etc.
LEADS, an extension of WITS, provides students in Grades 4 through 6/7 (age groups are flexible) with strategies that empower kids to resolve conflicts and model good behaviour. Like WITS, LEADS is a literature based program with dynamic activities that may be integrated throughout a variety of subject areas.
Empowers youth to work together on their own ideas for positive school/community projects. 1 or more classes, 2-4 month project. Ages 9 to 14. See schools’ featured projects from four provinces on the dedicated web site. Learn More
Empowers youth to work together on their own ideas for positive community projects. Emphasizes inclusion and preventing victimization, and with a bonus section on children’s rights. 1 or more classes, 2-4 month project. Ages 13 to 18 or multiple age groups. Learn More
Our Pink Shirt Day 2023 broadcasts reached over 600 classrooms from 65 schools totaling over 12,000 children and youth from both high schools and elementary/public schools, representing most areas of Canada. Learn More
Starting in schools and affecting entire communities, we are committed to creating safe, inclusive and healthy environments for children and youth. Here are some of the ways we do that:
Expanded languages
To reach more families, we created the new WITS take-home card. By scanning the QR code, families can read about WITS in their choice of 12 languages, referring to the school’s use of WITS and helping families use WITS at home. www.witsprogram.ca/families
Indigenous Communities
The WITS Program is used in dozens of Indigenous community schools. The advice of Indigenous educators and consultants is embedded into WITS. We also encourage program adaptation that will work with unique cultures and needs. In 2022, WITS subscriptions are free to Indigenous schools.
WITS commitment to Indigenous communities and reconciliation.
NEW Youth Program
Coming in 2023: For ages 10 to 16, Canadian Kindness Leaders guides youth to conceive of and implement their own projects that support kindness in their school and/or community. Available to subscribed schools. Positively empower your youth! See www.canadiankindnessleaders.ca
WITS Programs have been delivered in more than 1300 schools in every province and territory in Canada, and many more outside of Canada. WITS is committed to making sure that every child has a safe, supportive community in which to grow and thrive.
Click through to our map to see if your community is represented:
WITS Programs schools worldwide
Educators and Community
Leaders trained in WITS
Programs
Books on the WITS Pick
or WITS Recommended
book lists
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