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A Social-Emotional Learning Curriculum Guide for Middle School
#trendingElizabeth Johnson, M.Ed. and Jillian Luft, M.Ed.
#trendingA Social-Emotional Learning Curriculum Guide
for Middle School
AuthorsElizabeth Johnson, M.Ed. and Jillian Luft, M.Ed.
EditorMaria Luisa Tucker
Executive EditorKeith Hefner
Layout, Design, and Cover PhotoEfrain Reyes, Jr.
Copyright © 2016 by Youth Communication
For reprint information, please contact Youth Communication.
ISBN 978-1-938970-08-5
Printed in the United States of America
Youth CommunicationNew York, New Yorkyouthcomm.org
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. Unless otherwise noted, no part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher, except for brief quotations or critical reviews.
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Table of ContentsIntroduction ............................................................................................................................................. 4
The Youth Communication Approach ............................................................................................ 5
Leading a Youth Communication Group ....................................................................................... 8
How to Use This Curriculum Guide .............................................................................................. 11
Community Membership and Leadership .................................................................................. 14
Group Orientation
Session 1: We Belong Here ....................................................................................................... 17Session 2: We Have Something to Say ................................................................................. 23Story: “#HearUsNow – Voices from #trending” by Youth Communication writers .......... 28
UNIT 1: Exploring Identity
Session 3: The Mirror and Its Many Reflections ............................................................... 33Story: “The Identity Experiment” by Lily Mai ............................................................................ 39
Session 4: Doing Your Own Thing .......................................................................................... 43Story: “All Mixed Up” by Anonymous .......................................................................................... 49
UNIT 2: Culture and Diversity
Session 5: Showing Pride Across Divides ............................................................................ 55Story: “Connecting Across Borders” by Jimmy Lee ................................................................. 61
Session 6: Learning Through Listening ................................................................................ 63Story: “Fighting Words” by Margarita Martinez ....................................................................... 68
UNIT 3: Me and My Family
Session 7: Finding Comfort ...................................................................................................... 75Story: “Home Away From Home” by Caitlin Lemmo .............................................................. 80
Session 8: Trust Us, We Need Our Independence ............................................................ 83Story: “Guarded by Grandpa” by Kiara Ventura ....................................................................... 89
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UNIT 4: Friendships That Matter
Session 9: Grateful for Good Friends .................................................................................... 95Story: “How a Best Friend Helps” by Shateek Palmer ...........................................................101
Session 10: Who’s My ‘Combito?’ .........................................................................................105Story: “Leaving ‘El Combito’” by Angy Gonzalez ...................................................................110
UNIT 5: Love and Relationships
Session 11: Everything’s Going to Be Fine if You Get Out of Your Head ...............115Story: “My First Date Was Torture” by Lucas Mann ...............................................................120
Session 12: Mean What You Say and Say What You Mean .........................................125Story: “Pressured to Say ‘I Love You’” by Julia Smith ............................................................131
UNIT 6: Peer Pressure
Session 13: When Saying No Is the Way to Go ...............................................................137Story: “Cheater to Tutor” by Anonymous ................................................................................143
Session 14: Opting Out of the ‘In-Crowd’ .........................................................................147Story: “Goodbye to the Gossip Group” by Carlos Ferreira ..................................................152
UNIT 7: Sadness, Stress, Anger
Session 15: Using Our ‘Good Things’ to Manage the ‘Bad Things’ .........................159Story: “Explaining My Life” by Shateek Palmer .......................................................................164
Session 16: Letting the Outside In .......................................................................................169Story: “Nature Is My Salvation” by Emily Orchier ..................................................................174
UNIT 8: Being Healthy
Session 17: What Can I Eat That’s Healthy and Cheap? ...............................................179Story: “My ‘Hood Is Bad for My Health” by Anonymous .....................................................185
Session 18: When Healthy Becomes Unhealthy ..............................................................189Story: “Crash Dieting Took Me Off Track” by Jhanae Shine .................................................194
UNIT 9: Success in School
Session 19: Break Bad Habits, Make Dreams Happen ..................................................201Story: “Hiding My Talent No More” by Jesselin Rodriguez ..................................................207
Session 20: Appreciating an Advocate ...............................................................................211Story: “Why I Loved Special Ed” by Irving Torres ..................................................................217
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UNIT 10: From Bystander to Ally
Session 21: Don’t Stand By, Stand Up! ...............................................................................223Story: “Why Are Girls So Mean?” by Anonymous..................................................................229
Session 22: From Defender to Ally ......................................................................................233Story: “My Sister ’s Keeper” by Anonymous ............................................................................238
UNIT 11: Challenging Stereotypes
Session 23: Taking a Second Look at First Impressions ...............................................245Story: “Big and Tall” by Abi Akinrosoye ....................................................................................250
Session 24: Seeing the Person, Not the Stereotype ......................................................253Story: “Not All Asians Get Straight A’s” by Kelly Tan ..............................................................259
UNIT 12: Me and the World
Session 25: What Can We Do to Make a Difference? ...................................................265Story: “Wake-Up Call in Another World” by Maria Zaman .................................................271
Session 26: Speaking Up About Sexism .............................................................................275Story: “The 8th Grade Feminist” by Alice Markham-Cantor ...............................................281
Teaching and Learning Strategies ...............................................................................................286
Common Core Connections ...........................................................................................................289
About Youth Communication .......................................................................................................291
About the Authors and Editors ....................................................................................................291
Resources from Youth Communication .....................................................................................292