275 pg, 3-ring binder, '09

This dynamic curriculum was designed to help young teens develop the skills required to successfully navigate the challenging terrain of early adolescence. Through a series of activity-based lessons, this program promotes personal and relational competence by teaching self-awareness, empathy, coping skills, communication tools, methods for managing stress and tension, and media literacy. Includes lesson plans, warm-up activities, and appendices with information for teachers on parent meetings and eating disorder warning signs, etc.

CONTENTS:

Lessons

1 – Why Self-Awareness Matters
2 – Looking at Myself from the Inside Out
3 – Owning, Accepting, and Managing Feelings
4 – Sharing Ourselves through Our Inside/Outside Boxes
5 – Negative Self-Talk: Thoughts That Undermine Our Self-Esteem
6 – Plus Stress, Minus Stress
7 – Don't Take It Personally
8 – Fairly Comparing
9 – Media Awareness
10 – Put Ups: Affirmations of Others
11 – Practicing Self-Affirmations and Learning about Positive Self-Talk
12 – Helpful Not Hurtful Communication
13 – Resolving Conflict: Keeping Friends and Keeping Peace
14 – Our Contract with Ourselves, Each Other, and Our Community

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Helene Feinberg Walker, PhD is a psychologist whose 30-year career as a clinician, consultant, and educator has focused on child, adolescent, and young adult development. Since 2000 she has been a consulting psychologist at the Agnes Irwin School, an independent school for girls and maintains a private practice in Bryn Mawr, PA. She serves as adjunct faculty, teaching undergraduate and graduate level psychology and counseling courses at area universities.

Sarah Barrett, LCSW is a clinical social worker, family therapist and school consultant with 30 years of experience in child and adolescent psychotherapy. She has been a clinical consultant to the Agnes Irwin School since 1991.

Jane Shure, PhD, LCSW, is a psychotherapist, writer and nationally renowned speaker with over 30 years of expertise in strengthening body image and self-esteem, and healing the impact of shame, trauma and eating disorders. Named a "Top Doc for Women" by Philadelphia Magazine, Jane writes for the "Huffington Post" and has co-edited and authored several other books on eating disorders.

REVIEWS:

"This curriculum is an essential tool for anyone wanting to help build girls' self-esteem and combat the media forces that endanger them. It offers practical and creative steps for developing the core skills necessary for empowerment. I highly recommend it."
— Jean Kilbourne, author of So Sexy So Soon: The New Sexualized Childhood and What Parents Can Do to Protect Their Kids

"This is a well-thought-out set of lessons grounded in a variety of developmental theories. It presents material and offers opportunities to girls in ways that are creative, flexible, respectful, and sensitive to their internal lives and networks of relationships with family, friends, and peers."
— Michael P. Levine, PhD, FAED professor of psychology, Kenyon College

"This book is a must for anyone involved in helping kids and teens develop the inner skills needed for taking on life's challenges. Self-confidence doesn't just happen. It needs to be nurtured and taught. This curriculum does just that."
— Kerri Walsh, two-time Olympic Gold Medalist