Teaching the Discovering the Real Me Series Student Textbook and Teacher’s Manual 8

Discovering the Real Me: Student Textbook 8: Going Through Changes 17 original stories in a contemporary setting Ages 13 to 14 years Questions for Reflection and discussion Exercises: Active Reflection Exercise

Topics Covered Peer vs. family relationships Puberty Self-esteem Civic duty Resolving conflicts Cooperation Unselfishness

Teacher’s Manual 8 Gives advice & instructions to the teacher about how to conduct the lessons Introductory section: 1. Balanced education 2. Teaching methods 3. Course requirements & expectations 4. Ice breakers Two lesson plans for each chapter

Character Education’s Goals: To know the good — head To care about the good — heart To do the good — hands

Each Story has Cognitive, Affective, and Behavioral Goals Educating the Head, Heart, and Hands

Sample Chapter 1: Going Through Changes “Pablo’s Choice” Pablo is invited over to his friend Jim’s house Jim’s parents are not home The boys watch a sexually-charged movie

“Pablo’s Choice” Pablo feels uncomfortable and leaves At home he tells his mom what happened At school the next day he discovers that none of the other boys liked the movie either and that Jim got into big trouble Pablo knows he did the right thing

“Pablo’s Choice”: Cognitive Objectives Students will understand that peer pressure can be good or bad Their parents are still the most important people in their lives They will reflect on their parents’ values

“Pablo’s Choice”: Affective Objectives Students will feel a new appreciation for their parents They will experience a strengthening of the parent/child bond

“Pablo’s Choice”: Behavioral Objectives Students will distinguish good from bad peer pressure Describe their values Compose an impression of their parents as young people

“Pablo’s Choice” — Discussion Good Peer Pressure Bad Peer Pressure Examples

“Pablo’s Choice” — Reflection Exercise What kinds of things and people do my parents value? Do I agree? Which of their values do I think best?

“Pablo’s Choice” — Exercise “My Teenage Parents” What the student thinks they were like What the student finds out they were like from asking his or her parents

Chapter 7: Family and Friends “The Drive” Thirteen-year-old Sean is sure he is capable of driving the family car His father tells him he is not ready yet

“The Drive” At night Sean sneaks out of the house, planning to just try driving the car around the yard Sean loses control of the the car and crashes into a tree

“The Drive”: Cognitive Objectives Students will understand an analogy between driving a car prematurely and giving in to sexual desire prematurely Practicing certain things in life requires maturity, good judgment, and qualifications

“The Drive”: Affective Objectives Students will feel that it makes sense to postpone some things They will experience Sean’s crash through the text and take it as a warning

“The Drive”: Behavioral Objectives Students will match qualifications with privileges Students will describe a time they did something for which they were not prepared and the consequences

“The Drive”— Discussion We are physically capable of driving a car before we have the maturity and good judgment to drive one We are physically capable of having sex and having babies before we are mature enough to handle either Like driving a car, sex requires maturity, good judgment, understanding, and a “license”— marriage

“The Drive” — Exercise: “Matching”—What Do You Need? Having a baby Good grades Scholarship Money, shelter, food Becoming a doctor Road test, license Driving a car Marriage Having sex Medical degree

“The Drive”—Reflection Exercise: “Strong Desire” Have you ever had a strong desire to do something for which you did not really foresee the consequences? What were the consequences? What did you learn? How would you compare this with a teenager acting upon his/her sexual impulses? ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________

Middle School Children’s Life Concerns Who am I? Where am I going? What is my purpose? What is my value? How do I relate to others?

Discovering the Real Me Going Through Changes Can Help