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PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT is a unique one semester
curriculum designed to change dysfunctional attitudes and build resiliency and
responsibility in at-risk adolescents. Through a variety of instructional approaches
(group discussions, journal writing, case studies, role plays poems, analogies and
experiential exercises) PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT teaches the pro-social attitudes, behaviors,
and skills students need. Using an underlying theme of empowerment, a positive life
view is presented in a way which is motivating even to the most discouraged or resistant
adolescent. Students are taught how to "take care of" their emotions by
"choosing" to be positive, happy and powerful rather than negative, unhappy and
a victim by controlling what they focus on and tell themselves. Power is redefined
as "control over one's self" rather than control over others. "Living
powerfully" is defined as being aware of one's choices and the possible consequences
which could follow, consciously making a choice and then "owning" the results .
. . good or bad, rather than giving away one's "power to learn" from mistakes by
blaming someone else. Students are taught to set goals in order to "take
control of" their lives, since the brain's job is to create in reality whatever
directions it receives from its owner. PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT also teaches
students how to relate from their "adult ego state" rather than allow their
"child" ego state to take over, which generally results in a negative reaction
from others. An anger management and conflict resolution process is taught, again
using role plays and very realistic case studies (which represent real situations the
author has dealt with . to date, close to 650 schools and organizations nationwide
have purchased PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT.
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