This class is designed to give students an opportunity to learn about and discuss many of the important topics that impact their lives as teenagers and middle school students.

Study Skills / Importance of School

Many students who got great grades as 6th graders, suddenly find themselves at risk of failing as 7th graders.  This unit is designed to help address that problem and give your student an organizational "boost" in being a successful student at Mira Loma Middle School.  Specifically, students will review and work through a handbook full of ideas that can help them improve their own learning and get better grades.  A number of the ideas presented are practiced and then required throughout the rest of the course.  These study skills concepts are reinforced with information about the impact that education (or the lack of it) can have in a person's life.

Self Knowledge

Students are given a new way of thinking about who they are and why they decide to act in certain ways.  Student will learn a little bit about Transactional Analysis.  This theory about personality and behavior shows students the “whys” behind their own thoughts and actions.  By looking at the traits of people stuck in negative behaviors, it is hoped that students will recognize and change any negative patterns of thinking and behavior that they may have.

Second Step Violence Prevention

This program gives students a chance to look at the problem of interpersonal violence from a new perspective.  Students will learn about the statistics of violence and reach some conclusions as to some of the causes.  Students will also learn a number of strategies that can help them reduce the chance that conflict situations will escalate into violent ones.  Students really enjoy practicing those skills through role-play activities in class.