Reach Before You Teach

Paula Prentis was a conflict resolution counselor and a rape crisis counselor in New York City before earning her master's degree in social work (MSW) at New York University. Later, she continued training at Westchester Institute for Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy and worked in private practice. Prentis is certified in past life regression therapy and continues her professional interests through workshops, lectures, and conferences in neuroscience and the mind/body connection. In addition, with Chris Parrott, Prentis is the coauthor of the Your Self Series of books and website. Your Self Series is a curriculum that facilitates teen identity development and is taught as part of an advisory class, a health class, or an after-school program. Prentis and Parrott lecture nationwide on issues pertaining to teens and mental health in schools. They continually update and populate the Your Self Series website with relevant teen information and lesson plans for educators. They have three other products that all aim to influence children to be the best they can be while combating obesity and improving overall health and well-being: YourChatMat.com; YourStacs; and HealthyStacs. Chris Parrott earned her bachelor's degree with a psychology major at Dartmouth and went on to study counseling psychology at the City University in London, England, where she earned both her master's and postmaster's degrees, and the distinguished title of the British Psychological Society (BPS) Chartered Counseling Psychologist. She also has a diploma in hypnosis from London University. Parrott has published various articles in Counseling Review Quarterly and chapters in psychology training books, and she has coauthored a book titled Doing Therapy Briefly. Parrott was also a media consultant on behalf of the BPS and has been quoted in The Times, The Look, and The Daily Express. Amy Smith was a high school English teacher for over 15 years in the states of Texas, California, and New Jersey, which gave her a diverse experience within the educational sector and a broad spectrum of teacher contacts. Working as an English teacher and, later, as a media specialist for another 15 years, Smith's primary focus was always on the individual spirit of each student who passed through her doors--or walked onto her court: She acted as a tennis coach for several years alongside her teaching. Indeed, her passion for her students led her to numerous conventions and professional development seminars over the years where she expanded both her knowledge and contacts. Now retired, Smith enjoys time with her partner, two daughters, and grandson while continuing to look for opportunities to positively affect teen education.

Preface A Child's Sense of Self Is of Paramount Concern The Focus and Purpose of This Book This Book Applies to Educators of Teens The Bottom Line About the Authors 1. The Self What You Will Learn in This Chapter What Do We Mean by the Self? The Self in School Social Emotional Learning: Its Importance and How the Self Enables SEL Potential How Does a Sense of Self Contribute to Personal Success and to Society? Steps to Success - For Teaching and for You Chapter Summary 2. The Development of the Self: Understand and Connect With the Self Behind the Desk What You Will Learn in This Chapter Early Attachment and Self Development True Self Versus False Self: The Battle Begins Making Connections Chapter Summary 3. The Unaware Emotional Self: Soften Defenses to Foster Academic and Personal Growth What You Will Learn in This Chapter The Purpose of Defenses The Development of Defenses and How They Inhibit Optimal Learning Common Defense Mechanisms and How They May Manifest in the Classroom How to Manage Defenses Through Interventions That Build the Self Chapter Summary 4. The Aware Emotional Self: Provide Tools for Emotional Management What You Will Learn in This Chapter Emotional Awareness - Knowing Your Temperature Emotional Management - Shutting the Window The Emotional Self in the Classroom The Benefits Chapter Summary 5. The Cognitive Self: Use Cognitive Understanding to Awaken Potentials What You Will Learn in This Chapter Brain Structure and Related Functions Stress on the Brain Neuroplasticity: The Role of Experiences Improving Motivation Chapter Summary 6. The Social Self: Consolidate the Self in the Social World What You Will Learn in This Chapter Set a Positive Social Tone in Your Classroom Top Social Skills Teamwork Chapter Summary 7. The Physical Self: Support the Physical Self for Optimal Overall Health What You Will Learn in This Chapter The Importance of Physical Health Exercise and Health Nutrition and Health Sleep and Health The Mind/Body Connection The Physical Self in the Classroom Chapter Summary 8. The Self in the School Climate: How to Put the Environment to Work for You What You Will Learn in This Chapter What Is School Climate? Personal Principles of Behavior School Wide Policies Parents and the Off-Campus Community Chapter Summary 9. The Self: Decision-Making, Motivation, and Giving Back What You Will Learn in This Chapter Where Are We? Where Can We Go From Here? Decision-Making - The Sine Qua Non of Self Skills Motivation Final Interventions Chapter Summary References Index

"This book is filled with useful material that will help educators better relate to their students and empower them to reach their full potential." -- Steve Reifman, National Board Certified Teacher "This book is a must for all educators wanting to help students understand their emotional 'Self' and its impact on their academic and future success." -- Diane P. Smith, School Counselor Grades 7-12 "With the growing focus on mental health issues in our communities today this book is a much needed publication and very timely. Thanks to the mental health professionals who worked to make this easily applicable to the school environment and to give school professionals guidance in how to structure our schools so that students develop a strong sense of self." -- Dr. Janice Wyatt-Ross, Assistant Principal "This book is a must-read for all who want to encourage self-awareness and self-reflection during classroom instruction and help students feel more connected, curious and confident! Students no doubt will achieve emotionally and academically with help from some strategies in this book." -- Dr. Ann Marie Dargon, Assistant Superintendent of Schools "In our present education system that seems to be caught up with numbers and standardization, Prentis' book is a welcomed read. Education will never improve if we don't make the social-emotional skills of children our first priority." -- Peter DeWitt, Ed.D., Principal and Corwin Author