KHEC Repository of Resources 3

Lessons for the Heart: A Social and Emotional Skills Program by Michael Schulman, Ph.D., chairperson of the Moral Education Seminar at Columbia University

This is what Dr. Schulman writes about the purpose of the resource:

“This book provides lessons in social and emotional skills. Each lesson consists of activities to foster understanding oneself, one’s values, and one’s impact on others. But the lessons are not value-neutral. They are designed to stimulate compassion, principles of right and wrong, and a strong sense of personal responsibility—qualities that to some degree most students already possess. So the book is also a handbook for character education, encouraging students to make choices and take actions to express their best selves and fulfill their own pro-social values. After working on these lessons, the hope is that students will treat each other, and others they interact with, better. The lessons are also designed to be engaging and thought-provoking, easy to carry out, and not preachy or corny.”

This incredibly useful resource begins with several questions in which the answers are presented in depth, i.e., what motivates kids to care about others? Why are some children kinder than others? How do you foster caring? This is followed by several suggestions for teaching the lessons… and then the lessons themselves which include an overview, the objectives, needed resources or materials, activities and procedures, and – in most cases – student activity sheets. The 15 lessons and the “messages” are as follows:

1. Doing good.	Treat others kindly and fairly.
2. In a positive light.	Find the good in others.
3. What makes people react differently when others do bad things to them.	Don’t add to the bad in the world.
4. The earth ambassadors.	Create goodness and beauty.
5. The Golden Rule.	Treat others as you would be treated.
6. Rules and expectations.	Meet your responsibilities and obligation.
7. Who can I count on?	Be helpful and reliable.
8. Choosing our actions.	Don’t just react; make good decisions.
9. Behaviors I don’t like.	Don’t be what you dislike.
10. Everybody is welcome here.	Be welcoming.
11. Improving the world.	Make a positive difference.
12. Learning from hurt.	Protect others from pain.
13. My anger and me.	Turn your anger into something positive.
14. Best self/worst self.	Strive to be the best person you can be.
15. The messages of shame and guilt.	Don’t do that which will make you feel ashamed or guilty.

For information about accessing the entire document (108 pages), contact Dr. Schulman at 28 East 10th Street, 2D, New York, NY 10003 or e-mail: mdschlmn41@yahoo.com