 |
|
|
|
Social
Skills and Self-Spying: Writing Jarvis Clutch
Dr. Mel Levine |
|
About
two years ago I conducted a panel discussion with a group of
sixth-grade students in Santa Fe. I asked them “When
you kids get home from school feeling stressed out, do you
think it’s because of all the academic pressure or all
the social pressure?” In fewer than three seconds, there
was a unanimous response in unison: “Social pressure!
Social pressure!” Students
are so exquisitely aware and on their guard when it comes to
relationships with peers. Yet the complexities
and the
many benefits and risks of social interaction are seldom if
ever discussed in schools. All students could benefit from
what is
known about interpersonal relationships. But there are many
who are in urgent need of such education; they are the ones
who are
plagued with social cognitive dysfunctions. These are students
who harbor weaknesses in social cognition, the functions of
the mind necessary for forming rewarding friendships, maintaining
solid reputations among their classmates, and enjoying healthy
relationships with their families and adults in their lives.
They experience daily problems with their social awareness,
their
social perceptions, and their social problem-solving abilities—which
are nearly instinctive to others. Students with social cognitive
gaps repeatedly suffer the torment of isolation, rejection,
public embarrassment, bullying, and verbal assault. What a
tragic way
to grow up! To add to their plight, these kids have little
or no understanding of social cognition and even less of their
own
social cognitive shortcomings. Hence, Jarvis Clutch—Social
Spy!
Writing
Jarvis Clutch—Social Spy has been the most
rewarding project I have undertaken in my career. In schools
and in my office, I have seen so many students with social
difficulties and have had so very little to offer them. In
my heart I have
felt that if we could only teach them about social cognition,
instill greater personal insights, and help them acquire interpersonal
skills the way we would assist a kid with learning, I am sure
we could lessen their suffering and allow these students to
taste social gratification.
| Click
this button to read the rest of this article and to download a
free PDF version. |
 |
|
 |
| |
Have
your students do some “self-spying” of
their own!
Download a free ready-to-use student survey for your
classroom.
|
Jarvis
Clutch—Social Spy, Dr. Mel Levine
Recommended for Grades 5–8
Best-selling
author Dr. Mel Levine teams up with Jarvis Clutch,
fictitious eighth-grader, to offer insightful information
about
important interpersonal relationships and social issues.
This very stressful aspect of adolescent life is dealt
with in a witty, refreshing way, through Jarvis’s “spy
notes” about specific common circumstances and
Dr. Levine’s expert analysis of these difficult
social situations. This book is excellent material for
the middle school guidance or health curriculum, as students
are struggling to develop their personal identities
among peers.
The
extensive Guidelines for Use explains the rationale,
objectives, and applications of the student
book. The guidelines
also provide in-depth descriptions of the themes of each
chapter, suggestions for further reading, and the “Social
Self-Spying Survey.” |
|
|
 |
| Also
Available from Dr. Mel Levine |
|
|
|
All
Kinds of Minds
Grades K-6
Profiles
of children with various learning differences help elementary
students understand how they learn,
how weaknesses
make learning
difficult, and how their strengths can be used to improve their
learning skills.
|
Keeping
A Head in School
Ungraded
The
case studies in this book help students not only understand
their own strengths and weaknesses but also more fully appreciate
their individuality. |
The
Language Parts Catalog
Ungraded
This humorous and informative self-assessment tool explains
various aspects of language as it helps students understand
how they can improve their language abilities. |
| For
other student books, professional books, and assessment materials
by Dr. Mel Levine, click
here. |
|
 |
| |
|
This
month’s free Lesson Packs are Biographies of
Two Athletes for grades K–2 and Women's
Rights Leaders for grades 3–6.
Biographies
of Two Athletes
[15
page, 168kb Acrobat PDF File] |
Women's
Rights Leaders
[5
page, 56kb Acrobat PDF File] |
|
Lesson
Packsare selections from popular EPS series,
grouped together by skill. They include teaching tips, alignments
with standards, and extensions for use in the classroom.
They are just one component of Lesson Logic, an online service
of EPS.
For more
Lesson Packs, visit www.lessonlogic.com
and sign up for a 30-day free trial! |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
| Stepping
Stones Wins Award |
|
EPS
is proud to announce that Stepping Stones: A Path to
Critical Thinking, Book
3 has won the El-Hi single entry category in Bookbuilders
of Boston’s 46th Annual New England Book Show. For
more information about the upcoming show, click
here. |
| Now
order any time! |
|
You
can now place an order 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! Call
1-800-225-5750 or visit www.epsbooks.com.
We
look forward to hearing from you. |
|
|
|
|
