Boys to MENtors Curriculum Manual: A young men's journey to self-empowerment and discovery through interactive activities and life-skills lessons

by The Leadership Program

Overview

Boys 2 MENtors is a leadership program for middle and high school boys. This curriculum manual comprises 50 interactive sessions that address social-emotional learning, leadership, and Common Core standards and that provide opportunities to link to the school day curriculum. Based on research on male adolescent development as well as direct classroom experience and application, the program has been designed to be facilitated over the course of a school year, engaging young men mentally and providing a distinctly physical component, sometimes light, sometimes rigorous. The curricular framework is scaffolded through six components:

• LEAD UP—Introduction to leadership themes and expectations, creating a socially and emotionally safe and positive peer group. 

• WHAT’S UP?—Examining the diverse characteristics of identity among young men.

• STEP UP—Developing a sense of collaboration among the group and honing interpersonal relationship skills. 

• OWN UP—Developing a sense of pride and accountability regarding life choices.

• MAN UP—Determining the characteristics of a positive male role model.

• RISE UP—Creating a vision and actionable plans for the future.

Boys 2 MENtors has been field-tested in urban sites and has received accolades from participants and schools, reporting improvements in key areas that include peer connectedness, independent thinking skills, understanding the relationship between effort and excellence, and a range of protective factors such as future orientation and goal setting. The companion Boys 2 MENtors Student Workbook offers an opportunity for students to take ownership of their participation and build a body of responses to and reflections on themes relevant to their lives. The title, Boys 2 MENtors, refers to the development of young men into positive male role models—future mentors for other young men—and to the role of facilitators as exemplars and guides for boys participating in the program. 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781959411017
Publisher:	Girl Friday Books
Publication date:	09/27/2022
Pages:	298
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 11.00(h) x (d)
Age Range:	13 - 17 Years

About the Author

The Leadership Program’s curriculum is steeped in leadership development from an SEL perspective, taking participants through self-discovery, group awareness, and community impact. The program can be used in classrooms, after school settings, and at home. It includes project-based activities designed to support positive change in the schools, homes, and communities.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Program Overview

The Leadership Program: Who We Are 1

Boys 2 MENtors™ Curriculum Overview 1

Facilitation Tips

Our Process: The Experiential Learning Cycle 4

Preparation Essentials 6

Inside the Activity 8

Section 1 Lead Up / Introduction

Objective: To create a socially and emotionally cohesive, safe, and positive peer group

Elements of Leadership

Values to Stand On 12

Setting Expectations 18

The Ideal Role Model Leader 24

Section 2 What's Up? / Identity

Objective: To examine the diverse characteristics of identity among young men

Heritage

Why I Am the Way I Am 30

Around My Way 36

My Heritage: Giving Meaning to Culture and Tradition 41

Who Am I?

Body Positive 47

Me in the World

Which Me Do You See? 52

Inside the Outside 57

Section 3 Step Up / Interacting

Objective: To develop a sense of collaboration among the group and to hone interpersonal relationship skills

Communication

Active Listening 62

What's on Your Mind? 67

Our Society

Perception Is Someone's Reality, Parts 1, 2, and 3 73

Family/How I Contribute at Home

In the Zone 84

My Many Roles 88

Healthy Relationships

What Is a Relationship? 93

Who's the Man? 96

Building Healthy Relationships 101

Section 4 Own Up / Personal Responsibility

Objective: To develop a sense of pride and accountability regarding life choices

Respect for All/Diversity

Message Mayhem 110

Compassion, Olympic-Style 115

When the Sky Turns Green 120

Respect for Women, Parts 1 and 2 124

A Web of Opinions 133

Investment in Education

What's My Style? Parts 1, 2, and 3 139

Directing My Own Education 158

Citizen Me

Home Is Where the Help Is 164

Doing the Right Thing 169

We're All in This Together! 174

Section 5 Man Up / My Roles as a Man

Objective: To determine and develop the characteristics of a positive male role model

Fathers and Fatherhood

Father Figures 178

Stepping into My Vision 183

What It Means to Be a Successful Man

Channel Success News 189

The Successful Man, Parts 1 and 2 194

Navigating the Dynamics of Power Relationships

Authority Figures 202

Life Is a Marathon 207

Respect and Authority 212

Section 6 Rise Up / Future Plans

Objective: To create a vision and actionable plans for the future

Problem Solving/Facing Challenges

Failure as Growth 218

Making Decisions

Decision Making 222

Choices, Decisions, Consequences 228

Goal Setting

Sounds like a Plan! 235

Stepping Up to Success 241

Future Me/College, Career, Legacy

Seeing Myself in College 245

Qualities of a Career 252

Leaving My Legacy 268

Virtual Interviews 271

Final Project

Young Men Rising 277

Reference

Theoretical Rationale 281

Reference List 285

Credits 288