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Old 08-30-2005, 02:25 PM
nothumb nothumb is offline
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Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 90
Default Re: Practical knowledge for HS students

I teach a Life Skills curriculum to youth in foster or juvenile placements at my current job. Here's the rundown:

Week 1. Introduction
Week 2. Money Management
Week 3. Employment, Part I
Week 4. Employment, Part II
Week 5. Housing: Finding a Place to Live
Week 6. Household Management
Week 7. Personal Care & Health Issues
Week 8. Food and Nutrition
Week 9. Community Resources
Week 10. Problem Solving & Decision Making
Week 11. Personal Goal Planning
Week 12. Wrap-up

Note that the group starts with the bare minimum skills - making a budget, holding a job, getting a place to live. Then moves on to the more abstract stuff. As some have suggested, the Money Management is incorporated into each subsequent group; they establish an income and stick with it as they make other decisions.

It's extremely difficult to teach this stuff to kids, especially kids who aren't interested and have other issues going on. You've really got to come up with some good ways to get and keep their attention.

NT
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