News
The Revised Too Good for Violence - Social Perspectives High School Edition is here!
As we approach the final weeks of the school year, Too Good has some exciting news before you wrap up: the new, revised edition of Too Good for Violence – Social Perspectives is here. This program will be available the week of May 29th and is available for pre-order now. The revised Too Good For Violence - Social Perspectives High School Edition is a highly acclaimed, evidence-based program that empowers teens with the skills they need for academic, social and life success. The 10-week curriculum is proven to help educators engage students in grades 9-12 build core social-emotional competencies that foster self and social awareness. The program also teaches college and career readiness to prepare students for the challenges they will face in high school and beyond. A March 2017 study by the Aspen Institute and The Aspen Education & Society Program demonstrates that classroom instruction that promotes high school students’ social and emotional learning (SEL) facilitates better student outcomes on college- and career-ready (CCR) standards. Over the past several years, states have developed and adopted rigorous standards in language arts and mathematics that build toward college and career readiness by the time students graduate from high school. Nearly every state has adopted these CCR standards and the federal government has supported these state-led efforts. The research-based Too Good for Violence - Social Perspectives lessons help high school students build character and peer pressure refusal skills and college and career readiness. The curriculum teaches critical concepts through interactive lessons, games, and activities to practice and reinforce skills. Students are engaged in a safe and supportive learning environment that promotes social and academic success.
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Another Successful Too Good for Drugs Jr. Gasparilla Distance Classic
The Mendez Foundation was thrilled to once again sponsor the Publix Too Good for Drugs Jr. Gasparilla Distance Classic held annually in Tampa, Florida. Held prior to the nationally-recognized Gasparilla Distance Classic, the event brings children of all ages together to take part in a day of activities and exercise that promote healthy, happy behaviors. Ranging in distances from 30 yards to one mile, children aged 2-10 took to the track at Thomas Jefferson High School. Our prevention specialists in Tampa make it a point to join in on the fun every year and cheer on the children as they make a dash for the finish line. Our friends Carmen and Wagner, the mascots for the Too Good for Drugs elementary school programs, also had the opportunity to drop by and root on the participants and assist with arts and crafts. This annual event is a wonderful way to remind children the importance of learning how positive behaviors and healthy choices can give them the tools they need to know that they are Too Good for Drugs. We looking forward to taking part in next year’s event and hope you can join us in Tampa in 2018!
Read moreThe Benefits of Responsible Decision Making
"The time is always right to do what is right."- Martin Luther King Jr. As children grow, they face ever evolving challenges that require them to make increasingly complex decisions. For a kindergartner, this might be deciding to share a toy. For a senior in high school, this could be recognizing negative peer influence and incorporating that knowledge into their decision making. Learning to consider the positive and negative consequences of a decision is essential at any of these stages, and the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) identifies responsible decision making as one of the five pillars of social emotional learning. CASEL states that decision-making skills can help children negotiate the following: Ethical Standards: By being challenged to make decisions, children evaluate and develop ethical standards that influence character building. Social Norms: Decision-making skills that incorporate positive social norms as an influence help children navigate the difficulties of adolescence and resist peer pressure and peer influence. Consequences: Children with strong decision-making skills can evaluate potential consequences of actions in order to determine what choice is the best option. By developing responsible decision-making skills early on, children are prepared to face the real world challenges that will impact the course of their lives. And with those responsible decision-making skills in place, children are equipped to lead happy and prosperous lives.
Read moreVolunteerism Encourages Social Emotional Learning
The Holiday season is a time to be grateful for the many blessings we have in our lives. It is also a time we can help make the lives of others better. A report on National Public Radio states one in five families with children will go without enough food during the holiday season. Families, schools, and communities have an opportunity to address these needs by volunteering locally and by donating toys, food, and other goods. Children who volunteer become more aware of their own lives in relation to the lives of others. Volunteering also offers children the opportunity to develop and apply key social emotional skills. Social Awareness: Children exposed to and aware of the diverse backgrounds of others learn how to interact with others with respect, empathy, and open-mindedness. Responsible Decision-Making: Volunteering teaches children to make respectful choices about personal behavior and social interactions in situations they may not have otherwise encountered. Relationship Skills: By listening to and interacting with the experiences of others, children learn to communicate clearly, listen actively, and respond to the needs of others. Social emotional skills are essential for academic, personal, and professional success. Through volunteering, children have the opportunity to better the lives of those around them and to develop skills that will lead them to lifelong success. All of us at the Mendez Foundation wish you a safe and happy holiday season!
Read moreBuilding School Connectedness
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advocate school connectedness as an essential ingredient to buffer youth against engaging in risky behaviors such as tobacco, alcohol, and drug use or aggressive and violent behavior. Students who feel connected to their schools stake a claim in their learning and are therefore more likely to make healthy choices and stay on a path toward academic success. Schools, families, and communities must work together to create a caring and supportive environment for students. Adult Support: Parent engagement encourages positive student behavior and academic success. Schools can engage families to take part in their child’s education through interactive take-home activities or newsletters. Belonging to a Positive Peer Group: Students with strong social emotional skills are better equipped for positive peer bonding. Students are faced with the challenge of selecting their friends, and strong decision-making skills will help them choose positive peer groups. Commitment to Education: Students who have an active interest in their education are more persistent in succeeding academically. Participatory learning enhances students’ commitment to their education by keeping them interested and engaged. School Environment: A caring and supportive school environment fosters student learning. Students who feel they are valued are more comfortable and therefore more willing to take healthy risks as they try and learn. Students who are actively connected with their schools develop positive behaviors that reinforce their decisions to avoid risky behaviors and to set positive short and long term goals. Strong social emotional skills, coupled with a supportive school climate and caring adult involvement, foster in students the resiliency they need to meet the challenges they face in childhood, adolescence, and beyond into adulthood.
Read moreMendez Appears in Summer Issue of SEEN Magazine
Charles E. Mendez III appears in the Summer Issue of SEEN Magazine with his article "Addressing Youth Violence for Safer Schools." Mendez writes, "How do we address youth violence and create a sanctuary within our schools? Character education and social emotional skill development are natural adjuncts in the establishment of safe and supportive learning environments."
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