Emotional Literacy in the Middle School: A 6-step Program to Promote Social Emotional And Academic Learning

Emotional Literacy in the Middle School is a well-designed, field-tested curriculum that enhances social and emotional learning. No other program can do so much at one time, be used as a preventative tool against the perils all children face such as substance abuse and violence, and be integrated across the curriculum to enhance both intellectual and emotional growth. Unlike other programs that focus mostly on theory and research findings, this one presents teachers with six concrete "how to" steps for quick and easy implementation. The program has 60 lessons and can be used for whole classrooms, with reproducible materials for student use, as well as supporting teacher materials.

Marvin Maurer, M.A.--Emotional Literacy in the Middle School was originally conceptualized and created as the "Little People Feeling Words Curriculum" in the early 70's by Mr. Maurer, who began his career as a middle school Social Studies, English and Math teacher in upstate New York. Throughout the last 30 years, Mr. Maurer has implemented programs pertaining to the role of emotions and their importance in the learning process. In addition, as a presenter for the New York State Department of Education, he championed the need for affective education with traditional curriculum. Mr. Maurer also designed the first gifted program for the Monticello, NY school system and has worked as a learning disabilities consultant within the school system and as a private practitioner. Mr. Maurer currently teaches for universities and colleges in the state of Florida and maintains a private practice of clients with whom he uses the strategies of Emotional Literacy in the Middle School.

Marc A. Brackett, Ph.D.--Marc Bracket is Associate Director of the Health, Emotions, and Behavior Laboratory and Lecturer in the Department of Psychology at Yale University. He received his doctorate from the University of New Hampshire, where he studied under Dr. Jack Mayer, co-founder of the Emotional Intelligence theory. Dr. Brackett's first line of research focuses on emotional intelligence and how the construct relates to social competence, broadly defined (e.g., interpersonal relationships, drug use, and social deviance). He has also developed a theoretical model and measurement tool of the Life Space, which organizes a person's external surroundings to provide extensive external criteria to test associations between internal personality characteristics and people's behavior. Dr. Brackett regularly teaches introductory and personality psychology at Yale and works with school systems and corporations in the areas of assessment, training, and leadership development. He also holds a 5th degree black belt in Hapkido, a Korean martial art.

Francesca Plain, Ed.D.--Francesca Plain holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership and a master's degree in Learning Disabilities. She currently serves as a Learning Consultant for the West Morris Regional High School District in Chester, New Jersey. Her expertise includes the areas of special education, staff and curriculum development. Dr. Plain has a well-rounded educational background having held positions as a director of special education and elementary and middle school administrator. She has written extensively on inclusion and teacher assessment, presented at state and national conferences, and created a video on homework practices. Dr. Plain is also president of Eduscapes Consuslting Services, a northern New Jersey based educational consulting company. In addition, she enjoys teaching special education courses at William Patterson University in Wayne, New Jersey. Dr. Plain is the educational consultant for Emotional Literacy in the Middle School.