Sharing Best Practices

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Dependable Strengths in the Middle School

Len Hoover, MS, Counselor in the Snohomish School District, Washington, has written and implemented a new “Dependable Strengths In The Middle School" curriculum. Len originally trained under Dr. Haldane, et. al. at the University of Washington in 1989, and has been implementing Dependable Strengths in secondary schools ever since. Len, why did you write the “Dependable Strengths In The Middle School” curriculum?

Len Hoover

Middle school students are at a strange - and wonderful - place in their lives. They’re not elementary “children” any more, but they’re not at that high school “young adult” stage, either. They are at a critical transition point in their lives - they’re eager to start defining who they are for themselves, and yet most are not ready to do that. It’s hard for them to focus on anything for very long, and they don’t yet have the vocabulary they need to express themselves with much precision. Because of this, I realized that if the Dependable Strengths process was to be useful to them it needed to be modified to address their high energy, short attention span, and unsophisticated vocabulary.

What makes “Dependable Strengths In The Middle School” curriculum different from the adult or elementary versions of Dependable Strengths?

First, it’s short; this teacher-led process takes just three, 50-minute class periods.

Second, it’s spread over three weeks; just one class period a week for three weeks. This makes it especially easy to fit it into most any curriculum.

Third - and I love this the most - it involves parents in the process. Parents (or significant others - like brothers, sisters, grandparents, coaches, youth counselors, teachers, etc.) help the student identify experiences in the student’s life for which the student can be proud, and then the parents (and others) help the student identify the students’ unique strengths, too. This often leads to wonderful talks between kids and their families, and has proven to be very validating for students. What better guidance can a child get than from those who love him/her most?

Fourth, it is academically appropriate for middle schoolers. The reading, writing, and vocabulary requirements are low.

Lastly, this process can also be a powerful preparation for further Career Exploration and High School Registration activities. During the process, students’ strengths are automatically listed in Career Paths (based on Holland’s six career areas), and those Paths can be easily translated into potential career goals and high school class selections. This curriculum is a perfect introduction to creating a “High School and Beyond Plan”.

Are there populations other than middle school students that might benefit from this version of Dependable Strengths?

Yes, I believe that Special Needs students of most any age could benefit from this curriculum. Because the curriculum is designed for students with short attention spans, and because the reading, writing, and vocabulary requirements are low, I think it is adaptable to many students with unique learning needs.

What does the curriculum package include?

The curriculum comes packaged in a 3-ring binder which includes everything a teacher needs to be ready to go. (If a teacher wishes added background and preparation, though, I would encourage her/him to attend one of the 5-day Dependable Strengths trainings through the Center for Dependable Strengths. That training, although focusing on the “adult” Dependable Strengths process, can be very useful.)

The curriculum includes:

• Overview:
  • Introduction: The curriculum’s philosophy
  • Goals: How students will benefit
  • The process In A Nutshell: a one-page overview of all three days
  • Concerns and Recommendations: What to watch out for
  • Getting Ready: Everything you need for all three days
• Lesson Plans: Teacher’s step-by-step instructions, day-by-day
• Forms:
  • Transparencies
  • Originals from which can be made classroom copies.
• Evaluation: so you can know how it went!

How have students and teachers responded to the curriculum?

More than 2,000 8th grade students have participated in the curriculum so far, and most report that they like it very much. Here are some verbatim comments from students: “I had no idea I had these talents. This is great!”, and “Last month I felt so sad and depressed and worthless, I thought why be alive? But now I know I have these strengths and I know I’m valuable and I don’t even know why I was so negative before. I wish I would have known this, then.”
Teachers have said, “In my Health curriculum I teach more than 40 topics. I am always adding and culling pieces, but the Dependable Strengths is one of three topics I insist stays in my curriculum”, and “This is the piece I have been looking for years! It ties the rest of my Health curriculum together. It’s not just ‘teaching facts’, its a fundamental way for kids to value themselves, and it’s the perfect way to ‘naturally motivate’ students to want to be healthy. The rest of my Health curriculum comes alive for them.”

If someone is interested in knowing more about the Dependable Strengths In The Middle School curriculum, who should they contact?

They should contact me, either directly or through the Center for Dependable Strengths, below.