Compassionate Teens will be released Spring 2027 (or earlier)
While this curriculum is still upcoming, I believe in transparency and updating you along the way, so here you will find more information on everything this curriculum will include!
This curriculum is meant for 8th graders and beyond. The topics in the curriculum reflect areas that learners in this grade level and beyond will relate to, including topics that are approached on a young adult level. If you are considering this for a sensitive learner, I suggest reading each text alongside them, or connecting periodically with them on the content. It will include strong mental health and social issues, as teens are preparing to navigate the adult world.
The Two Pathways of Compassionate Teens
This curriculum will have a different format than Compassionate Kids, with two all-in-one Instructions and Journal documents.
For lesson pacing, I highly recommend sitting with each topic with a timeframe that works for you and your learner. This is not a traditional one year curriculum. Some topics may take less time, but with the elements and components included, it’s best to take time with each one. These topics can be done à la carte, but many of these topics do build and connect on each other. It may cause information to be missed if you wish to sit with these topics for a longer time.
There are two different pathways to choose for Compassionate Teens, Learning Solo or Learning Together. Each pathway will include the same elements, however, there are slight differences in how a few of these elements will be presented.
Learning Solo focuses on self directed learners, with reflection prompts added to doodle and note thoughts instead of discussion questions. Learning Together will provide double copies included in each lesson of all activities that require input through writing, art, or otherwise. This allows the caregiver to join in on the work or, for two learners similar in age!
What does each lesson contain?
Each lesson will start off with Let’s Break it Down. This page will include an introduction to the topic with personal connections and facts. This is meant to be read first! It will give you background knowledge to be able to connect to the topic. You can find an example, showcasing the first lesson, below:
After breaking it down you will be given a page for note taking during the book, video, and article connections. The next page, See & Hear, will include what books and videos are suggested for the lesson. Each book and video will have a summary attached, explaining the connection to the topic. All videos will include a QR code, as well as length of video to help with planning out your lesson.
The third page of each lesson will include Music Moments. This is one of my FAVORITE elements I have added. Here you will find two linked songs, with lyrics provided, that relate to each topic, and a spot to jot down your thoughts about the songs and their connection to the topic. I will include warning disclaimers so learners are prepared if there are heavier topics discussed within the music, and no graphically obscene music will be used, however, there could be small inclusions of “sentence enhancing” swearing. It’s just a quick musical connection element!
Turn the page and you will find Let’s Think About It. This page will include discussion and reflection applications on how this relates to the learner and the community around them. Not every question will be easy to answer, and some learners may find that they don’t truly have an answer at all. That’s perfectly okay! This is also the area where the Learning Solo and Learning Together paths differ in formatting, but similar questions.
Each lesson finishes off with a variety of activities in a section called Growth & Action. These include journal type prompts, doodle art, community actions, structured art activities, listening reflections, connecting information blurbs and more. The first activity in each lesson, Help Yourself, Help Others, includes connections on how to work through each topic yourself and be supportive to others, with areas for you to write your own connections.
The number of pages for each lesson will vary, and double copies of any personalized assignments will be included in the Learning Together pathway. Working through these activities will bring the learner outside of the basic knowledge and into deeper understanding and personal relating, so it’s recommended to as many of them that are comfortable to your learner as possible.
Lesson Topics
With Compassionate Teens, I took some inspiration from Compassionate Kids, but you will find that the majority of the topics listed below are different, more meaningful to the older age range. These topics are all finalized in order, however the pictures below have not been edited for final word flow.
Book Connections
I have chosen a different outcome for book usage on Compassionate Teens. Most topics will have direct, non-fiction book selections (1-2). However, the reading portion of Compassionate Teens is lower, this allows for more connection and application of the material AND gives less of a book load for teens and their already busy schedules.
You can find confirmed book selections on my spreadsheet document linked at the bottom of the landing page for the website! They are not linked to the topics yet, but keep watch for more to be added as I am in active development and outlining stages.
Diverse Books and Schooling 