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ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HANDBOOK
Dare to Dream Curriculum ®
The Role Model Program’s elementary school curriculum began in 2001 as an outgrowth of the middle school initiative. The exercises and activities are a result of teachers’ requests and a community understanding that underserved students need to develop self-esteem, set goals, embrace the value of education, and examine their dreams for their futures.
The elementary school curriculum is designed to present the above stated concepts and values. It is similar in its themes to those presented in The Role Model Program’s middle school curriculum. The elementary curriculum is delivered in a minimum of six one-hour sessions to students in the classroom. Both curriculums are presented at the request of classroom teachers.
The Elementary School Child
Before entering the classroom, reflect back to your elementary school days. Remember that elementary school-age children relate to peers and adults in ways very different from the way you relate to others as an adult.
Elementary school-aged children are beginning a stage of independence and self-discovery. They are starting the process of shaping who they are. Most fourth and fifth grade students need clear, concise guidelines and directions when asked to do something. In examining their need for a Role Model, they do not necessarily look to peers, but to people they can look up to, admire, respect and count on.
Many of the students we serve do not have positive adult Role Models who have attended college or have rewarding careers. They see themselves limited by their surroundings and family history. With your encouragement, students can begin to see that they are not a product of their circumstance, but a product of the choices they make each day.
