Empowering Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth-Grade Students to Create Cultures of Dignity and Confront Social Cruelty and Injustice

Owning Up has helped teachers, counselors, and leaders give students the tools they need to own up and take responsibility—as perpetrators, bystanders, and targets—for unethical behavior and to treat themselves and others with dignity.

This bigger, comprehensive edition features:

  • Three flexible, dynamic curricula separated by grade- sixth, seventh, and eighth grade
  • A new chapter and lesson plans for successfully implementing a social and emotional learning program in every school
  • More games, role-playing activities, and provocative discussion questions to use in co-ed or single-sex groups
  • Even more lessons and updated resources

Designed for use both in school and out and spanning topics from friendships, social media, teasing, and harassment, Owning Up provides you with the resources to teach young people that their dignity and the dignity of others is the principle that guides our decisions and actions every day in our friendships, families, and schools. As educators, we must enlist the people who can make a real difference: the students.

This resource gives students the permission to be vulnerable, to pose the difficult questions that feel too embarrassing to ask, and most importantly, to ask for help when they need it.

Donna Hicks PhDInternationally Renowned Authority on Dignity, Harvard University

Owning Up is an invaluable curriculum. I have used it consistently for 15 years in many settings. It is particularly relevant for middle schoolers, who need guidance in the operations of social culture and how to navigate the often treacherous landscape of relationships through middle school and beyond. Owning Up is a necessary tool for teaching effective interpersonal skills and social consciousness.

Julie BaronLCSW-C, Former Middle School Counselor, Adolescent Therapist, and co-author of What Works With Teens 2016-07-09

The Owning Up curriculum provides a relevant, current, and kid-friendly framework that uses students' language to teach them social justice. It is dynamic and engaging and my students are excited to come each week to learn more strategies to make the middle years easier.

Katey McPhersonSecondary Administrator, Gilbert, AZ and Executive Director, The Gurian Institute

The lessons are incredibly relevant. I have students participate and raise hand to share that usually do not. This morning I started session 4 about teasing and laughing, and the class had such a powerful discussion. They thought about really important concepts to carry with them next year into middle school.

Melissa LundeSchool Based Mental Health Associate

The Owning Up curriculum provides a relevant, current, and kid-friendly framework that uses students′ language to teach them social justice. It is dynamic and engaging and my students are excited to come each week to learn more strategies to make the middle years easier.

Bring the Owning Up Program to your school or community

We train educators on the Owning Up Curriculum, support implementation design, and program kickoff.

Owning Up for High School is coming soon!

Join our newsletter to stay informed as the curriculum becomes available!