WhyTry Program

WhyTry Program

The Why Try curriculum is a program used to help students be able to answer the question “why try in life?”.  This is used in our Social Emotional Learning groups and in helping students who are having difficulties putting effort into home, school, and peer challenges.  We use this curriculum in the high school setting but I think the activities could be directed at middle school aged students.  It can address behavioral problems, dropout prevention, classroom management, and career and college preparation.

WhyTry curriculum uses 10 analogies: Channeling Anger and Challenges into Positive Motivation, the Reality Ride, Tearing off Labels, Defense Mechanisms, Climbing Out, Jumping Hurdles, Desire Time and Effort, Lift the Weight, Getting Plugged In, and Seeing Over the Wall.  These analogies use “active learning” which means the students are actively involved in the learning process.   They see and hear the analogies, music and lyrics are involved, and hands-on experiential learning activities are used.  Visual, verbal, discussion, experience, teach and share with others, application, and internalizing are all the different learning styles used for effectiveness and retention.

This program would be used in the Social Work Model area of “provide evidence based education, behavior, and mental health services” because it is a research based program implemented in a group setting.

The website offers a free sample program, the products, access to training events, and research on the success of the program.