Unit 1: Reflecting on Roots

Summary and Purpose of Unit

In this introductory unit, students will reflect on how their upbringing, environment, and early experiences have shaped their behaviors, work habits, and self-perception. Using selected chapters from Good Inside by Dr. Becky Kennedy, along with concepts from Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy and other psychological frameworks, students will explore how their sense of self is shaped by internal “parts,” emotional regulation, and attachment patterns.

This unit emphasizes the idea that learning—both academic and personal—happens best when we approach ourselves and each other with curiosity, compassion, and playfulness. Drawing from thinkers like Carl Rogers, the Dalai Lama, and Alan Watts, we will challenge rigid self-judgments and the myth of having life “all figured out,” encouraging students to embrace reflection, growth, and even uncertainty with a lighter touch.

Throughout the unit, students will practice academic routines while building emotional resilience. We will introduce foundational concepts such as parts of self, inner contentment, communication barriers, and the critical role of play in human development. This work lays the groundwork for the psychoanalytic and psychological lenses we will use all year to analyze characters, themes, and motivations in literature—and in our own lives.

Through guided reading, reflective writing, respectful dialogue, and creative thinking, students will set personal and academic goals, establish classroom norms, and begin building the habits of self-awareness, critical inquiry, and playful engagement essential for meaningful learning.