Resource guide
A practical guide for parents and educators comparing life skills programs for teens, using the structure behind Level Up.
Start here
Teens learn practical skills by performing them, talking through real situations, and then using them outside the lesson. A curriculum worth teaching should give you all three.
Whenever possible, teens actually perform the skill.
Teens work through situations they are likely to encounter in everyday life.
Teens practice thinking, communicating, listening, evaluating choices, and making thoughtful decisions.
Teens are encouraged to use what they learned outside the classroom.
Each teen has a Skillbook to learn key concepts, reflect, practice, and track the skills they are developing.
Core components
Level Up organizes practical life skills into six units. Use them as a checklist when you evaluate any program.
Taking care of a home
Practical skills for handling the everyday problems a home throws at you.
Homes require care, and many everyday problems are things teens can learn to handle.
Tools, systems, and vehicles
How to safely use common tools and understand basic home and vehicle systems.
Teens do not need to become professional tradespeople. The goal is comfort around tools, an understanding of how common systems work, and knowing when to call an expert.
Money skills they can use now
Practical money skills students can begin using immediately.
Not complicated financial theory. Thoughtful, informed everyday money decisions.
Communication and real conversations
Skills for communicating clearly and handling real interactions with other people.
Students practice the conversations they will increasingly have with teachers, employers, family members, friends, coaches, and other adults.
Habits that make people dependable
The habits that help people become dependable, capable, and responsible.
The goal is not perfection. It is learning how to take ownership, solve problems, recover from mistakes, and finish what you start.
Health, character, and contribution
Taking care of yourself, building character, and contributing to the people around you.
Becoming a capable adult is not only about fixing things or managing money. It is also about taking care of yourself, making thoughtful choices, and contributing to others.
Added component
An added component focused on helping students and families navigate today's digital world.
Who it is for
Level Up is used in a range of settings, and any program you choose should be teachable in yours.
See the full breakdown on the curriculum page, or read how it works.
Let's help them feel ready.