ERIC Number: EJ1195890
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2018-Nov
Pages: 4
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0164-775X
EISSN: N/A
The Power of "Harry Potter": A Cornerstone for Conversation
Lee, Haeeun; Heath, Melissa Allen; Gabrielsen, Terisa; Tu, Chinyue
Communique, v47 n3 p1, 23-25 Nov 2018
Since being published in 1997, "Harry Potter" books have sold over 500 million copies worldwide and have been translated into more than 80 languages (Pottermore News Team, 2018). Although Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is vastly different from public school, adolescents from both worlds share common struggles. On a daily basis, school psychologists work with students who struggle socially and emotionally due to a variety of challenges. Many students struggle to communicate and interact with peers and adults. For these youth, navigating adolescence is especially challenging and it takes extra effort for school psychologists to build connections and forge relationships with this vulnerable group. Building trusting relationships takes time, patience, and perseverance. Although school psychologists may empathize with the difficulties these adolescents face, nonetheless, mental health issues and behavioral challenges often create barriers to forming relationships. In this article, the authors examine examples how school psychologists and teachers can engage students into conversations and make connections by finding common ground with the Harry Potter books. It also includes quotations that are taken from the Harry Potter series and are categorized to address social-emotional learning competencies that can strengthen youth resilience: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making. Each quote includes a brief contextual description and a personal application.
Descriptors: Fiction, Novels, School Psychology, Interpersonal Communication, Interaction, Adolescents, Behavior Problems, Mental Disorders, Barriers, Mental Health, Trust (Psychology), Student Needs, Communication Skills, Social Development, Emotional Development
National Association of School Psychologists. 4340 East West Highway Suite 402, Bethesda, MD 20814. Tel: 301-657-0270; Fax: 301-657-0275; e-mail: publications@naspweb.org; Web site: http://www.nasponline.org/publications/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A