10 Ways to Use Life After Birth and the S.O. What! Curriculum to Build Confidence and Literacy in Teen Moms

Every teen mom has a story. Too often, that story is defined by statistics, stereotypes, or the mistakes people assume will shape the rest of her life. But what if the story became the very thing that inspired her to read more, think deeper, and dream bigger?

That is the power of combining the S.O. What! Curriculum with Life After Birth: A Memoir of Survival and Success as a Teenage Mother. Rather than simply reading a memoir, teen mothers walk alongside someone who has experienced many of the same fears, insecurities, setbacks, and difficult choices they face today. They see firsthand that while becoming a parent as a teenager changes life, it does not have to end their dreams. Life After Birth was written to show that resilience, education, confidence, and determination can create a future far greater than the circumstances of the past.

The lessons throughout the book create meaningful conversations that go far beyond literacy. From overcoming childhood insecurities in “The Innocent, Little Girl” and building self confidence in “The Challenges of High School,” to discovering the joy of serving others in “A Giving Spirit,” every chapter encourages readers to reflect on their own lives while developing critical reading and life skills. Teen moms are challenged to practice self love, respect others, recognize why bullying happens, and understand that another person’s hurtful words never determine their worth.

As readers continue through the memoir, they explore healthy relationships, parenting, financial responsibility, education, goal setting, gratitude, and the importance of surrounding themselves with a strong support system. Most importantly, they discover that every obstacle can become a stepping stone instead of a stopping point.

In this article, you’ll discover 10 practical ways educators, counselors, youth organizations, and parenting programs can use the S.O. What! Literacy, Life Skills, and Character Education Curriculum with Life After Birth to help teen moms strengthen literacy skills while building confidence, resilience, and hope for the future. Because when young mothers begin to believe in themselves, they don’t just become better readers. They become stronger leaders, better parents, and living proof that their story is still being written. 

10 practical ways to use the S.O. What! Curriculum for Teen Moms

1. Discuss insecurities and how to overcome them as well as showing respect for  others. “The Innocent, Little Girl” and “The Challenges of High School” detail  the author’s insecurities and her progression towards overcoming them. The  theme of overcoming these insecurities is carried throughout the book. Also,  express the importance of self-love. Use the “The Innocent Little Girl” to discuss  the effects of picking on others and the reasons why people do it and how to deal  with it. 
2. Encourage volunteerism. The chapter “A Giving Spirit” explains the author’s  reluctance to volunteering and then the reward for doing so. Throughout the book,  the author provides examples for getting involved and giving back. 
3. Educate teens about sex, dating and relationships as teen mothers. Although  they are already parents, many teens still need sex education to avoid having more  children as teenagers or contract sexually transmitted diseases. Teach teens about  how to make self-respecting choices that are right for them. Emphasize making  choices that honor their values, gut instincts and boundaries. “What Is It?” is a  good chapter for conversations on sex education. “Beyond Just the Two of Us”  discusses the challenges of dating as a single mother and the importance of  keeping your child first and not bringing men in and out of children’s lives. 
4. Teach students the importance of a support system and how to show  appreciation for the support. Beginning with the chapter “The Secret is  Revealed” examples of support are provided. Throughout the book, the author  explains how she relied on the support of others and how she showed her  appreciation for and never abused that support.  
5. Encourage students to talk to their parents or other trusted adults. “A Major  Shift” through “The Pregnant Little Girl” are chapters that deal with the author’s  relationship with her mother and the importance of communicating with her. 
6. Teach pushing forward in spite of obstacles. The entire book explains how the  author didn’t let her challenges stop her from finishing high school and achieving  her goals. “Yet Another Finish Line” shows how the author earned an MBA  despite the difficulty of doing so as a teen/single mother. Demonstrate that  although some of the individual challenges may be different, any challenge can be  overcome. 
7. Explain the importance of making wise financial decisions and making  sacrifices. After having her baby, the author got a job and realized the  importance of spending her money on necessities. She also realized she had to  make a lot of sacrifices in terms of her money, as well as her time. Demonstrate  how having a child should change your life and your priorities.
8. Explain how government assistance should be used if necessary but not  depended upon long-term. In “The Pregnant, Little Girl”, the author discusses  using the WIC (Women, Infants and Children) program while she was pregnant  and her son was an infant. However, in “I’ve Got to Keep on Moving”, the author  explains how she was denied government assistance and never got child support  yet was still financial able to care for her son.  
9. Teach the importance of setting goals and getting an education. Facilitate a  discussion on life plans beyond high school. “Preparation for a New Beginning”  through “Another Finish Line” discuss the college experience and making the  most of it to prepare for a better for future. “Continuing Education” furthers the  emphasis on the importance of learning and self-improvement. “The Real World”  through “The Child and the Career” discuss starting a career and developing into  an adult with the foundation built from the previous chapters of life experience. 
10. Encourage students to think about the lessons they learn from their  experiences. Each chapter ends with the author’s reflection on what she learned  from that period in her life. Have the teens write the lessons they learn from what  they read in the chapters as well as any other thoughts they have.  

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