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As a parent, you want to see your teen succeed in school and in life - and you do your best to help. But how do you know what will make a difference? Maybe it's time to listen to a teacher.Day in and day out, teachers watch kids interact with peers, make decisions, deal with difficulty, accept or deflect responsibility...Teachers are our eyes and ears - and there's a lot they wish we knew.In
Teenagers 101, veteran high school teacher Rebecca Deurlein examines how we can support our teens as they cope with the challenges of the modern world. In an age of instant gratification, how do they learn to work hard? How do they become self-reliant when Mom and Dad are quick to step in? How do they make the transition from kids to adults? Speaking as an educator and a parent herself, Deurlein offers practical strategies for getting teens to:
- Be self-motivated
- Take responsibility for learning
- Puzzle through problems
- Become their own advocate
- Present themselves well
Packed with engaging anecdotes and backed by years of experience,
Teenagers 101 is a crash course on the skills teenagers everywhere need to thrive in college and beyond.
List of contents
CONTENTS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ix
INTRODUCTION 1
CHAPTER 1 How to Motivate Your Kids 7
CHAPTER 2 How to Encourage Perseverance in the Age of Instant Gratification 33
CHAPTER 3 Too Old to Run to Mom or Dad: When to Get Involved and When to Step Back 49
CHAPTER 4 Getting Teens to Accept Responsibility for Their Work, Their Decisions, and Their Mistakes 65
CHAPTER 5 How to Get the Most from Parent-Teacher Conferences and Open Houses 85
CHAPTER 6 Homework and Extracurriculars: Should You Still Be Involved in High School? 107
CHAPTER 7 The Real Value of Advanced Placement (AP) Courses—and Who Should Take Them 129
CHAPTER 8 College Isn't for Everyone: Is It Best for Your Child? 147
CHAPTER 9 The Dangers of Coddling: Helping Your Kids Develop Healthy Self-Esteem 165
CHAPTER 10 Making Sure Teens Know That the Way They Look and Sound Matters 179
CHAPTER 11 Getting Kids Organized: A Strong Foundation for a Lifetime of Success 195
CHAPTER 12 How to Prepare Your Teens for Adulthood 211
CONCLUSION: All We Can Do Is Our Best 231
NOTES 235
INDEX 238
ABOUT THE AUTHOR 246
About the author
REBECCA DEURLEIN, ED.D. (Houston, TX) has taught in school systems around the country. She has a doctoral degree in educational leadership and has raised two children of her own.
Summary
If you have ever found yourself second-guessing how you’re raising your teenager or even at a complete loss for how to deal with some of the problems and situations they are dealing with in today’s complex world that barely resembles the one you grew up in . . . you’re not alone! As a parent, of course you want to see your teen succeed in school and in life--and you’re always willing to do your best to help--but where do you start? How can you relate? What can a parent do that they know will make a difference? Maybe you don’t know the best answers, but one of their teachers might!Veteran high school teacher--and a parent herself--Rebecca Deurlein has spent day in and day out watching kids interact with peers, make decisions, deal with difficulty, accept or deflect responsibility . . . basically being parents’ eyes and ears--and there’s so much she wants you all to know about your kids! In Teenagers 101, Deurlein examines how we can support our teens as they cope with the challenges of the modern world, and offers to parents everywhere practical strategies for getting teens to:• Be self-motivated• Take responsibility for learning• Puzzle through problems• Become their own advocate• Present themselves well• And much morePacked with engaging anecdotes and backed by years of experience, Teenagers 101 is the crash course all parents must take in order to learn the skills their kids need to thrive in college and beyond.
