Parenting Teens

Are your teen’s teachers male or female? Does that question ever come up for you? Do you consider whether your student is getting good role models from both sexes?

Nationally, the number of male teachers in classrooms is declining, especially in elementary schools. According to Scholastic,
in 1980 about 17 percent of teachers in elementary school classrooms were male, compared with 14.2 percent today. In secondary schools, the number of men in classrooms has dropped from just over 50 percent in 1980 to less than 40 percent today.

The National Education Association (NEA) puts the percentage of male teachers nationwide at a 40 year low. And, according to NEA president Reg Weaver, the scarcity of male teachers is unfortunate, given the high divorce rate and men increasingly absent from the home. He says that male teachers are increasingly needed as role models for children.

“…one of the reasons colleges of education find it difficult to attract men into the profession (is) because of the outdated notion that teaching is a woman’s profession,” Weaver said. “And that could not be further from the truth.” The perception of teaching as a woman’s profession is still there, as is the reality of low pay and men needing to be breadwinners. However, more reasons than those are also part of the decline.

According to Steve Peha, president of Teaching That Makes Sense, Inc., other factors are more important. Many male teachers go into administrative positions to be more upwardly mobile. Others may not like being one of the few male teachers in a school, where they experience loneliness. And many feel threatened in a society where parents are likely to bring sexual misconduct charges at the drop of a hat. “I’ve had plenty of principals admit to me in private that they just don’t want to deal with men in the primary grades at all,�? Peha says. “It’s not prejudice, it’s politics. They know that women in those positions will be more readily accepted by parents.�?

It’s our children who lose because of these attitudes, most especially, perhaps, the boys. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2006, 12.9 million households were headed by single parents, with 10.4 million of those headed by single mothers. Boys need role models in a society where men may increasingly be absent from the household on a full-time basis.

As a single mother who raised a daughter alone for several years, I can also attest to the fact that girls need good male role models. My daughter had the best in my father and my brother, but I also appreciated the male teachers that she did have in her elementary school years, and I continue to be grateful to the positive male role models in her high school.

This is an issue to think about, as well as to encourage young men who have an interest in teaching to pursue that interest. Male teachers are in high demand, and there is a very real service that they provide-not just by being teachers, but by being role models for those who need them.

For information on homeschooling, visit Mom Is Teaching

teens, teenagers, students, teachers, male teachers, teaching, elementary school, high school, middle school, parenting teens, parenting teenagers

The past week saw two more incidents involving school shootings or potential shootings by teenagers. On Wednesday in Cleveland, Ohio, 14-year-old Asa Coon shot two students and two teachers, before killing himself. Police are currently reviewing surveillance videos, trying to find out how the teenagers was able to enter SuccessTech Academy alternative school, while armed with two revolvers.

The teen also, apparently, had made threats the previous week, which went unheeded, along with other warning signs from the troubled boy. Asa Coon had been suspended the Monday before the shooting for a fight, but fellow students said that school personnel had not done anything about threats he had made the previous week to blow up the school and stab students. Rasheem Smith, 15, a classmate, said, “I told my friends in the class that he had a gun and stuff. We talked to the principal. She would try to get us all in the office, but it would always be too busy for it to happen.”

Asa’s older brother, Stephen Coon, 19, was arrested the day after the shooting for theft and parole violations. And an arrest warrant was issued for his mother, Lori Looney, for obstruction of justice, after she lied to police about the whereabouts of Stephen.

The second incident occurred in Philadelphia. There, police were able to prevent a planned attack at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School by another 14-year-old boy. The teenager had amassed an arsenal of including knives, swords, about 80 pellet guns-and a rifle bought for him by his mother. The mother, Michele Cossey, has been arrested and charged with providing a firearm to a minor, and contributing to the corruption of a minor.

Her teen son was arrested late Wednesday and told police he had been planning a “Columbine-type attack” on the high school. The boy’s parents had taken him out of middle school and homeschooled him for the past 18 months, because of bullying.

These are yet two more tragic and shameful incidents which plainly illustrate the ways in which we are failing our children. Failure to communicate with our teens, and failure to take action when signs of trouble or violence are seen has tragic consequences. Please stay in touch with what’s going on with your teenagers! If you see ANY signs of problems, take them seriously, and get help for your child. It can save grief and lives-including those of your teenager and yourself.

teenagers, teens, school shootings, school violence, Asa Coon, Philadelphia school shooting, Cleveland school shooting, parenting, parenting teens, parenting teenagers, troubled teens

I belong to several groups dealing with parenting teenagers. The other day, the subject of discrimination against the mentally handicapped came up in one of those groups. One mother of a young teen in middle school brought up the report by her daughter that the word “retard” was used all the time by students at her school. Students apparently used the word as an adjective and as a derogatory remark against other students.

This member has a two-and-a-half year old nephew who has Down’s Syndrome. Her daughter is very close to her cousin, and was angered and hurt by the casual use of this word among her fellow students. We were all upset that this word would be used so callously by young teens. The girl’s parent felt that, since their school district sent all mentally handicapped students to one particular school, the causal use of this word was a result of these students not being exposed to their peers with mental disabilities. I have other ideas.

I place this squarely with the parents of students who would use such hurtful and derogatory remarks. As parents, we have a responsibility to teach our children to have compassion for others and to respect their feelings. The use of such words is, to me, a clear example that parents have not taught their children such compassion. Now, I realize that children can pick up on a word used by a peer and repeat it, sometimes not realizing how hurtful it can be. But such word use does not, originally, come from a vacuum. Children pick up on parents and other family members who do not have care and compassion for others. They will mimic not only words, but actions.

As a group we discussed this mother going to the school administration and/or the counseling office and requesting that the children receive some sensitivity training in this area. I’d suggest the same thing to any of you who have teens or any age children in a school where this type of thing goes on. It won’t stop all of the children from using such hurtful words, but it will reach some, who will realize that they are hurting the feelings of others. And be sure that you talk with teens, and any age children, about compassion and respecting others’ feelings.

The above Youtube video is a heartfelt speech by a high school student with a mentally handicapped sister. He talks about how he has learned more about life and love from his sister than from any classroom. Watch it, and share it with your teens. It has some very valuable lessons.

teens, teenagers, mental handicaps, mental retardation, school, bullying, discrimination, discriminating, teenagers and discrimination, parental responsibility, parenting teens, parenting teenagers

Opening this fall in Atlanta, Georgia, is a unique new middle school-The Ron Clark Academy. Undoubtedly, many of you know of Ron Clark from the Emmy-nominated TV movie, in which Matthew Perry played Clark. Ron Clark became known for his wacky personality and unique brand of teaching. His ability to take students others had given up on and turn them into motivated and accomplished students is excellent. Now, Clark is putting his personality and teaching abilities into a middle school which will be like no other.

Using proceeds from his New York Times best-selling book The Essential 55: An Award-Winning Educator’s Rules for Discovering the Successful Student in Every Child, along with corporate sponsorship and donations, Ron Clark and Atlanta teacher Kim Bearden founded the Ron Clark Academy, a private middle school serving 5th-8th graders in a low-income neighborhood in Atlanta. Tuition is based on ability to pay, and ranges from $30 a month to $14,000 a year.

The curriculum is based on the academic requirements according to the state of Georgia’s course of study, but will use many interesting and dynamic methods to teach this curriculum, and will also offer students the opportunity to learn and be involved in photography, dance, music production, the art of design, dramatic performance, and business leadership. The students will travel to six continents before they reach high school.

The school has a two-story, indoor slide in the atrium. It’s features include, mounted flat-screen TV’s, graffiti art on the walls, and a secret passageway leading to Clark’s classroom. But one of the best features about this academy will be that it will offer other teachers worldwide the opportunity to learn the unique teaching techniques which Ron Clark and the other teachers will use in the classroom. Successful techniques, which have been proven to work with even some of the most difficult students.

Learn more about this unique school by visiting the above website. Perhaps, one day, all of our ‘tweens and teens will be lucky enough to attend schools which offer so many opportunities, and so much learning!

teens, teenagers, ‘tweens, Ron Clark, Ron Clark Academy, private schools, middle school, teachers, parenting teens, parenting teenagers

Even though it seems as though school just ended here, it will soon be time for kids to head back to classes! That means one of the most expensive times of the year for many families is coming up. Clothes and supplies for school can add up quickly, especially if you have teenagers who are already into adult sizes!

Luckily, many states now have sales tax holidays, when clothing, supplies, and other items have no sales tax applied to them. It can mean great savings for many people. I know that I usually buy the bulk of my daughter’s clothes and supplies during our annual tax holiday.

Below is a list of the states offering tax holidays, the dates, and the items which are exempt. I’ve collected these from several different sources. If you know of any other states having tax holidays, please feel free to post them in the comments. Happy shopping!

Alabama
When? August 3, 4 and 5
What’s exempt? Clothing up to $100, computers up to $750, school supplies up to $50, books up to $30

Connecticut
When? August 19-25
What’s exempt? Clothing up to $300

District of Columbia
When? August 4-12
What’s exempt? Clothing up to $100, school supplies up to $100

Florida
When? August 4-13
What’s exempt? Clothing up to $50, school supplies up to $10

Georgia
When? August 2, 3, 4 and 5
What’s exempt? Clothing up to $100, school supplies up to $20, computers up to $1,500.

Iowa
When? August 3 and 4
What’s exempt? Clothing up to $100

Louisiana
When? August 3 and 4
What’s exempt? Most individual items of for non-business use up to $2,500

Missouri
When? August 3, 4 and 5
What’s exempt? Clothing up to $100, computers up to $3500 and school supplies up to $50

New Mexico
When? August 3, 4 and 5
What’s exempt? Clothing up to $100, computers up to $1,000 and school supplies up to $15

North Carolina
When? August 3, 4 and 5
What’s exempt? Clothing, footwear, and school supplies up to $100, sports equipment up to $50 per item, computers up to $3,500, and computer supplies up to $250 per item

Oklahoma
When? August 3, 4 and 5
What’s exempt? clothing up to $100

South Carolina
When? August 3, 4 and 5
What’s exempt? clothing, school supplies, computers

Tennessee
When? August 3, 4 and 5
What’s exempt? clothing up to $100, school supplies up to $100 and computers up to $1,500

Texas
When? August 17, 18, and 19
What’s exempt? Most clothing and footwear priced under $100, backpacks under $100.

Virginia
When? August 3, 4 and 5
What’s exempt? Clothing up to $100, school supplies up to $20

school, back to school, tax holidays, state tax holidays, school supplies, school clothes, teens, teenagers, parenting teens, parenting teenagers

A new University of Georgia study, published in the August, 2007 issue of Communications Research has found that the more exposure middle school students have to anti-smoking ads, the more likely they are to smoke! Talk about an opposite effect!

Hye-Jin Paek, an assistant professor at the University of Georgia, and co-author of the study, along with Albert Gunther from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, found that many anti-smoking ad campaigns have the opposite effect on teenagers. She says that they backfire because they encourage the rebellious nature of youth. “They don’t want to hear what they should do or not do,” she says.

According to Paek, peer pressure has the most direct effect. She says that ads should focus on convincing teens that their friends are listening to anti-smoking warnings.

“Rather than saying, ‘Don’t smoke,’ it is better to say, ‘Your friends are listening to this message and not smoking,”Paek said. “It doesn’t really matter what their peers are actally doing.”

Do any of your teens smoke, or have they tried smoking? What do you feel would be the best way to reach teens on this issue?

teens, teenagers, parenting teens, parenting teenagers, teen smoking, teenagers smoking, teens and smoking, University of Georgia, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Communications Research

When our children are elementary age and younger, most of us meet their teachers and other school personnel. There are usually a certain number of required parent-teacher conferences, school events, etc., which we attend. Also, when our kids are at those ages, we worry about how they are being treated, and if they are being protected from bullies, etc.

Throughout my daughter’s school career, though, I have noticed that a certain number of parents do not meet, or maintain a working relationship with, their children’s teachers-beginning in middle school and through high school. Getting to know your teen’s teachers is just as important at these grade levels. Here are a few reasons why:

1. Maintaining grades-older children are less likely to share their grades and progress with you, particularly
if the news is bad. Being in touch with a teacher via phone or email allows you to keep on top of any
problems they may be having, and to help deal with them if tutoring or more study time is needed.

2. Discipline problems-Again, teens are less likely to share any problems they may be having at school
with their parents. Whether a discipline problem is with your teen, or another teen who is
bullying or bothering your child, you need to be informed. When you can talk with teachers, principals,
or counselors about these things, you can be there to help your teen deal with them.

3. Career choices-High school students are on the verge of discovering what they will be doing with their
lives after school, whether it be work, college, the military, etc. Communicating with teachers and
counselors can give you a great deal of information about your teen’s interests and abilities. It can
give you valuable insight into helping your child make decisions that are right for them.

4. Getting to know your teen-Your child is changing fast and growing into an adult. Having other adults
discuss their impressions and insights about your teenager can help you get to know this maturing
maturing person that you have raised. You can appreciate things about your teen that you might not
have noticed yourself. The knowledge that teachers and other school personnel have about your teen
can help you transition from a strictly parental role in your child’s life to having a more adult relation-
ship with him or her.

These are a few reasons to continue having good parent/teacher relationships with your teen’s teachers. Make time to become acquainted with your teenager’s teachers, counselors, and principals. Find out contact information about them (phone numbers, email addresses), so that you can periodically ask how
your child is doing. There are many valuable reasons to do so.

teens, teenagers, tweens, school, high school, middle school, teachers, counselors, principals

Here’s a great contest for any of your preteens or ‘tweens, ages 10-14, who have an artistic side. The publishers of the book “The Smart Start Guide to Junior High” are looking for someone in this age group to design a cover for the book. The book has lots of advice and information for students and their parents on transitioning and adjusting to middle school. The prize is $50. Here are the contest rules:

Contest Rules:

1. The contest is open to kids and teens age 10 -14.

2. All book cover designs must measure 5 ½” wide by 8 ½” high.

3. The only required parts of the design are the book’s title, “The Smart Start Guide to Junior High” and the author’s name, “Joe Bruzzese”.

4. If the design is created with a computer program please save the file in either gif, jpg or pdf format.

5. If the design is hand drawn, color may be added with crayons, colored pencils or markers.

6. Create and enter as many designs as you like.

7. All designs must be received by Friday, July 13th in order to qualify for the contest.

8. Designs will be posted, without the designer’s name or contact information, at http://www.squidoo.com/thinking-forward/ beginning Sunday, July 15th. Voting begins on Monday, July 16th and ends on Saturday, July 21st. Anyone can vote, however you may only vote once, so tell your friends to vote for you. Visit the web site, http://www.squidoo.com/thinking-forward/ for more information about how to vote for your favorite design.

9. If you have any questions about the contest send an email to contest@thinking-forward.com

10. Did we mention the winning designer receives a cash prize of $50?

Book cover designs may either be submitted via regular mail to:

Thinking Forward
417 Pitzer Court
Goleta, CA 93117
Please include the entrant’s contact information, including email address and phone number, so we can contact you if you win.

Or by e-mail to:
contest@thinking-forward.com
If you are sending a design by email please send the computer file in one of the following formats: jpg, gif or pdf.

Voting for the winning design will take place online. Beginning Monday, July 16th you can vote for your favorite design by returning to this site. The rules and instructions for voting will be posted at that time.

So, if you have an artistic student, get him/her drawing and designing! This could be a good opportunity!

pre-teens, parenting pre-teens, tweens, parenting tweens, contests, art, artistic, book covers, The Start Smart Guide to Junior High, Joe Bruzzese, junior high, middle school

This is a wonderful read for parents of teen and pre-teen girls. Stressed-Out Girls: Hleping Them Thrive In the Age of Pressure by Roni Cohen-Sandler deals with the stresses girls face today, and how parents can help them cope.

In this excellent book, which gives a lot of practical advice, Dr. Cohen-Sandler discusses how girls experience stress differently than boys:

• In general, girls report far more school-related stress than do boys. They believe that to be successful, they have to be extraordinary in every area of their lives: academic, social, extracurricular, and appearance.

• Compared to girls, boys report being less invested in school. They feel less connected, are less likely to feel successful, and have fewer worries about college.

• Although all teens report being burdened by too much homework and tests, girls are 55% more likely than boys to say they pressure themselves to get good grades and do well in school.

• Girls are also more stressed-out as they go through their school days because of social stress: they constantly monitor their relationships with peers and teachers.

• Heightened worries about appearance—body image, clothing choices, and make-up—further exacerbate the daily stress of teen girls.

• Whereas boys express stress more directly, girls keep their stress hidden.

In addition, she talks about the high levels of stress girls suffer:

• The majority of girls report feeling “too much�? or “way too much�? pressure to get good grades.

• More than 2/3 of girls in middle school say they “usually�? or “always�? pressure themselves to succeed. By high school, that number rises to _.

• Almost 2/3 of girls in middle school and 3/4 of girls in high school believe the amount of free time they have is “too little�? or “not nearly enough.�?

• Nearly 2/3 of girls in middle school and high school report that the amount of homework they get is “too much�? or “way too much.�?

Other helpful topics include how stress for girls worsens over time, and what parents and teachers can do to recognize and help alleviate stress. Although many parents and educators endorse the book, some of the most telling comments come from the girls themselves. One girl wrote “I am currently reading your book Stressed Out-Girls, and I love it! I am probably one of the busiest and most stressed-out girls in my class. Being senior class president, the head of 2 clubs, varsity tennis captain, and taking eight classes in school (not to mention trying to get into college!) the word “pressure” is nothing new to me. I often take on too much, and find it hard to say “no” when asked to do something. I barely made it through Junior year, because I took on too much and had a huge mental breakdown. My grades went down and I wish I could just start over again.”

This book can really open your eyes to the sources of stress for your teenage daughter! Together, my daughter and I sat down and realized there were sources of stress of which she was not even aware! I’d recommend the book for any parents of teen and pre-teen daughters. If you’re a mom, it can also be an eye-opener to some of the sources of stress in your own teenage years!

stress, teen stress, teenage stress, teen girls’ stress, teenage girls’ stress, Stressed-Out Girls, Roni Cohen-Sandler, Ph.D., parenting teens, parenting teenagers, teen girls, teenage girls

Do you have any idea how prevalent drugs are in your teenager’s high school or middle school? Do you know what kinds of drugs are most popular among students? This came up for me when I recently heard about an undercover drug operation in a county adjacent to the one in which we live. Apparently, after a six-month ongoing investigation, 11 students at this particular school were arrested and had a total of 26 charges filed against them.

The police were invited to the school by the principal, who had received multiple complaints from parents, students and community members about the possibility of drugs in the school. The drugs involved were marijuana, cocaine, Xanax, methadone, and a variety of painkillers, including Soma, Vicodin, Lortab, and Percocet. Now, having been a social worker who has worked in both hospital and rehab settings, I recognized the names of all these drugs. There’s some heavy-duty stuff here! And most of it is prescription drugs, which I know are on the rise as far as drugs of choice.

After hearing about this school, I called my daughter’s school principal. I asked about reports of possible drug use or abuse in my daughter’s high school. He was extremely uncomfortable responding to my question and, though he admitted that he had had “some” complaints about possible drug use, he said he was “unable” to give me any idea how many reports there had been, and whether they had been investigated. I then proceeded to call the school superintendent’s office. I was handed over to the public relations officer who, basically, gave me the same non-information as the principal.

I finally called the local sheriff’s office. The officer who was directed to answer my questions made a not of the questions I had, promised to do some research and get back to me. After two days, I haven’t received a phone call or an email. I promised myself that I would give her a week and then call back. This lack of information bothers me to no end. I realize that the community wants to give the impresssion that things are going great in the schools, but when we are all willing to admit that there is a problem, I dislike being given the runaround.

For some USEFUL information on drugs among teenagers and in schools, you can go to Teen Drug Abuse. They have statistics, information on various drugs, and lots of other information. Try calling your school principal, school board’s office, etc., regarding drug use in your teen’s school. See if you are given any more concrete information than I was. I’d really like to hear about what kind of information you are given.

teen drug use, teenage drug use, drug use in schools, Teen Drug Abuse, parenting teens, parenting teenagers

If your teenager needs serious help with schoolwork, Sylvan Learning Centers can provide it. If your teen has been absent from school and needs to catch up, or just has subjects which give him/her a lot of trouble and other options for tutoring don’t seem to help, Sylvan can often be the answer.

I don’t want to sound like a commercial for them, but I have a friend who is a Sylvan tutor. She’s a certified teacher, as most of those who work for Sylvan are. I’ve seen how they work, and they can work wonders. I returned to college as an adult and needed to take my SAT’s again (since it had been about ten years after I graduated high school!). I went to Sylvan for their SAT prep course. I don’t think I would have made it without them!

They give your student an assessment, which tells them and you at what level your child is progressing, and provides useful information in helping them plan a program specifically for your student. Students receive individual attention, which can often be the key to helping some students grasp a subject. We all know classrooms are overcrowded these days and most teachers (no matter how good they are) simply don’t have the time to give students individual attention.

They offer tutoring for every grade K-12, as well as SAT/ACT prep and preparation for statewide tests. They give help in reading, math, writing and study skills-basics which every student needs to succeed. Sylvan has centers in most cities and in smaller towns as well. And they now offer online tutoring for those who don’t have a center near their homes.

It’s not inexpensive. Employing certified teachers for tutoring children usually isn’t. Their website lists current costs as ranging from $38 to $52 an hour, depending on your student’s individualized program. However, they guarantee that your student will improve at least one grade level in math and reading after 36 hours of instruction. How many other tutors offer a guarantee? They also provide monthly payment plans and loan options.

Sylvan is for serious problems. If your student has one-or needs help with those upcoming state tests, or with preparing for the SAT/ACT, try them out.

Sylvan Learning Centers, Sylvan, tutoring, homework, study, teens, teenagers, parenting, parents

Is your teen taking a foreign language? Most high schools require a foreign language for graduation, and middle school students often take foreign language classes as well. This week’s homework helper is at Discovery Education

This particular site is called BJ Pinchbeck’s Homework Helper/Foreign Languages. It includes language dictionaries, translators, and vocabulary training, as well as foreign language for travelers. Languages included are Spanish, French, German, Latin, Arabic, Greek, Japanese, and Portuguese, among others. It’s a very helpful site for your student, or maybe for you, if you’re planning a trip!

Discovery Education also includes homework help for other subjects. Point your student in the direction of this site. They’ll find it helpful, and entertaining, as well!

Discovery Education, BJ Pinchbeck’s Homework Helpers, foreign languages, teens, teenagers, school, parents, parenting

Along with some other changes in the New Year for Parenting Teens, this section “Homework Helpers” will now regularly appear on Friday rather than Saturday. I hope that doesn’t mess up anyone’s schedule! I’ve had some good responses for Homework Helpers and I’d like to keep people happy!

CELLS alive! is a great site for help with biology. This nifty site has sections on cell biology, microbiology, immunology and microscopy. It also has many great interactive features, including the following:

*cell models
*mitosis
*meiosis
*cell cycle
*puzzles
*quizzes

On top of all this, it also offers ideas for science fair projects, and even tells you how to cite the web page if you’re writing a paper! Heck, I wish I’d known about this site when I took college biology! So if your middle- or high school student is having problems with biology, needs an idea for a science fair project or just wants to check out some of the neat interactive features, point him/her toward this site.

biology, homework, school, teens, teenagers, parents, parenting

Is your teen interested in science and science fairs? This week’s homework helper points you toward the Science Fairs Homepage. Here, students in any grade from 1-12 can find help with the most difficult part of a science fair project-getting an idea.

Projects are listed in the areas of biology, physical science, engineering and lots more! It also provides links to other sites on science fairs, including sites on doing a project step by step. This is a great site if your teen is entering a science fair or just needs a project for class!

science, science fair, biology, physical science, engineering, school, teens

Is your teen exhibiting signs of a problem? Have there been major changes or issues in the family recently? Has he had problems at school, such as being bullied or, perhaps, showing signs of bullying himself? Has a close friend moved away?

A good place to turn when your teenager is experiencing emotional problems is his or her school counselor. At the high school level, counselors are often seen mainly as a source for help in getting the right courses to graduate, or as someone to help with the college application process and finding financial aid.

However, high school counselors also still work with teens who have emotional and social issues.
Members of the American School Counselor Association say that they are often overlooked when it comes to dealing with emotional issues at the high school level. They are ready and willing to help students in this area, but they get few such requests from parents or students.

This may be due, in part, to parents seeing counselors at the high school level as only being there to help their teens with their plans after high school. It may also be due to teenagers reluctance to seek help with emotional issues-especially when they are not that familiar with the counselor.

Just remember that, if your high school or middle school-aged teen is facing emotional problems, the school counselor is a good place to start. He or she can often talk with students or counsel them at school, and may be able to solve the problem. If they feel a student needs help-whether it be academic, or professional counseling-they can make recommendations and help you find what your teen needs.

School counselors are a wonderful resource. Make use of them.

school counselors, counselors, high school, middle school, teens, teenagers