Family Forum- Discussion Board

What can I do in my classroom, or the school do to make our curriculum and environment more responsive to the wonderful cultural diversity we have?  Please share ideas, suggestions, and discussion.

On ShorewoodScience.com I posted a summary of my favorite research on the teen brain.  I highly recommend: The Primal Teen by Barbara Strauch, Why Gender Matters and Boys Adrift by Dr. Leonard Sax, and Helping Boys Succeed in School by Dr. Terry Neu and Rich Weinfeld.

Use this space to share ideas, reactions, and questions with other families.

Living with a teenager can be funny, endearing, adventurous, frustrating, and generally analogous to riding a roller coaster (heck, so is being a teenager!).  Here's a place where you can share tips, ideas, and experiences with other families.

Keeping teens away from alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs can be confusing, frustrating, and scary.  The good news is that reseach and kids agree that you are the most able to keep them from using substances.  It is vital that you talk to your teen about the substances they may be exposed to, and what to do.  Discuss an escape plan in case they end up in a sticky situation- what do you want them to do?  Call you?  Text you?  Call another family member?  The more you can discuss, practice, and rehearse, the better prepared they will be.

Most importantly, you need to ask the tough questions: where are you going, who are you going with, how late will you be, which adults will be there, what are their phone numbers, how can I contact you?  It is ok to ask these (even necessary) and you're doing the right thing as a parent if they yell, slam doors, and call you unfair and mean sometimes. 

Here's a place to share your suggestions, tips, and concerns with other families.  You can also always ask resource people such as a teacher, guidance counselor, principal, dean of students, or school psychologist.

Welcome to the faimly forum discussion board!  This is a place for you to share ideas and support with other families in Shorewood Schools and to give feedback to Kelly Steiner.  I hope that you enjoy and that it is a valuable tool for you as you take on the challenge of raising a healthy teenager.  Please let me know any feedback on how I can make the resource better for you.