Teenagers 101: What A Top Teacher Wishes You Knew About Helping Your Kid Succeed

By (author) Deurlein, Ed.D., Rebecca
Short description/annotation
It has been decades since you were that age. How can you know if you’re equipping your teen with the skills needed for the modern world? Ask a teacher!
Description
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.

Table 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

Biographical note
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.