SMART Goals, Smart Teens

We all know that teens have great hopes and dreams for the future, but how do we help them get there? Having a goal is more than just an idea, it requires work and planning … learning to set goals is a skill.

Being able to set goals can help teens:

Take charge of their personal growth
See progress towards where they want to be
Maintain momentum
Improve time management
Reduce anxiety
Increase self-esteem

Amazing right!?

Where Does My Teen’s Time Go?

It’s the beginning of the school year and schedules can get crazy! Your teen may be dealing with homework, sports, activities, family time, friends and work all on top of school. It’s easy for some things to slide if young people aren’t organized and using their time wisely.

Teens can learn to monitor and schedule their time so they will be able to fit everything they need and want to do into their schedule. By managing themselves and their time effectively teens can reduce their stress and be more prepared when something unexpected comes their way.

Why Your Teen Needs To Connect With Their Teachers

As someone who has spent many years working in schools, a couple of those as a teacher, I will tell you the shocking truth … teachers do have favorite students. There, I said it. That doesn’t mean that other students are treated poorly and the favorites get special treatment, but it can give them a leg up.

The “favorite” student isn’t necessarily the one who is the brightest, or the most serious … it’s most often the one who is friendly and memorable, the one who stops by to say hi. When you teach over 100 students a day (as most high school teachers do) it can be hard to remember each student on a personal level. Teachers want to build relationships with students so the ones who make an effort to connect stand out.

Don’t Stand By, Stand Up

You’re walking down the hall at school, you see a new kid being harassed by some jocks. On Facebook you see a bunch of really mean posts about another girl. You know it’s wrong, but what can you do? If you see bullying, but don’t do anything about it

Back to school … a fresh start

© Dmitriy Melnikov | Dreamstime.com

It seems like back-to-school starts earlier every year. I’m pretty sure I saw school supplies being put out in stores on the 4^th of July. Notebooks, pens, paper, binders and cute back to school clothes. You can’t go anywhere without being reminded that your summer is almost over.