Christa Allan: On Educating Teens

As a high school teacher for the past twenty-five years, I intended to share a few gems on how parents can help their students. But it occurred to me, thankfully before the post, that perhaps consulting the runners might be insightful. And so, I asked my Advanced Composition class, all seniors, to share with you how they felt their parents could best help them. Some of what they say, you may not agree with. But, as a parent and a teacher, reading what they have to say goes a long way in training them for their next marathon.

GRADES

• I always found praise helps. I do like to get feedback from my parents, like, “Great job!” or “I’m proud of you.”

• I appreciate when my mom tells me stories about her school experiences. She tries to relate my complaints about teachers and other things by telling me her stories, and it makes me feel a whole lot better.

• Bribing has always motivated me. Being the nerd I am, however, I would get a book for every A. My little brother gets a videogame for every two A’s and for every five B’s. (Some students shared they receive money for A and/or B grades)

• Love and attention are more important than grades, their future or money.
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1. I know the academic year is screeching to a close, but I wanted to mention this before I forgot to in August! Some kids think whatever they wear the first day of school will mark them for high school life. Probably not, but unless Princess wants to wear spike heels and a tube top and Prince has chosen drop-butt jeans, allow them this wardrobe decision. Feeling good about themselves that day is important.

2. Students at our high school do not wear uniforms. Pity. The beginning of the school year is B-quadrupled (boobs, butts, and belly buttons). Please be aware of your high school’s dress code, and-not that I would ever question your child’s integrity-you can always check the school/parish/county website online for validation.

Some of the regulations may seem silly to you; I may even agree. I don’t think Larry Low Pants learns more when he’s wearing a belt. Do you know WHY I think this? Glad you asked. Because if Larry Low Pants was actually already interested in learning, he’d already be wearing a belt because he follows instructions and does not want to lose valuable class time sitting in the discipline office waiting for his parental unit to drop off clothes.… continue reading

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About Me:

I started teaching at the age of 21, three months after I graduated from college with a degree in English, Secondary Education. Clearly, I was too young to realize how young I was walking into classrooms where some of my students were merely three years (or fewer) younger than I.

That first year, I might have cried on the way home at least three out of five days most weeks. I considered doing almost anything except what I was doing. But I showed up the second year, and the third, and for two more years after that and then my first child was born. I didn’t return to the classroom again for twelve years.  For a few years, I tried other professions…a sort of grown-up way of dragging clothes into a fitting room. Some of them fit, but none of them felt as right on me as teaching.

I earned my National Board Certification in 2007, an accomplishment of which I am proud. Especially so because all of the work I did for it was at a school in the city we evacuated to after Hurricane Katrina… as opposed to being able to do the work in the school I left, where I’d been for fifteen years.… continue reading

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Test post! The first article will post to this column on 2/23 and the 4th Thursday of each month.… continue reading

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Hot Buttons is a weekly feature of Choose NOW Ministries in which parents are offered a strategic scenario to use as a script for discussing tough issues with their teens. This column is based on the Hot Buttons book series with the first two books, Hot Buttons: Dating, and Hot Buttons: Internet Edition, releasing on 6/1/12.

Today’s Hot-Button topic is about honesty and honor when no one is looking or when justification is an option. In this case, will your teen play along when someone else is making a bad choice, and go against your rules in the process? What if that someone else is the person you’ve left in charge?

Parents, tell your teens this story as though it’s happening to them:

Your mom and dad are taking a weekend trip and have agreed to let you stay home alone with your older brother who is seventeen. He plans a party for one of the nights they’re away and even offers to let you invite your friends, too. It sounds like a blast,and you really want to do it even though know your parents would kill you both–they just can’t find out. The other problem is that you’re pretty sure there will be alcohol there even though he promises there won’t be.… continue reading

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