Scholastic Choices articles from January 2009

Scholastic Choices archives from January 2009

Dakota goes to school.(personal development)(Dakota Fanning)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dakota Fanning, 15, is a famous actress who has starred in movies like The Secret Life of Bees, Charlotte's Web, and War of the Worlds, so it might be hard to believe that she can be a regular teenager. But when she...

Bully busting.(Letters to a Bullied Girl: Messages of Healing and Hope )(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Book review)
January 1, 2009... LETTERS TO A BULLIED GIRL: MESSAGES OF HEALING AND HOPE Harper, 2008 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Bullying is part of every child's life. Think about it: Every kid has either been bullied, bullied someone else, or witnessed acts of...

Double up on D.(nutrition)(vitamin D)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] There's a good chance that you've never heard of vitamin D, but many doctors know of it, and they want you and your friends to consume more of it. The American Academy of Pediatrics is recommending that kids of all...

New dads feel low too.(health)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Postpartum depression is a condition in which a mother becomes depressed after her baby is born. Changes in the levels of certain hormones in the woman's body can cause this condition. The stress of having to care for a baby can also contribute...

Find a good job.(@ web site)(www.myfirstpaycheck.com )(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It's not easy getting a job during these tough economic times, but www.myfirstpaycheck.com can help teens find part-time work. Created by teens, the site lists job posts from employers looking for teen employees....

Hitting the brakes.(personal responsibility)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] New technology may force teens to slow down when they're driving. Many 2010 models of Ford Motor Co. cars will have a computer chip inside their ignition keys that can limit the vehicles' speed limit to 80 miles per...

Fantasy vs. reality: after giving birth to her baby, actress Jamie Lynn Spears spoke about how wonderful motherhood is, but the truth is that for most teens, being a parent is overwhelming and hard.(family)(Interview)(Cover story)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Last summer, Jamie Lynn Spears, star of the Nickelodeon program Zoey 101 and sister of pop singer Britney Spears, gave birth to a girl. She was just 17 years old and wasn't married to the baby's father, Casey...

"My job is to be a mom": after the birth of her son, a teen grows up quickly.(family)(Iesha Martinez)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Seventeen-year-old Iesha Martinez lives in a rented apartment in Roxbury, Massachusetts, with her mother, four siblings, and 15-month-old son, Xavian. Iesha's day begins at 6 a.m., when Xavian wakes up for his...

True or false friends? Are you a good, maybe even great friend to your pals? Find out by taking our quiz.(personal responsibility)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] On elementary school, making friends--and keeping them--was most likely a snap for you. You played kickball with boys from your neighborhood or had slumber parties with girls from school. Conflicts rarely escalated...

"Little girl, you are in big trouble": Samantha Martin never thought her substance-abuse problem would catch up with her--until she was arrested on drug charges, now 18, Samantha told Choices how drugs got her behind bars.(substance abuse)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The night I went to jail seems like a dream to me--or more like a nightmare. I can still see the red swirling police lights cutting through the early morning darkness. I can feel the cold metal handcuffs digging into...

Who am I? If you're struggling with trying to discover who you are, you're not alone. The good news is that you have plenty of time to figure out your identity.(health)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The summer before Elizabeth Liang's junior year of high school, her entire life had changed. Her family moved from Midland, Michigan, to Grand Rapids, a few hours away. She had been attending Midland schools since...

Energy overload: energy drinks are popular beverages among teens, but beware of their high caffeine content.(nutrition)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When Meagan Groce needs a morning pick-me-up, the 16-year-old doesn't reach for coffee. Instead, she stops by the nearest convenience store on the way to school to grab ah energy drink. "I'm really sleepy, so I buy...

Caramel corn: this sweet snack adds a new taste to regular popcorn.(recipe 101)(Recipe)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Caramel Corn THIS SWEET SNACK ADDS A NEW TASTE TO REGULAR POPCORN ingredients Sauce: 1/2 cup butter 1 cup dark brown sugar 1/4 cup Karo syrup 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking soda ...

Body blow: this skater's head took a pounding when he skated without a helmet and crashed.(your body & mind)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Do you wear a helmet when you ride a bicycle, jump on a skateboard, or Rollerblade? If you don't, Choices would like to introduce you to Nolan Mayer, 20, of Medfield, Massachusetts. Nolan is not an amateur at the...

Super savings: investing in savings bonds is a smart way for teens to earn bucks over the long haul. Here is what you need to know.(your money)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Why are savings bonds the gift of choice among cheek-pinching grandparents all across the United States? The answer is simple: Bonds are a very safe way to save money and earn interest for the future. In its most...

Lights, camera, action! Meet a young camera operator and editor who's getting a head start on a TV career.(your future)(Nathan Grossman)(Interview)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This is the fourth in a series of articles on students who are getting a head start on possible careers by working in cool jobs now. In this issue, Choices interviewed Nathan Grossman, 12, of Medfield, Massachusetts....

Txt alert! Texting is def GR8, but YSK there are T&C U should follow. Before U say YYSSW, plz read on.(your life)
January 1, 2009... Text messaging, or SMS (short message service), is the latest communication craze. Anyone with a cell phone and a suitable service plan can participate in text messaging. Texting is a quick, easy, and relatively inexpensive way to contact...

Out of favor: advice from Choices readers.(sticky situation)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] the problem MY MOM FAVORS MY STEPBROTHER. IT'S LIKE I DON'T EVEN EXIST. I FEEL LIKE SHE NEGLECTS ME. SHE LETS HIM GO WHEREVER HE WANTS TO GO AND DO WHATEVER HE WANTS TO DO. BUT HE'S 12 AND I'M 15. WHAT SHOULD I...

The hunt is on.(word search puzzle)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... DIRECTIONS: How closely did you read the six feature articles ("Fantasy vs. Reality," "My Job Is to Be a Morn," "True or False Friend?," "Little Girl, You Are in Big Trouble," "Who Am I?," and "Energy Overload") in this issue of Choices? Find...

Thank you for using Choices in your classroom!(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... WELCOME TO THE JANUARY 2009 ISSUE OF CHOICES, a magazine that covers family and consumer science, health, and life skills. Our cover story is about teen pregnancy and parenthood. Last year, 17-year-old TV star Jamie Lynn Spears had a baby...

Understanding "Who Am I?".(CHOICES CHALLENGE/ACTIVITY)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... DIRECTIONS: How well did you understand the ideas and vocabulary in "Who Am I?," the article on pages 18 to 21 in this issue of Choices? Take this quiz to find out. Circle the correct answer to each question. Answers are on page T7. 1. The...

Understanding "Energy Overload".(CHOICES CHALLENGE/ACTIVITY)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... DIRECTIONS: How well did you understand the ideas and vocabulary in "Energy Overload," the article on pages 22 to 25 in this issue of Choices? Take this quiz to find out. Circle the correct answer to each question. Answers are on page T7. ...