Scholastic Choices articles from October 2004

Scholastic Choices archives from October 2004

Mom + dad = best pals.(Family)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... NEXT TIME YOU'RE AT A CONCERT, YOU MAY SEE your friends there with their parents. An annual survey conducted by the State of Our Nation's Youth shows that children's admiration for their parents is increasing. When students ages 13 to 19...

Back off.(Health)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... AN OVERLOADED BACKPACK CAN CAUSE BACK AND NECK PROBLEMS. HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN DO TO REDUCE THE STRAIN ON YOUR BODY. * Make sure that the weight of your backpack is no more than 5 to 10 percent of your body weight * Use a backpack with a...

Kid voting power.(Personal Responsibility)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... GIDEON YAGO, 25, IS AN MTV NEWS correspondent. He's currently working on MTV's Choose or Lose campaign. Choose or Lose's goal this year is to get 20 million voters between the ages of 18 and 30 to the polls on Election Day. We want to do away...

Download this.(Consumer)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... HAS YOUR COMPUTER BEEN FREEZING LATELY? Viruses may be to blame. In Always Use Protection: A Teen's Guide to Safe Computing (Apress, 2004), author Dan Appleman gives tips on how to keep your computer safe and secure. These days, the...

Buyer beware: although many sports supplements are legal, they're dangerous. Avoid them at all costs.(substance abuse)(Cover Story)
October 1, 2004... Chris Stokes couldn't resist the temptation. He and some of teammates on his high school soccer team were looking for an edge on the playing field. They wanted to be stronger, run faster, and kick the ball harder. So they started taking...

Tale of a dropout: this teen thought high school was a dead end. But once she dropped out, she found there was no place else to go.(personal responsibility)
October 1, 2004... Test Yourself Do you know the facts about dropping out? Take this quiz and find out. Answers are in the Teacher' Edition. 1 It's legal to drop out of high school when you're 16. True False 2 The main reason teens drop out...

The very sightful life of Dionne Quann: she's blind, but Dionne says it's the people who doubt her abilities who can't see.(health)
October 1, 2004... EVER WISHED YOU LIVED SOMEONE ELSE'S LIFE? Talked like them, hung out with their friends, and lived in their house. Sounds like a lot of fun, but ultimately impossible, right? Not if you're Dionne Quan. Dionne, 25, is a voice-over...

My brother is autistic: having an autistic sibling is tough, but these teens love their brothers just as they are.(family)
October 1, 2004... The task was simple. After the airplane landed in Phoenix, Arizona, the passengers had to get off the plane. Then, after a short wait, they were to board a different plane to continue their trip to Seattle, Washington. But Venat Rajagopal threw...

The good, the bad & the ugly carbs: loading up on carbohydrates is harmful to your body. Here's how to protect your health.(nutrition)
October 1, 2004... Step 1: Know Your Carbs Carbohydrates are basically sugar and starch. There are two kinds: simple and complex. Glucose, a simple carb, is in your blood. Foods containing simple carbohydrates taste sweet: cookies, candy, cake, honey, fruit,...

Pumpkin power: pumpkins aren't just for carving. This thick and creamy pumpkin soup will warm up a chilly autumn day!(recipe 101)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... Ingredients 1 TABLESPOON OF BUTTER OR MARGARINE 1 SMALL ONION, CHOPPED FINE 2 TABLESPOONS OF FLOUR 1/4 TEASPOON OF NUTMEG 2 CLOVES OF CRUSHED GARLIC 1 CUP OF LOW-FAT MILK 1 15-OUNCE CAN OF...

Superb smile: Dr. Marjorie Seidenfeld answers your health questions.(your body & mind)
October 1, 2004... My gums sometimes get painful and swollen in some areas. Is this common? How can I stop this from happening? --Jonathan in Washington, D.C What you're experiencing is called gingivitis, or inflamed gums. It is very common. Bacteria,...

Closet cleaning: is your closet a disaster? A few simple steps will clean up the problem.(your life)
October 1, 2004... IS YOUR CLOSET A MESS? CHOICES TALKED TO JESSI MORGENSTERN-COLON, 19, CO-AUTHOR OF ORGANIZING FROM THE INSIDE OUT FOR TEENAGERS (OWL BOOKS, 2002) ABOUT HOW TO ORGANIZE CLOSET SPACE. "BEING ORGANIZED FREES YOUR FROM LOOKING FOR LOST ITEMS AND...

Minority rule: read how a first-generation American, born of Mexican parents, became a U.S. congresswoman.(your future)
October 1, 2004... U.S. CONGRESSWOMAN Linda Sanchez, 35, represents southern California as one of the youngest women ever elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. "I chose a political career because I wanted to open up opportunities for all Americans,...

Keeping a journal: writing in a diary can help sort out problems and express feelings.(10 tips)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2004... 1 Be Honest You're writing for yourself. Whatever goes into your journal is for your eyes only. Don't be afraid to express private thoughts or secrets. 2 Think Don't just write about what happened to you during the day; write...

Big mouth: advice from Choices readers.(sticky situation)
October 1, 2004... the problem I TALK WAY TOO MUCH. I'VE TRIED TO LIMIT WHAT I SAY, BUT RARELY REMEMBER TO. MY FRIENDS ARE TIRED OF MY TALKING A LOT. WHAT SHOULD I DO? --BLABBER MOUTH DEAR BLABBER MOUTH, Tell your friends that it's hard for you...