Scholastic Choices articles from September 2004

Scholastic Choices archives from September 2004

Cheating & teens.(Personal Responsibility)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Here's the good news: Most of you don't cheat in school. Here's the bad news: Almost half of you do. That's the message from a Gallup Youth Survey that polled almost 2,000 teens in the United States between the ages of 13 and 17 from...

Hair scare.(Family)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... The next time you have a bad hair day, try blaming your parents. Researchers at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute believe that unruly hair may be caused by the absence of a gene in the body. Genes are...

Fast but fatty.(Nutrition)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... Attention all fast-food loving teens: Rent the documentary Super Size Me. In it, filmmaker Morgan Spurlock eats nothing but McDonald's fast food for 30 straight days. Envious? You won't be after watching Spurlock gain 24 1/2 pounds from...

Helmet head!(Health)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... When you ride a bicycle, chances are you don't wear a helmet. Fewer than half of kids in the U.S. wear helmets while riding a bike, scooter, or skateboard says a recent survey by Safe Kids, a nonprofit group. Those kids aren't being...

Camille speaks.(Personal Development)(acting can ease shyness)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... If you're a fan of The Bernie Mac Show, then you know who Camille Winbush is. She plays Vanessa, the oldest daughter. Did you know that acting helped Camille, 14, overcome shyness? "In my acting class, we had to do a scene where we were...

Multiracial and proud! Multiracial teens are claiming their own identities and changing our notion of race.(family)
September 1, 2004... All her life, Nicole Ayala has heard "the question." It started in elementary school when friends noticed her Japanese-American mom and her Mexican-American dad dropping her off in the parking lot. She heard it in junior high as kids wondered...

Young, gifted and drunk: meet two girls whose lives were derailed by alcohol.(substance abuse)
September 1, 2004... Emily Vineyard and Ebony Liverman don't know each other. Both 18, the two girls grew up in different places--Emily in the town of Southbridge, Massachusetts, and Ebony in New York City. But there's one thing the two do share. Both girls have...

Maximum pressure: teens face stress every day. Here's how to calm down your life.(health)
September 1, 2004... SPENCER PATTERSON IS STRESSED OUT. He crawls out of bed at 6 a.m., travels an hour and a half to school, and makes his way through a day of demanding classes. His day is so full that he doesn't have time to eat lunch. After school, he attends...

Stopping violence: determined to make her community safer, this teen reaches out to kids at a shelter.(personal responsibility)(Mary Catherine Tee)
September 1, 2004... mary Catherine Tee recalls the day she started an antiviolence program at Wesley Shelter, a battered-women's center in Wilson, North Carolina. As she began to speak, the audience of 20 teenagers started snickering. Amid the general laughter and...

Water works: take our quiz to find out how much you know about keeping your body hydrated.(nutrition)
September 1, 2004... Water is hugely important to the human body. It regulates the transportation of nutrients, the removal of waste, and maintains the body's temperature. Water accounts for up to 80 percent of our body weight at birth. Seventy percent of an...

Super sandwich: meet teen chef Matt Zimmerman and make his breakfast sandwich that cooks in minutes.(recipe 101)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... 1 English muffin 1 egg 1 slice of low-fat cheese 1 breakfast patty (Try choosing one made of turkey or soy protein.) 1 teaspoon of margarine (optional) salt and pepper to taste what to do: 1 Split the English...

Sleep struggle: Dr. Marjorie Seidenfeld answers your health questions.(your body & mind)
September 1, 2004... I have such a terrible time falling asleep every night that I'm always tired and it's affecting my schoolwork. What should I do? --Mindy in Nevada One in every five teens has a sleep problem, so you're not alone. Getting the proper...

Tipping tips: you may be old enough to pay for meals, but have you mastered the art of tipping? Here's what you need to know.(your life)
September 1, 2004... WHAT IS A TIP? A tip is a small amount of money given as a sign of appreciation for a service that's been provided. A tip is also called a gratuity. HOW MUCH SHOULD A TIP BE? The standard is 15 percent of the cost of the service. For...

Rock on! Read how one musician went from playing a dusty guitar to signing a major record deal.(your future)
September 1, 2004... JESSE JOHNSON ROCKS out as a lead guitarist for the band Inouk. The band's first CD will be released this fall. It all began for Jesse back in the seventh grade when he found a dusty electric guitar in his band classroom. The band teacher...

First impressions: here's how to start off the new school year on the right foot.(10 tips)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2004... 1 Smile Think about it: When someone's looking angry, do you want to approach him or her? A smile is sign that you're happy, which helps put people at ease. 2 Listen You need to talk about yourself so that people get to know you....

Heart to heart: what do you think about love, romance, and relationships? Fill out this survey and mail it to us.(survey)
September 1, 2004... 1 How old are you? -- 2 Are you a boy or girl? -- 3 How important is having a boyfriend or girlfriend? a. I can't live without one. b. I prefer to have one. c. I prefer not to get involved. 4 Would you do...

Finding friends: advice from choices reader.(sticky situation)
September 1, 2004... the problem I am new at school and don't know anyone besides my brother: What can I do to get people to open up to me? How can I not seem like I'm trying too hard? --LOOKING FOR FRIENDS Dear Looking For Friends, When I...