Scholastic Choices articles from September 2008

Scholastic Choices archives from September 2008

Tom's teachers.(careers)(Tom Higgenson)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Believe it or not, teachers can be cool. Just ask Tom Higgenson of the Plain White T's. Choices did, and found out how teachers helped launch Tom's music career. CHOICES: Did you have a favorite teacher in...

Address your stress.(Bouncing Back: Dealing With the Stuff Life Throws At You )(Brief article)(Book review)
September 1, 2008... BOUNCING BACK: DEALING WITH THE STUFF LIFE THROWS AT YOU Franklin Watt, 2007 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Asking a teenager if he or she gets stressed out is like wondering if the sun comes up in the morning. Of course teens feel...

Chocolate power.(nutrition)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... After a hard workout, most athletes are advised to drink water or a sports drink like Gatorade to hydrate their bodies. But did you know that chocolate milk replenishes the body just as well as those drinks? It's true. Scientists at the...

Driving danger.(personal responsibility)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... Many people assume that the most dangerous time for teens to drive is on Friday and Saturday nights when they are free to party with their friends. And those people would be correct. But did you know that the second-highest time for teens to...

Food for all.(web site)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The last time you were hungry, what did you do? Raid your refrigerator? Grab a snack from a cupboard? Visit the food court at the mall? If getting food into your stomach doesn't seem like a big deal, consider...

Knee news for girls.(health)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is a major component of the human knee. The ACL connects the top bone in your leg (femur) with the larger of the two bottom bones (tibia). If the ACL breaks or tears, it's a...

Exposed to the max: if you post photos and videos of yourself online, or even just send IMS and e-mails, beware: it's easy for anyone to view the images and read your messages.(personal responsibility)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] LAST YEAR, DAVE *, A 13-YEAR-OLD FROM DENVER, COLORADO, MADE A DIGITAL VIDEO FOR A GIRL HE LIKED. In the two-minute recording, he read a poem he wrote and asked her out on a date--in rhyme. When the girl received it,...

My mother, myself: old questions are answered and new ones arise for Bryanna Nelson, now almost the same age as the teen mother who gave her up for adoption.(family)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * Choices changed the name of Bryanna's birth mother to protect her privacy. "You guys look so much alike!" That's a comment that 16-year-old Bryanna Nelson and her mother, Margaret, often hear when they're out...

Stress over your dress: how important is your wardrobe to you? If you find yourself worried sick over your clothes, here's how to ease the pressure.(health)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Does it take you at least an hour to pick an outfit for the average school day? Are you stressed out about wearing the latest fashions? Does your closet rule your life? If you answered yes to these questions, you...

Alcohol & you: if you feel pressure to indulge in alcohol, you should know how drinking endangers your health.(substance abuse)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Did you know that alcohol is the most widely used substance by teenagers in the United States today? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, young people between the ages of 12 and 20 drink...

An addict's life.(substance abuse)(alcoholism)
September 1, 2008... NATALIE * CONSUMED HER FIRST ALCOHOLIC DRINK WHEN SHE WAS 14. She was hanging around her house after a family get-together when she noticed some leftover beer. "I said to my friend, 'Let's try one,'" Natalie tells Choices. "I wanted to see what...

Smart start: do you eat breakfast? If you skip this meal, you're overlooking one of the easiest ways to help your body thrive.(nutrition)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Breakfast is the most important meal of the day for everyone, including teenagers. Teens who eat breakfast have more energy, do better in school, and are less likely to be overweight than their peers who skip the...

Breakfast burrito: start your day off by filling up on a healthy burrito that tastes great.(recipe 101)(Recipe)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... ingredients 4 large flour or whole-wheat tortillas 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 garlic clove 1 small onion 1 green or red bell pepper 3/4 cup cherry tomatoes 1 cup canned black or pinto beans,...

Tooth truth: these five tips will help keep your teeth shiny and strong--and will ward off painful cavities.(your body & mind)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Brush your teeth. Your parents have probably told you thousands of times to brush your teeth at least twice a day--in the morning and before going to bed. But did you know that each time you brush, you need to do so...

Check it out: if you're working part-time or have gift money, the smart place to put your cash is in a checking account at a bank.(your money)
September 1, 2008... What is a checking account? A checking account is the most basic form of banking. In a sense, a checking account is just like your old piggy bank--it holds the money you deposit and allows you to take money from the account. Unlike...

Ace reporter: meet a teen who's getting a head start on a journalism career by reporting the news now.(your future)(Valirie Morgan)(Interview)
September 1, 2008... This is the first in a series of articles on teenagers I who are getting a head start on possible careers I by working in cool jobs now. In this issue, Choices interviewed Valirie Morgan, 14, of Dallas, Texas. Valirie is a student reporter for...

Hear me! Having trouble getting adults to listen to you? Here's how to get them to pay attention.(your life)
September 1, 2008... * Say hello Believe it or not, adults are actual human beings, which means they have feelings and appreciate being acknowledged. "It helps to greet and be friendly to the adults you see regularly," says D'Arcy Lyness, a psychologist and...

True friend? Advice from Choices readers.(sticky situation)(student cheating)
September 1, 2008... the problem I LIKE TO HANG OUT WITH MY FRIEND, BUT HE ALWAYS ASKS TO SEE MY HOMEWORK THAT I'VE COMPLETED. I DON'T LIKE TO GIVE IT TO HIM, BUT I WANT TO BE HIS FRIEND. WHAT SHOULD I DO? --UNDER PRESSURE DEAR UNDER PRESSURE, Ask...

The hunt is on.(word search puzzle)(Brief article)
September 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] DIRECTIONS: How closely did you read the six feature articles ("Exposed to the Max," "My Mother, Myself," "Stress About Your Dress," "Alcohol & You," "An Addict's Life," and "Smart Start") in this issue of Choices?...

Thank you for using Choices in your classroom!
September 1, 2008... WELCOME TO THE SEPTEMBER 2008 ISSUE OF CHOICES, a magazine that covers family, consumer science, health, and life skills. This is our first issue of the 2008-09 school year. Our cover story is about the dangers that come with putting...