1.America's adolescent boys may look strong as they swagger down the street, but in reality they are the population at highest risk today for all kinds of serious problems. Rates of anxiety disorders and depression are soaring among them. For the first time, depression among males is nearly as prevalent as among females in this group. Then too, the boys, as well as their sisters, belong to the first generation of divorce. Instead of a stable and supportive family base to keep them from feeling overwhelmed at times of stress, many are the products of absentee parents and conflict.There is an immediate need to take action. If not, our sons face life-threatening consequences—drug and/or alcohol addiction, self-destructive behavior and accidents, suicide, and violence towards others. Such problems are already rampant.
2. Can technology turn kids onto reading? You bet. In 2008, teachers and students created a summer reading website, with the teens helping to select titles and write annotations. A survey was then conducted to determine the students’ reading interests and behaviors. Not only did 90 percent of the students like the website, but they were also 4.2 times more likely to read because it sparked their interest in books. A year later, two classroom teachers used the website to integrate social media with learning.
Here’s what the kids had to say about our program:
“I like to read …drama, realistic fiction… teen problems… romances… relationships… horror… mystery… urban fiction… action… sports… comic books… magazines… newspapers.”
“…because it’s fun if you have the right book that holds your interest.”
Teens who like to read feel it meets their intellectual needs
“…it helps me in my English class.”
“…it will help you read better…”
“…it betters my vocabulary and expands my mind.”
Teens who say they do not like to read feel this way because:
“…the majority of the time when I am reading it is not by choice...”
“…my teacher makes us read in class…”
“…I don’t like to read in school because the books don’t really interest me and we have to answer questions after we read.”
The school is still currently taking data to see if anything changes when the kids are given freedom of choice! I can't wait to see if the data will change!
HAPPY READING
