Teaching Decision Making To Behaviour Problem Adolescents

This book describes a variety of programs -- firmly based in psychological theory and modern decision analysis -- that are suitable for teaching adolescents how to improve both their own decision making skills and their understanding of the decision making of others. Providing practical advice as well as theoretical analysis, this volume addresses general questions such as the nature and rationale of the enterprise, its implementation, and its evaluation. Relevant to several current adolescent problems including drug abuse, this is an excellent source, either as research, new curriculum, or enrichment of old curriculum.

Abstract: This report, prepared for the Carnegie Council on Adolescent Development, examines programs developed to teach decision making to adolescents. The authors begin with an introduction to the decision making process and principles behind training for decision making. Included are normative and descriptive principles. Next, the authors review specific programs based on curriculum manipulations, behavioral measures, and methodological issues. Curricula on decision making, general thinking skills, life skills, and social skills are evaluated.

Interest in the role that decision making plays in adolescents' involvement in high-risk behaviors led the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Planning and Evaluation of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to request the Board on Children, Youth, and Families to convene a workshop on adolescent decision making. The Board on Children, Youth, and Families is a joint activity of the National Research Council (NRC) and the Institute of Medicine. A workshop was held on January 6-7, 1998, to examine what is known about adolescents' decision-making skills and the implications of that knowledge for programs to further their healthy development.

This book describes a variety of programs -- firmly based in psychological theory and modern decision analysis -- that are suitable for teaching adolescents how to improve both their own decision making skills and their understanding of the decision making of others. Providing practical advice as well as theoretical analysis, this volume addresses general questions such as the nature and rationale of the enterprise, its implementation, and its evaluation. Relevant to several current adolescent problems including drug abuse, this is an excellent source, either as research, new curriculum, or enrichment of old curriculum.

Includes CD-Rom ′Nothing is so exhausting as indecision, and nothing is so futile..teachers, parents and carers worry that the decisions that children and young people make might be unwise or dangerous′ - Bertrand Russell ′You′d be hard pushed to find a better decision-making programme than this excellent set of books... This series will undoubtedly kick-start conversation, prod thinking and stimulate classroom debate′ - Times Educational Supplement Magazine Decision making is a skill involving both a cognitive and an affective process. The ability to: - recognize the thoughts and feelings; - consider the consequences; - choose the best outcome; is a highly valued facility leading to resilience, achievement and responsibility. The skill can be taught and in these three volumes the authors provide all the materials needed to teach a course on decision making at each age level. The programme provides a menu of stories related to the real life experiences of the young people. Topics are selected to be age appropriate and the series includes: - Stealing; - Lying; - Social behaviours; - Risks; - Justice; - Loss, Grief and Bereavement; - Prejudice; - First love; - Disability; - Leaving home; - Family relationships. The teacher notes indicate ′stopping points′ where reflection and discussion is encouraged. A choice of endings is offered or the young people can develop their own ideas about what might happen next. The course can be introduced at any age or used to develop the skills through school life from early years to the teens. Other books in the series include Margaret Collins′s First Choices and Phil Carradice′s Good Choices.

Proven by two years of in-depth field testing in schools and institutions, Making Choices builds effective parenting techniques by emphasizing technical skills, defining child development stages, and identifying problems of abuse and neglect. It encourages meaningful dialogue about cultural, family, and personal values, and reverses gender stereotyping.

Stop, Think, Act: Integrating Self-regulation in the Early Childhood Classroom offers early childhood teachers the latest research and a wide variety of hands-on activities to help children learn and practice self-regulation techniques. Self-regulation in early childhood leads to strong academic performance, helps students form healthy friendships, and gives them the social and emotional resources they need to face high-stress situations throughout life. The book takes you through everything you need to know about using self-regulation principles during circle time, in literacy and math instruction, and during gross motor and outdoor play. Each chapter includes a solid research base as well as practical, developmentally-appropriate games, songs, and strategies that you can easily incorporate in your own classroom. With Stop, Think, Act, you’ll be prepared to integrate self-regulation into every aspect of the school day.

Alcohol use by young people is extremely dangerous - both to themselves and society at large. Underage alcohol use is associated with traffic fatalities, violence, unsafe sex, suicide, educational failure, and other problem behaviors that diminish the prospects of future success, as well as health risks â€" and the earlier teens start drinking, the greater the danger. Despite these serious concerns, the media continues to make drinking look attractive to youth, and it remains possible and even easy for teenagers to get access to alcohol. Why is this dangerous behavior so pervasive? What can be done to prevent it? What will work and who is responsible for making sure it happens? Reducing Underage Drinking addresses these questions and proposes a new way to combat underage alcohol use. It explores the ways in which may different individuals and groups contribute to the problem and how they can be enlisted to prevent it. Reducing Underage Drinking will serve as both a game plan and a call to arms for anyone with an investment in youth health and safety.