As teens your children are being asked to make some very important decisions!

Teenage Years Bridge childhood and adulthood Time for self-assessment, career planning, and personal development Filled with high expectations and great responsibility

Today’s Program is: Healthy, Happy, and Successful!

Goals for the Program To begin creating a partnership with you to ensure your child achieves success To explain Keys to Student Success To inform you of some tools and resources to help your child make good decisions To discuss creating a school “culture” that focuses on student success

Keys to Student Success Stay in school and graduate Improve academic performance Focus on reflection and personal development Create Success Teams and Success Plans Learn and practice the decision-making process

To Achieve Success in School Your Child Needs to “Go”, physically and mentally Get help as soon as they need it Be involved Finish what they start

Cultures of Student Success Embrace a strategic developmental “personalized” approach as core strategy Emphasize respect, responsibility, independence, and integrity Engage school staff, students, parents, employers, and community members as stakeholders

Cultures of Student Success Encompass all career activities, programs, and resources to achieve student success Embrace the entire student population focusing on academic and career success Students acquire and utilize effective decision-making skills Provide reflection opportunities to continuously assess changing interests

Cultures of Student Success Support the use of individual Student Success Planners Access school and community support systems to help students create “success teams” Reengage students who fall behind in credits, skills, and/or attitude toward learning

Helpful Tools for Your Child It’s Your Decision for Teens workbook i ncludes: Personal Development Checklist Success Team Inventory Middle School and High School Planners Over 100 Reflection Questions Decision-making Charts

Success Planner Topics Personality traits Obstacles to success Values and goals Communication and interpersonal skills Interests and hobbies Job skills Accomplishments Important documents Aptitudes and learning styles Plans after graduation Career exploration Career assessment results Developmental tasks Work experience Standardized tests

Success Team Inventory Topics Determining educational and vocational goals Academic issues Extracurricular activities Overcoming potential obstacles Health and wellness Personal circumstances

Healthy, Happy, and Successful Isn’t this what we want for our children? If so, we need to work together to improve your child’s chances of success? Critical that we help them make good decisions in the important areas of life Bad decisions end up with bad results, and bad results are what we want to avoid for your child

Healthy Physical, emotional, and psychological wellness Smoking, drinking alcohol, abuse of prescription and illegal drugs, obesity, eating poorly, and no physical exercise Bad choices will significantly influence how your child feels about self and life Take time to evaluate health and wellness

Happiness is based on level of satisfaction with outcomes of decisions made along the way on your child’s (the decision-maker) most important needs and wants results of “big-ticket” decisions

Success Results When A person is satisfied and feels proud about the outcome of their decisions Your child feels confident and satisfied with the outcomes of their decisions

What Your Child Needs to Do First, need to learn and practice how to make and implement good decisions Need to accept responsibility for making their own decisions Have to start process early to gather information about self and opportunities Be aware that making good decisions increases the probability of being satisfied

What You Need to Do Help your child make decisions the right way, carefully and thoughtfully Encourage child to stay on track Discuss personal development tasks they have done and still need to do Discuss reflection questions and be aware of child’s changing interests Assist in putting choices in to action

Big-Ticket Decisions Ones that shape a person’s future Education Field of Study Career Environments Relationships Leisure Activities Health & Wellness

As a teen now is the time your child should start to think about... initial life decisions educational and career choices

When it comes to decisions, there are three kinds of students. Clueless Pretending Pretty Sure

Unfortunately, there is an assumption that teens will simply know how to make decisions when asked to do so.

In reality... making a good decision is a process and one that takes time and effort!

Start TODAY... by helping your child learn how to use an effective decision-making process.

Decision-Making Process Define the Decision

Decision-Making Process Define the Decision Evaluate Needs and Wants Evaluate Important Needs and Wants

Important Criteria (Needs & Wants) Alternatives Choice A Choice B Choice C Choice D

Decision-Making Process Compile a List of Realistic Alternatives Define the Decision Evaluate Needs and Wants Compile Alternatives

What if your child is choosing a major or a career path?

Have them start by getting off on the right exit.

Get off the right exit!

Decision-Making Process Investigate Alternatives Define the Decision Compile Alternatives Evaluate Needs and Wants Investigate Alternatives

Find the right street!

Decision-Making Process Determine Best Alternative Define the Decision Compile Alternatives Evaluate Needs and Wants Investigate Alternatives Determine Best Alternative

Curriculum Location/Environment Quality of Academics Cost ($5,000 to $15,000) Financial Aid (Scholarships) Size (7,500 – 12,000) Class Size Co-op/Internships Facilities Recreation/Clubs Decision Making: College Important Criteria (Needs & Wants) Alternatives Choice A Choice B Choice C Choice D

Curriculum Location/Environment Quality of Academics Cost ($5,000 to $15,000) Financial Aid (Scholarships) Size (7,500 – 12,000) Class Size Co-op/Internships Facilities Recreation/Clubs XX. XXX. X X. XXX. XX XXX.XXX. X. X.X. X.. XXX. XXX XXXXXXXX X. X.X. X. X.. XX.. X XX. XXX. X X. X.X. X. 90%50%70%60% Decision Making: College Important Criteria (Needs & Wants) Alternatives Choice A Choice B Choice C Choice D

Salary/Benefits Environment People Activities Challenges/Problems Location Psychological Rewards Security Growth Potential Autonomy Decision Making: Job Important Criteria (Needs & Wants) Alternatives Choice A Choice B Choice C Choice D

X. XX. X X. XXX. XX XXX.XXX. X. XXX. XX. XXX. XXX XXXXXX X. X.X. X. X. XXX. XX XX XXX X. XX. XX 60%50%90%70% Salary/Benefits Environment People Activities Challenges/Problems Location Psychological Rewards Security Growth Potential Autonomy Decision Making: Job Important Criteria (Needs & Wants) Alternatives Choice A Choice B Choice C Choice D

Decision-Making Process Define the Decision Compile Alternatives Evaluate Needs and Wants Investigate Alternatives Determine Best Alternative Establish Plan Establish and Implement Your Plan

Decision-Making Process Define the Decision Compile Alternatives Evaluate Needs and Wants Investigate Alternatives Determine Best Alternative D E C I D E Establish Plan

Good or Bad Outcomes? The results of your child’s decisions will determine whether he or she will be satisfied or dissatisfied with their life! Right or Wrong Choices? Success or Failure?

Remember Good outcomes will result when your child utilizes good decision- making skills.

Make an effort. Invest the time. Use the process. See positive results. Encourage Your Child To ….

You’ll Be Glad They Did! Thank you for attending!