Anecdotal reports of the protective qualities of mentoring relationships for youth are corroborated by a growing body of research. What is missing, however, is research on the processes by which mentors influence developmental outcomes. In this article, we present a conceptual model of the mentoring process along with a delineation of some of the…

Middle school students were determined to be unaware of and unprepared for the requirements of the real world of work. They were unable to identify careers they were interested in pursuing nor did they understand the importance training plays in being successful in future careers. This practicum report discusses solutions for middle school…

The Carnegie Corporation's Council on Adolescent Development builds on the work of many organizations and individuals to stimulate sustained public attention to the risks and opportunities of adolescence, and generates public and private support for measures that facilitate the critical transition to adulthood. This document explores some of the…

The Carnegie Corporation's Council on Adolescent Development builds on the work of many organizations and individuals to stimulate sustained public attention to the risks and opportunities of adolescence, and generates public and private support for measures that facilitate the critical transition to adulthood. The Council's concluding report…

Because public health problems affect schools and communities so pervasively, schools inevitably must alter their mission to act as important service delivery sites for public health services, as well as for some community primary health services. Learning comes easier to healthy children, and health problems interfere with learning.…

This study explored middle school teachers' perspectives on and expectations of adolescence and puberty, using observations and interviews of 15 teachers in two Japanese middle schools and two United States (U.S.) middle schools, as well as a survey of teachers in selected schools in both nations. Teachers in the U.S. described puberty as being…

Parents' relationship with a child will change when the child becomes an adolescent, but the relationship does not necessarily have to change for the worse. On the premise that knowing what to expect of this change is half the task of successfully parenting an adolescent, this book describes the "normal" developmental changes young people undergo…

The BRIDGES Project was initiated to explore ways for North Dakota to provide young people with stronger bridges from childhood to adulthood. This report summarizes recommendations of the 1990-91 Governor's Task Force on Early Adolescence. The recommendations concern practical actions for the building of bridges by the following groups: (1)…

This interim guide, a component of the Northwest Territories (Canada) School Health Program, contains instructional strategies, lesson plans, reproducibles, and teacher background materials for eighth grade classes. The material is organized around the three curriculum units: mental and emotional well-being, growth and development, and family…

As more and more middle school students come to the classroom with no real, stable connections outside the school setting, it is increasingly important for educators to reach out to them in a variety of ways. This paper addresses that need by offering educators suggestions in the following five areas: (1) comprehending the unique characteristics…

A family-oriented sex education course was developed for parents to take together with their children. The program, which is designed for young people between the ages of 9 and 17, is offered in separate sections for the following groups: mothers and their 9- to 12-year-old daughters, mothers and their 13- to 17-year-old daughters, fathers and…

This curriculum guide states health education program standards for schools in the Philadelphia School District. The major goal of the program, designed for students from grades 5-12, is to help students develop attitudes and practices that contribute to the maintenance of personal health. The "key competencies" listed in this guide should be used…

Data is presented which demonstrates that poor and/or nonwhite pregnant adolescents are high risk individuals from medical, educational and social points of view. Specific problems in all three areas are described and the results of a program, initiated to offer meaningful solutions, are discussed. The Young Mothers Educational Development (YMED)…

With high school reform now a front-burner issue, districts and communities cannot afford to have high school after-school on the back burner. In this commentary, we focus on how and why the high school reform and after-school movements need to be woven together to produce a solid system of learning opportunities and developmental supports…

This encyclopedia is a comprehensive reference work addressed to those interested in human development from birth through adolescence, including students of child development, teachers, health care providers, child psychologists, family counselors, education professionals, academics, and parents. Signed entries in the encyclopedia were prepared by…