Our Personal Development seminar for upper school students (Grade 5-8) is an age-appropriate course designed to indentify the broad spectrum of physical, social and emotional issues that arise during each stage of adolescent development and to increase student understanding of themselves and others in order to make healthy life choices. Topics may include family, self-esteem, gender roles, friendship, decision-making, being assertive (saying and accepting "no"), internet safety, sexual exploitation and abuse, puberty, reproduction, making healthy decisions, smoking and substance abuse. This site includes some links and videos that "may" be used in the Peronsal Development seminar.
There's no dishonor in having a disability
When faced with a bump in the road, sometimes we forget we have a choice: overcome the obstacle or let it overcome you. Steven Claunch, who was born without fingers on his right hand and with one leg shorter than the other and has excelled in basketball nonetheless, explains why obstacles can provide an opportunity to both inspire others and develop character.
What's Your Relationship Reality?
Teens face a ton of issues every day, and dating and relationships are two of the biggest ones. In fact, by the age of 18, more than 80% of teens have been in a romantic relationship. There's a lot that goes into having a relationship, keeping a relationship, and if necessary, ending a relationship, so we gathered a group of teens and asked them what they think about relationships, love, and sex. Hear what they have to say about Facebook and texting, breaking up, why some teens get into unhealthy relationships, and more.
Parents Just Don't UnderstandMusic video by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince performing Parents Just Don't Understand. (C) 1988 Zomba Recording LLC
HowCast: How to Get Along with Your ParentsImprove your relationship with your mom and dad so you'll all get on better. Watch more How to Improve Family Relationships videos: http://www.howcast.com/guides/365-How-to-Improve-Family-Relationships
The psychology of what makes teens thankful
By Rayana Godfrey
Teenagers often feel misunderstood. It’s a hard time of life – somewhere between childhood and adulthood, not quite one or the other – with a future that is at once uncertain, exciting, and overwhelming. It’s no wonder that they can seem ungrateful for what’s going on in the present – and that’s something researchers have found repeatedly. Youth Radio’s Rayana Godfrey decided to take that presumption on in this report on the science of. Click here to access the GQ-6 Gratitude QuestionnaireAlexander Tsiaras: Conception to birth -- visualized
Alexander Tsiaras is an artist and technologist whose work explores the unseen human body, developing scientific visualization software to enable him to "paint" the human anatomy using volume data. He's the author of Body Voyage and co-author of Information Architects. Most recently, he is the author of From Conception to Birth: A Life Unfolds and The Architecture and Design of Man and Woman: The Marvel of the Human Body, Revealed. His latest project is The Visual MD, an online compendium of health visualizations.
What I've Learned from My Autistic BrothersFaith Jegede tells the moving and funny story of growing up with her two brothers, both autistic -- and both extraordinary. In this talk from the TED Talent
Search, she reminds us to pursue a life beyond what is normal. |
How to make stress your friend
Stress. It makes your heart pound, your breathing quicken and your forehead sweat. But while stress has been made into a public health enemy, new research suggests that stress may only be bad for you if you believe that to be the case. Psychologist Kelly McGonigal urges us to see stress as a positive, and introduces us to an unsung mechanism for stress reduction: reaching out to others.
Big Changes Big ChoicesHighlights from a video series for middle school kids.
Bully Speech from "Happy"A scene from the documentary "Happy" I couldn't find it on youtube so i decided to upload it as it gives a positive message. All rights belong to the producers of
the film. NOTE: The examples are a little dated, but the message is excellent What Makes You Tick - Marc ElliotMarc Elliot had Tourette's syndrome. In his presentation at TEDxYouth@Hewitt, "What Makes You Tic?," he took his experiences of not fitting in, of not feeling comfortable with others, to discuss fundamental lessons about tolerance—how to live with our own, and others' differences. Little did he know this would become his calling.
NOTE: This presentation contains some offensive language. TEDxYouth - Why we procrastinateVik Nithy is the founder of 3 companies at the age of 20 including how own marketing consulting firm. His left after school Vik has been extremely successful despite being diagnosed with ADHD after finishing his school exams. Developing his passion for cognitive neuroscience, educational reform and the potential of young people.
TEDxTeen - The InnerKid PhilosophyKristen Powers has always refused to believe that a person needs a car, money, legality, or a job to make a difference in this world.
Amy Cuddy: Your body language shapes who you are
Body language affects how others see us, but it may also change how we see ourselves. Social psychologist Amy Cuddy shows how "power posing" -- standing in a posture of confidence, even when we don't feel confident -- can affect testosterone and cortisol levels in the brain, and might even have an impact on our chances for success.
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