Inside The Mind of Teens and Tweens

Competition and academic pressures are driving many teens to take drugs they believe can enhance their mental performance. Our guests bring parents up to speed on the array of problems with this trend and why smart drugs may be a dumb choice for teens. Follow:@bamradionetwork William David Graf, M.D., FAAP, FAAN is Professor, Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut. Patrick Larkin is the Assistant Superintendent for Learning for Burlington Public Schools in Massachusetts. Prior to this, Patrick served 15 years as a building level administrator at the high school level. Dr. Jann Gumbiner is a licensed psychologist specializing in child and adolescent psychology and writes a blog for Psychology Today.

Driven by Youtube videos, teens are abusing alcohol in new ways. Various techniques are being used to vaporize alcohol and inhale it. The methods make the alcohol more potent and more addictive. This is a growing trend that every parent needs to follow. Learn more... Follow:@UgoUche @principalspage @bamradionetwork Dr. Robert Glatter is an attending physician in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, NY. Ugo Uche, blogger and a Licensed Professional Counselor who specializes with adolescents and young adults in his practice. Michael Smith is Superintendent of Tuscola Community Unit School District #301 in Tuscola, Illinois. He has more than 17 years of education experience.

Gifted children have special needs. How can you tell if your child is gifted and what do you need to know to help them make best use of their gifts? Chris Taibbi, 15 years’ experience in public education, He is a gifted resource teacher for elementary and middle schools in Roanoke, Virginia and has co-authored two books for teachers, including Demystifying Differentiation in Middle School. Nancy Blair, School improvement consultant and former middle school teacher/middle school administrator. Anthony Cody worked in the high poverty schools in Oakland for 24 years. He writes the popular Education Week blog.

Reading, writing and arithmetic still matter, but there is a new set of skills that your teen will need to thrive in the future. But apparently, many parents aren't up to speed on these skills, why they are so important or how they are taught. Tune in to learn more... Lee Crockett is the Managing Partner of The 21st Century Fluency Project and is co-author of Literacy is not Enough. David Truss is currently a Vice Principal of Coquitlam Open Learning and the Inquiry Hub, in Coquitlam SD#43 (BC, Canada). Joyce Valenza is the teacher-librarian at Springfield Township High School in Erdenheim, PA and an education and technology writer.

It's quite normal for teens to become uncaring about certain things at stages in their development. However,under some conditions teen apathy can be symptomatic of a larger problem that needs your attention. Our guests help us to understand the various expressions of teen apathy and how parents can respond. Carl E. Pickhardt Ph.D.is author of SURVIVING YOUR CHILD'S ADOLESCENCE. Shannon McClintock Miller is the district teacher librarian at Van Meter Community School in Van Meter, Iowa. She blogs at Van Meter Library Voice and can be found on Twitter at @shannonmmiller. She also enjoys presenting, consulting, and making a difference in education.

Where mothers start with a natural connection to their children, fathers have to take more proactive steps to connect with their sons and daughters. The process can become more difficult during the teen years as adolescents begin to push away from parents in pursuit of their own identity. Our guest share insights and guidance for managing this difficult stage. Carl E. Pickhardt Ph.D.is a psychologist in private counseling and author of,THE CONNECTED FATHER. Ugo Uche is a Licensed Professional Counselor who specializes with adolescents and young adults in his practice. Raised in Nigeria during his youth, Ugo brings a cross cultural perspective to his work.Deven Black is a Media specialist/librarian, and the father of an 18-year-old.

What teacher or parent hasn't said it, "quit day dreaming." Turns out that teens need to daydream and allowing time for teens to reflect is actually beneficial. Learn how to do it right. Mary Helen Immordino-Yang, Ed.D., a neuroscientist and human development psychologist, is an Assistant Professor of Education at the Rossier School of Education, an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the Brain and Creativity Institute, and a member of the Neuroscience Graduate Program Faculty at the University of Southern California. Nancy Flanagan is a retired teacher, with 31 years as a K-12 Music specialist in the Hartland, Michigan schools. co-founder of the Network of Michigan Educators and her blog, Teacher in a Strange Land, is featured on Education Week's Teacher division. Shannon McClintock Miller is the district teacher librarian at Van Meter Community School in Van Meter, Iowa.Twitter @shannonmmiller.

Getting through adolescence is as hard for parents as it is for teens--maybe harder. First you have to deal with losing the wonderful loving child you once had. Then you have to do battle with this new stranger. Finally, you have to embrace a new independent young adult who may have little time for you. Loss, conflict and acceptance are all part of the process. Learn how to cope. Carl E. Pickhardt Ph.D., Weekly blog: "Surviving (your child's) Adolescence", for PSYCHOLOGY TODAY and author of several books, including SURVIVING YOUR CHILD'S ADOLESCENCE. Susan M. Heim is an author and longtime editor for the bestselling Chicken Soup for the Soul series and dispenses daily parenting advice and product reviews on her blog. Dr. Jann Gumbiner is a licensed psychologist specializing in child and adolescent psychology and writes a blog for Psychology Today titled The Teenage Mind.

Today many teens and parents believe that driving is a right automatically acquired as soon as the law allows. However, our guests suggest that the teen brain is fundamentally unprepared for driving and that parents need to be able to determine whether their teen is ready. In this segment the offer tips for safely putting your teen behind the wheel. Robert Foss, Ph.D. is Senior Research Scientist at HSRC, Adjunct Professor of Maternal and Child Health and Lecturer in Health Behavior and Health Education. His research focuses on factors contributing to the high crash rates of teenage drivers and the role of alcohol in transportation-related injury. Susan Heim Susan M. Heim is an author, editor and blogger, and longtime editor for the bestselling Chicken Soup for the Soul series.Jerry Blumengarten taught for 32 years at inner city NY school (one of the worst neighborhoods), grades 6-9.

Teen drama and extreme emotional highs and lows are all part of normal adolescent development. So how do we distinguish typical teen behavior from more serious mental disorders in the making? Our guest offer some guidance. life. >Dr. Michael Strober is the Resnick Endowed Chair of Eating Disorders, Professor of Psychiatry at the David Geffen UCLA School of Medicine, and Director of the Eating Disorders Program and Senior Consultant to the Pediatric Mood Disorders Program at the Stewart and Lynda Resnick Neurospychiatric Hospital. Nancy Blair, School improvement consultant (middle grades) and former middle school teacher/middle school administrator. Kathryn Stamoulis, PhD., is a counselor and educational psychologist. She specializes in adolescent development, specifically adolescent sexuality and internet behaviors. She teaches "Tweens & Teens" at Temple University and her blog The New Teen Age on PsychologyToday.com

Legal Hispanic teens face a variety of issues that come out of being bicultural and often bilingual. In this segment our guests discuss some of these issues and offer guidance to parents on helping Hispanic teens navigate this precarious stage of life. Sula Goldenberg is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology. She is chair of the California Latino Psychological Association (CLPA). Dr. Margarita Jimenez-Silva is an associate professor at the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University. Her research focuses on preparing teachers to work with English learners, especially as it relates to teacher education pedagogy and curriculum.

Legal supplements, like protein powders and vitamins, as well as illegal supplements, like steroids are readily available to teens. What are the signs that your teen is taking supplements? What are the dangers? What are the basics you need to know? Dr. Joel Brenner is an associate professor of pediatrics at the Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, VA. He is the medical director of the Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters sports medicine and adolescent medicine programs and the Director of the CHKD Sports Concussion program. Kathryn Stamoulis, Ph.D is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Educational Psychologist, living in New York City. She teaches psychology at Hunter College and counsels adolescents and young adults in her therapy practice. Blog is "The New Teen Age" @ Psychology Today.

Teen driving you crazy? Sometimes to better understanding your teen, you have to better understand yourself. Our guests make a provocative case that often the struggle with teens is the result of unspoken parent envy. You won't want to miss this eye-opening discussion. Carl E. Pickhardt Ph.D., Weekly blog: "Surviving (your child's) Adolescence", for PSYCHOLOGY TODAY and author of several books, including SURVIVING YOUR CHILD'S ADOLESCENCE.Annie Fox, M.Ed. is an educator and award-winning author. Annie's books include: The Teen Survival Guide to Dating and Relating; Too Stressed to Think? and the new Middle School Confidential book and app series.

What looks like rude teen behavior may simply be the process of teens moving through a normal stage of development characterized by impulsivity. So what is the appropriate response? I guests offer insight and guidance. Lisa Medoff, Ph.D., is a developmental psychologist who specializes in adolescent mental health. Anna Post is the great-great-granddaughter of Emily Post, and a co-author of the Emily Post's Etiquette, 18th edition. Nicholas Provenzano is a high school English teacher. Susan M. Heim is an author and editor for the bestselling Chicken Soup for the Soul series.

Many parents and teachers struggle with what they believe are unmotivated teens. In this segment our guests share insights into what can be done to find the spark that can motivate a teen to find their passion and path in life. Kathleen Cushman is an educator and co-author of Fires in the Mind: What Kids Can Tell Us About Motivation and Mastery. Jann Gumbiner is a licensed psychologist specializing in child and adolescent psychology. Jerry Blumengarten taught in the NYC public schools for 32 years.