Part of the How to Help series of books exploring issues commonly faced by children and young people at home and at school, Teenage School Difficulties offers a complete introduction to the pitfalls of navigating secondary education while at the same time facing the ordeals of adolescence. When young people are coping with issues at school, whether it be an obvious challenge such as increased workload or a more personal one such as family illness, the playing field becomes less even for them and they can easily lose out with long-term consequences. Furthermore, every individual is different and requires personalised support. Using case studies to share practical advice based on years of first-hand experience managing these issues in real schools, Joyce Nisbet and Jennie Guise explore why it is crucial for everyone involved to pull in the same direction - and how parents, carers, teachers and schools can help.
Series Preface; About the Authors;
Authors' Preface; How to Use This Book
Part 1: Introduction
1. What are teenage school difficulties?
2. Guidance and Alternative
Education;
3. Principles, policies and practices;
4. Provisions and
collaborations; Ten key things to know about teenage school difficulties
Part 2: Primary school and transition issues
5. Primary school;
6. Teenage transitions;
7. Transitioning to High School;
8. Organisation
Part 3: High School and education issues
9. Increased workload;
10. Course choice;
11. Disengagement;
12. Absenteeism;
13. School refusal; 14, Post-school options
Part 4: Personal and health issues
15. Illness and disability;
16. Mental health;
17. Self-esteem;
18. Sexual
health;
19. Eating disorders;
20. Self-harm;
21. Dependency
Part 5: Interpersonal issues
22. Friendships;
23. Bullying;
24. Cyberbullying;
25. Peer pressure;
26. The
'quiet victim';
27. Separation and divorce;
28. Financial problems;
29.
Bereavement and loss;
30. Young carers
Part 6: Conclusion
31. Summary;
32. A last word to parents and carers;
33. A last word to
teachers and schools
Appendices
JOYCE NISBET has extensive experience of teaching across the secondary education age range. She taught History and English in a school with 1,100 pupils, then worked as Assistant Principal Teacher of Guidance (Pastoral Care) in a school with 1,700 pupils. She initiated, developed and for more than twenty years led an innovative and highly successful model of alternative education to cater for the varying needs that can arise in a school with 1,300 pupils aged 12-18.
JENNIE GUISE is a psychologist and author. She has worked in research, and now in applied practice as the founder and Director of Dysguise Ltd. Her main interests are in identifying what will help individual learners to progress, and in helping to break down, or work around, the many and various barriers that can affect study and learning. She works collaboratively with educators to apply that knowledge in practical ways.
