1. MTSA Presentation
Delores Green
March 07’

2. 42% of teens smoke cigarettes
Among young people,
those with poorer grades and lower self-images
are most likely to begin using tobacco.

3. Over eight hundred thousand teens become pregnant each year.
19% of women who are sexually active
between the ages of 15 and 19 become
pregnant each year.
Teen pregnancies are much higher in the United States
than any other developed country - double
that of Canada and at least four times France and Germany.

4. Daughters of teen
moms are 22%
more likely to
become teen moms.
Sons of teen moms are
13% more likely to go to
prison.
Children of teen moms are 50%
more likely to repeat a grade.
They perform worse on standardized tests
and are less likely to complete high
school.

5. In 2002, more than 877,700 young people
ages 10 to 24 were injured from violent acts.
Approximately 1 in 13 required
hospitalization
Daughters of teen moms are 22% more likely to become teen moms.
In a nationwide survey, 17% of students
reported carrying a weapon
on one or more days in the 30 days preceding
the survey

6. Among students
nationwide, 33% reported
being in a physical fight
one or more times in the
12 months preceding the
survey
Almost 30 percent of teens in the
United States (or over 5.7 million)
are estimated to be involved in
school bullying as either a bully, a
target of teen bullying, or both.

7. 67% of teens say they need someone else to motivate them
According to a 2002
local high school
survey :
of 815 students that
participated,
70 percent said they
were "stressed out".
50% of teens say they cheat on tests

8. America has the highest rate of
sexually transmitted disease in the
developed world with 3 MILLION
teens infected each year
By the age of 21, almost one in five
Americans requires treatment for an STD

9. Did you know that approximately
14 teens die at their own hands daily,
adding up to 5,000 reported teen
suicides annually?
For every older teen and
young adult who takes his
or her own life,
100-200 of their peers
attempts suicide.
Between 500,000 and
1 million young people
attempt suicide each year.

10. Children and adolescents increasingly
believe
that regular alcohol and drug use is
not dangerous
•7.2 million adolescents drank at least
once in the past year
•1 million youths drank at least once a
week or more in the past year

11. Eighty percent of 10-year-old
American girls diet.
The number one magic wish
for young girls age 11-17 is
to be thinner.
15 % of young women have
substantially disordered
eating attitudes and behaviors.

12. Mental health problems affect one
in every five young people at any
given time.
1 in 10 may suffer from a serious
emotional disturbance.
70% of them, however, do not
receive mental health services

13. 5.1 million teens admit they binge drink
22 percent of all 8th-graders
and nearly half of all 12th-graders
in the U.S. said they have tried marijuana.

14. Data from a study of 8th and 9th grade students showed 25%
had been victims of nonsexual dating violence
and 8% had been victims of sexual dating violence
Nationwide, 9% of students reported
being hit, slapped, or physically hurt
on purpose
by their boyfriend or girlfriend in the
12 months prior to being surveyed

15. Homicide is the second leading cause of death
among young people ages 10 to 24 overall.
In this age group, it is the leading cause of
death for African-Americans
In 2001, 5,486 young people ages 10 to 24 were
murdered, an average of 15 each day
In 2001, 79% of homicide victims ages 10 to 24 were killed
with firearms

16. Over 50% of high school boys and 42% of high school girls believe that there are times
when it is "acceptable for a male to hold a female down and physically force her to
engage in intercourse."
In a study of 769 male students, grades 7-12
52% reported engaging in sexually aggressive behavior.
24% engaged in the unwanted sexual touch of another teen;
15% engaged in sexual coercion (such as lying) to initiate sexual activity

17. Why teach self determination skills?
• Students are increasingly unsuccessful at learning how to deal with
the day to day stress of school and life.
• Many high school students do not see the future as a hopeful
prospect.
• Adolescents in America have become a “me first” generation and
have difficulty comprehending delayed gratification.
• Students with special needs have an even harder time grasping the
concept of self determination.
• Students need to be prepared!

18. The Process
• Began in 1999 with a seminar on
resiliency-sparked an interest
• Saw many “study skills” classes be idle
time or wasted effort
• Students know how to be heard-they just
need to be heard for the right causes
• A wise man said to me-help them help
themselves! (or you’ll burn out and help no-
one)

19. What is self determination?
Self determination is the ability to know and value
yourself as a person enough to learn how to overcome
obstacles that may get in the way of your goals. It is the
ability to see the value in setting goals- working, learning
from mistakes and planning new strategies to accomplish
the mission!

20. Major areas included in the
curriculum
• Identifying strengths, weaknesses, needs, and
preferences
• Decision-making skills
• Rights and responsibilities
• Goal setting
• Anticipating consequences
• Creativity; using it to problem solve
• Communication skills; assertive verses aggressive
• Accessing resources and support
• Negotiation skills
• Experiencing and learning from outcomes

21. Units taught in the curriculum
• Exploring Disabilities
• Study Tools
• Self Determination
• Setting & Reaching Goals
• Self Directed IEP

22. Exploring Disabilities
Every individual is unique
Enduring Understandings
• Every person has learning differences
• People with disabilities have unique
characteristics
• Disabilities don’t go away but
strategies can make one successful
• Students with disabilities have a variety
of strengths and weaknesses

23. Study Tools
Success doesn’t happen by accident
Enduring Understandings
• Time management is a life long skill.
• Memorization techniques will help me
in all of my classes.
• Notes are more than words on paper.
• Listening is an active process.
• Textbooks have organization.

24. Self-Determination
I have the tools to make my future positive.
Enduring Understandings
• Knowing my strengths and
weaknesses will help me make better
choices.
• I need to learn how to accept and value
myself.
• I can assert myself without being
aggressive.
• There is an art to negotiation.

25. Goal Setting
Understanding goals leads to success.
Enduring Understandings
• Setting goals gives me control of my life.
• A goal consists of several steps that will lead
to a positive end.
• What happens in your personal life affects
your education and employment.
• Large goals require smaller steps.
• It is okay to adjust goals
• One may need to overcome obstacles to
reach a goal

26. Self Directed IEP
I am in control of my education
Enduring Understandings
• The IEP is a tool to help me graduate.
• My disability does not go away after
graduation
• Understanding the components of the IEP
will help me to communicate my needs.
• Appropriate communication is necessary.
– Conflict resolution & Negotiation
• Evaluation is a key to moving forward.

27. The Class
• New MCC YIKES
• Prove it-In depth study shows….
– Students come to school for friends-sports
– Imperative for teacher to be prepared
– Teachers who create true relational
classrooms help create self-determined
students
– Students who knew their options-used them!

28. The Findings-Lasting results?
No Advocacy: Advocacy:
• 61% of students knew • 78% of students knew
their disability their disability
• 44% could explain • 88% could explain
their disability their disability
• 60% Knew the • 80% Knew the
accommodations that accommodations that
would help them be would help them be
successful in gen ed successful in gen ed

29. Tips for teachers
• You can’t save any of your students-
– You can give them the tools to save
themselves 
• The set up of the class is important
• The make up of students plays a role

30. The kids say it all