Sue Scheff: Thats Not Cool

ThatsNotCool.com

Your cell phone, IM, and social networks are all a digital extension of who you are. When someone you're with pressures you or disrespects you in those places, that's not cool.

IS THIS ABUSE?

Recognizing Abuse?
Not sure if a situation is abusive or not?
Ask yourself if your boyfriend or girlfriend:

is overly jealous or possessive?
puts you down or criticizes you?
threatens or scares you?
hits, slaps, pushes, or kicks you?
controls where you go, what you wear, or what you do?
tries to stop you from seeing or talking to friends and family?
tries to force you to have sex?

What Can You Do...If you're being abused?

Call the police if you are in danger and seek medical attention if you are hurt.
You are not alone and the abuse is not your fault.
Talk with somebody you trust: a friend or relative, someone from school or your community.
Think independently. Remember that you are the expert about your own life. Don't let anyone talk you into doing something that's not right for you.
Have a safety plan in the event you are abused again.

Here are some tips.

Find out more about being a Tech Savvy Teen

If you think you're being abusive?
Know that there are people and organizations that are equipped to help you.
If you truly care for someone, you will not allow him or her to be abused, by you or anyone else.
Talk to someone you trust, like a close friend, family member, or someone you respect, like a teacher or counselor at school. Ask his/her honest opinion about your behavior.

If your friend is being abused?

If necessary, help your friend get medical attention. Encourage your friend to contact a professional or an adult they trust for help.
Offer your unconditional friendship and support. Be clear that you are there to listen, and not to judge.
Tell your friend it's not his/her fault.
Don't spread gossip. This could make your friend's situation more dangerous.
Don't try to confront the abuser or rush your friend into a decision he/she isn't comfortable with.

If your friend is abusive?

Visit http://www.thatsnotcool.com/Help.aspx for advice and answers to the above concerns.

Sue Scheff: Choking Game -Games You Don't Want Your Teens Playing

CHOKINGGAME.NET  is an educational and informational website for parents and teachers as well as anyone that works with kids today.

Auto asphyxia and oxygen deprivation practices need to be addressed in the same manner as other current teen risky behaviors. Todays youth are taking risks. They are car surfing, abusing over the counter and prescription medication, inhaling and ingesting common household products. All in an attempt to achieve an altered consciousness, to complete a dare or just out of teen curiosity. Without the knowledge of exactly how dangerous these activities are and what the potential consequences could be, we will continue to lose valuable members of our society.

We work co operatively with Advocates nationwide who volunteer their time and expertise to provide Choking Game Education to all who request it. No group is too small or too large. Advocates have met with a handful of students after it was discovered they had been 'playing'. Other advocates have been the keynote speaker to audiences of 500 or more. Some venues wish to reproduce materials from The DB Foundation and cover the presentation themselves - this is perfectly acceptable, the material is FREE for download and print for this purpose.

Sue Scheff: PARENTS - The Anti-Drug

TheAntiDrug.com was created by the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign to equip parents and other adult caregivers with the tools they need to raise drug-free kids. Working with the nation's leading experts in the fields of parenting and substance abuse prevention, TheAntiDrug.com serves as a drug prevention information center, and a supportive community for parents to interact and learn from each other.

The site provides parents and other adults caregivers access to:

• Helpful articles and advice from experts in the fields of parenting and substance abuse prevention;
• Science-based drug prevention information, news and studies;
• Support from other parents striving to keep their children drug-free;
• Perspectives of teens themselves.

About the Media Campaign:

Since its inception in 1998, the ONDCP’s National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign has conducted outreach to millions of parents, teens and communities to prevent and reduce teen drug use. Counting on an unprecedented blend of public and private partnerships, non-profit community service organizations, volunteerism, and youth-to-youth communications, the Campaign is designed to reach Americans of diverse backgrounds with effective anti-drug messages.

For additional information on the Campaign, visit http://www.mediacampaign.org/ .

Sue Scheff: The FCAT's in Florida Education

Every February, parents and students alike cringe when they hear that dreaded four-letter word -- FCAT.

What exactly is the FCAT? According tot he Florida Department of Education, the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, or FCAT, is part of the state's overall place to increase student achievement by implementing higher standards. The FCAT, administered to students in Grades 3-11, consists of criterion-referenced tests (CRT) in mathematics, reading, science, and writing, which measure student progress toward meeting the Sunshine State Standards (SSS) benchmarks.

Because the state uses the results for a variety of purposes, including student retention and school funding, a great deal of emphasis is placed on the FCAT. This can be quite stressful for both the children and the parents.

Some tips were supplied by Weston teachers and school counselors in Our City Weston.

• Practice makes perfect. It is beneficial for parents to provide an opportunity for daily FCAT practice.
• Consider tutoring. If your child needs extra help, take advantage of after-school tutoring and Saturday FCAT camps. Ask your schools about the times.
• Encourage "active reading." This means reading with a pen or pencil in hand. Use your Post-It notes to designate spots you need to review or that need attention.
• Find the "proof." Encourage your children to find the proof that answers are correct. Referring to text for textual support.
• Don't skip school. Emphasize good attendance and punctuality for your child.
• Read test questions carefully.
• Instill confidence. According to the American School Counselor Association the most important thing a parent can do is encourage their child to do his or her best. Tell them you are proud of them.

February 9-11th the FCAT Writes exam starts. The reading, math and science exams start on March 9-19th. For more information visit Florida Dept of Education.

Being an educated parent will help you have prepared children!

Sue Scheff: ThinkB4YouSpeak

Parents play a crucial role in teaching their children about the negative impact of bullying and harassment. Talk about these issues with your children and within your community. Parents are also encouraged to Say Something Original and pledge to support safe schools efforts, and speak to your children’s teachers about using the Teacher's Guide to the Campaign (available in the For Educators section of the site).


More information is available at http://www.glsen.org/ .

Visit http://www.thinkb4youspeak.com/ today for more information.

Read extensive article on Examiner with video.

Sue Scheff: Lotsa Helping Hands

Lotsa Helping Hand's mission is to provide the communication resources facilitating a world where caregivers feel empowered to ask for help, and in so doing, improve their own health and quality-of-life; volunteers can become part of the solution when family, friends, neighbors or colleagues are in need of help, and community becomes a recognized way to find meaning in both giving and receiving.

Lotsa Helping Hands community helps build emotional and spiritual support as you face the many issues surrounding everyday caregiving. They offer assistance for military families, elderly, schools, parenting, religious groups and more.

Sue Scheff: It is Girl Scout Cookie Time! Support the Troops!

Have you received the knock on your door? Have gone to do your grocery shopping and meet by moms and daughters selling Girl Scout cookies? What about your local Walmart? Almost everywhere the average person goes today until February 9th, you won't be able to miss the opportunity to not only buy these cookies we love (and we all have our favorites), you will have a chance to build a child's self- esteem.

It is not so much about the delicious cookies you will receive for your $3.50 a box, it is about making a young girl feel good. It is about contributing to an organization that is constantly working on teaching integrity, respect, responsibility and much more to young girls today.

South Florida Girl Scouts is one of many chapters that participate in many community service hours. They offer many fantastic activities and opportunities to meet new people and give back to your community. Watch video below.

Are you interested in joining, volunteering or finding out more about the Girl Scouts?

Discover - Connect - Take Action - Join now.... Click here for more information.

The Girl Scout Promise:

The Girl Scout Promise is shared by every member of Girl Scouting. The Girl Scout Promise is the way Girl Scouts agree to act every day toward one another and other people.

On my honor, I will try:
To serve God* and my country,
To help people at all times,
And to live by the Girl Scout Law.

* The word "God" can be interpreted in a number of ways, depending on one's spiritual beliefs. When reciting the Girl Scout Promise, it is okay to replace the word "God" with whatever word your spiritual beliefs dictate.

What is your favorite Girl Scout cookie?
Read more on Examiner and watch PSA.

Sue Scheff: Teen Cyberbullying Investigated (New book just released)

Teen Cyberbullying Investigated
By Judge Tom Jacobs

How do teens know when they might be “one click away from the clink”? In Teen Cyberbullying Investigated, Judge Tom Jacobs presents a powerful collection of landmark court cases involving teens and charges of cyberbullying, which includes: sending insulting or threatening emails, text, or instant messages directly to someone; spreading hateful comments about someone through emails, blogs, or chat rooms; stealing passwords and sending out threatening messages using a false identity; and building a Web site to target specific people.

Each chapter features the seminal case and resulting decision, asks readers whether they agree with the decision, and urges them to think about how the decision affects their lives. Chapters also include related cases, important facts and statistics, and suggestions for further reading. With an ever-increasing number of serious cases of cyberbullying and school violence, this book is needed more urgently than ever.


Order on Amazon today.

Sue Scheff: Money Savvy Generation

Money Savvy Generation develops innovative products to help parents, educators and others teach kids the skills of basic personal finance. We strive to empower kids to take control of their financial lives and, in turn, their futures.

Leading the way in all categories:

•We sell more 4-chambered savings banks (pigs, cows and footballs) than anyone else in the world.
•Our scripted curriculum format is preferred by elementary and middle-school teachers.
•We have more personal finance content (curriculum, activity books, seminars, television programming, songs and other products) for elementary school children than anyone else.
•Our personal finance products for children have won numerous awards from educators, the press and trusted third party organizations that rate children's products.
•We have more published studies demonstrating the effectiveness of our curriculum than all other competitors combined.
•We are the first and only company with personal finance podcasts aimed at helping parents teach their kids about money.
•We are the first and only company with a discussion forum to help parents and educators share best practices about helping kids get smart about money.

Learn more at http://www.msgen.com/.

Sue Scheff: Finance for Kidz Book Series

Finance for Kidz
20 part series by Prakash L. Dheeriya, PhD.

This book has been written so that it is read aloud to kids like a story book. All stories in this series Finance for Kidz revolve around a family consisting of a dad (Mr. Zrugal), a mom (Mrs. Zrugal), their kids (Zulia, Zyler & Zimmy) and their kids friend (Joey), and how they deal with some financial aspect of their life. Zulia learns about starting her business of baking and selling cookies, after she finds that a neighborhood girl has been selling lemonade at the street corner. Zulia also learns that one can also sell services to make money.

Find our more on http://www.finance4kidz.com/ .

Sue Scheff: Online Privacy: Your Reputation is ON the Line - Event on January 28th

On January 28th, Canada, United States and the European Union will celebrate Data Privacy Day to educate consumers about protecting their online privacy. Today, people of all ages and backgrounds are sharing more of their lives online through social networks, micro-blogging, photo sharing and other online services. With people living more of their lives online, it’s important that they are aware and in control of the information they share.


If you are able to attend, this will be a very informative event with a strong cast of experts speaking out about how to empower consumers to take control of their online reputations.

*Featuring*


Michael Fertik, Chief Executive Officer, Reputation Defender

January 28th 2010

10:00am – 1:00pm

Lunch will be provided

Newseum

Knight Conference Center

555 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest

Washington, DC 20001

Opening Remarks (10:00am)

Jules Polonetsky, Co-chair and Director, Future of Privacy Forum

Remarks by (10:30am)

Brendon Lynch, Senior Director, Privacy Strategy, Trustworthy Computing Group Microsoft Corp

Panel discussion (11:00am)

Nat Wood, Assistant Director, Consumer & Business Education, Bureau of Consumer Protection

Federal Trade Commission

Jim Harper, Director of Information Policy Studies, The CATO Institute

Marsali Hancock, President, iKeepSafe

Keynote Presentation (12:00pm)

Michael Fertik, Chief Executive Officer, Reputation Defender

Please RSVP to jan28event@futureofprivacy.org

Provided food and beverage compliant with Congressional Ethics and Gift Rules, Executive Branch Officials should consult their Executive Branch ethics rules

The Future of Privacy Forum (FPF) is a Washington, DC based think tank that seeks to advance responsible data practices. The forum is led by Internet privacy experts Jules Polonetsky and Christopher Wolf and includes an advisory board comprised of leading figures from industry, academia, law and advocacy groups. FPF was launched in November 2008, and is supported by AOL, AT&T, The Better Advertising Project, Deloitte, eBay, Facebook, Intel, Lockeed Martin, Microsoft, The Nielsen Company, Verizon and Yahoo.

Sue Scheff: Girl World Tour 2010

Moms & daughters (ages 8-14) are invited to join Rosalind Wiseman, an internationally-recognized author, mom and expert on teens & parenting for a fun-filled evening of mother-daughter bonding.


In addition to celebrating Rosalind's latest books, the tour will feature an interactive discussion about confidence, friendships, sweat-inducing moments and common mother-daughter challenges. A Q&A session and book signing will follow. The two-hour event is sure to get mothers and daughters talking, laughing and connecting.

Girl World Tour 2010 is kicking off in St. Louis, MO. Sponsors include Dove and Family Circle. Check out the event details as well as the list of cities Rosalind will be appearing in. Please check back often as new cities are added and additional information becomes available! Contact Emily Bartek with any questions at 202-545-0633.

Watch video and slideshow.  Also on Examiner.

Being an educated parent is being a prepared parent and that equals safer and healthier teens!