Real Stories, Real Teens

Winner, Best Curriculum
(Specialized Audience), Association of Educational Publishers

The Real Teens Program
Motivate Teens to Read and Explore Values

Even teens who "hate to read" are captivated by Real Stories, Real Teens.

The Real Teens Program includes an anthology of true stories by teens, a detailed Leader’s Guide—with 26 lessons—and novels to encourage further reading (more than 100 books in a typical kit).

Plus, you get professional development to give your staff the skills and confidence they need to implement the program at the highest level.

MATERIALS
The Real Teens Anthology
26 true stories by teens, plus the first chapter of three novels from the popular Bluford High School series. Teens describe their challenges, their responses, and how they stay true to themselves.

• Marlene wants a life beyond housework and child care.
• Dwan is teased for “acting white”
• Chantel’s biggest enemy is in trouble
• Shawn is ignored by his father
• Ode learns that a (male) friend has a crush on him
• Ngan-Fong battles her mom over clothing choices

And more stories to grab the attention of teens. [See the table of contents]

The Leader’s Guide to Real Teens

The Leader’s Guide includes activities for every story, plus the full text of every story with suggested questions for each session. Each session focuses on a theme and includes:
1. An opening activity to introduce the theme;
2. Reading a true story by a teen (or an excerpt from a young adult novel) with facilitated discussion;
3. An experiential learning activity that helps participants connect the themes in the story to their own lives;
4. A closing reflection

Plus bonus material on running groups, icebreakers, building trust, dealing with sensitive issues, and reading more.
[See a sample lesson] [See the table of contents]

The Bluford Novels (class sets)

The Real Teens Kit includes class sets of these popular novels to extend student reading. (See below for a typical set of materials for the Real Stories Program.)

A Typical Kit

A typical kit includes the following items (you can customize the kits to meet your needs):

• 3 Leader's Guides
• 20 Real Stories anthologies
• 20 copies of each of the three featured Bluford young adult novels
• 2 full sets of the entire Bluford Series of 15 young adult novels

Plus professional development from Development Without Limits

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FROM DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT LIMITS
Development Without Limits can provide staff training and follow up technical assistance in half-day, full-day, and two-day sessions.

• DWL staff can help your staff rehearse the format and activities of the Real Stories program so they feel completely comfortable with the style, and pacing of typical sessions.
• Staff training workshops cover many other topics as well, including facilitating successful group activities, discussing sensitive topics, and incorporating youth development activities like service learning, media production and the arts.
• Coaching and technical assistance provide programs with ongoing support in effectively implementing Real Stories, including extending the activities into service learning, media production, and arts projects.

PHOTO CREDIT: Steven Lembark

SECTION LINKS

The Real Teens Program Motivate Teens to Read and Explore Values

The Real Teens Program
Motivate Teens to Read and Explore Values