NCJ Number
179450
Date Published
1999
Length
32 pages
Annotation
This educator's guide shows instructors how to use The New York Times as a valuable resource in an overall anti-drug education program for 11- to 14-year-olds.
Abstract
Newspapers generally have particular benefits in anti-drug education. They provide real-life stories that engage students and stimulate discussion; they facilitate critical thinking in general, enhance academic skills in reading comprehension and vocabulary, create awareness of larger issues that affect the community, and allow students to select and interact with material that is relevant to them personally. There are three sections in this guide. The first, "Working with Texts," consists of nine excerpts from The New York Times accessible to the age group 11 to 14 years (targeted age group), with corresponding worksheets that can be passed out in class. Each worksheet also contains an exercise that can be used with any issue of The Times. These activities will enhance numerous competencies and strengthen skills in critical thinking. The second component, "Working with Images and Sources," presents exercises to develop life skills that help youth resist the use of illicit drugs, alcohol, and tobacco. The third component, "Role Playing," does not involve use of the newspaper as a resource. This component includes some guidelines on structuring role-playing exercises. Each lesson is designed to instill the belief that most youth do not use drugs; enhance the perception that using drugs is likely to have a variety of negative consequences; enhance the perception that a drug-free lifestyle is more likely to yield satisfying results; enhance personal and social skills that promote positive lifestyle choices and resistance to drug use; and reinforce positive uses of time as behavioral alternatives to drug use. A list of 18 resources