Seminars for Teenagers

Students Guide to Getting Organised and Getting Motivated

The students who are most successful at school are the students who understand how to make the best use of their time, how to motivate themselves and who use efficient study methods. In this presentation students learn exactly these skills. They learn how to organise their time, become more efficient in homework sessions, become more independent learners and more adept at thinking and planning ahead.

But this is not the “same old - do more homework” message young people have heard for years. This is a presentation which incorporates interesting psychological research which explains exactly how to get the best results without hours of study. It includes practical and useful suggestions students can implement immediately.

This is a fast paced presentation packed with humour, stories, relevant examples and is pitched exactly to where teenagers “are at”. Students will be engaged, interested and will not be bored.

Past comments made by students regarding this module:
It was good that we were told how, the best way to study, not just that we should study
You are young - you can relate to us! Plus you made it fun, and made me laugh.
This made me really think about my study habits
I learnt how to get more organised and it was effective and to the point
This has opened my eyes to different methods of study and organisation
This has helped me calm down about Year 12 and understand that you can get on top of things.
This made my remember that I CAN do it - not just on an academic level but on a personal level as well.
This showed me how to be self-motivated
This was a great way to start Year 12.

This session generally runs for approximately 45 minutes. Follow-up lesson plans to this seminar (to be used in smaller home groups and co-ordinated by teachers) are also available.

This seminar is also part of the Studywise package, for information about this package click here: Studywise

Revision that works

The two least effective methods of revision are exactly the same two most commonly used methods of revision by secondary school students! Students generally do not know how to revise. Students also delay revision because they believe (a) it is boring, (b) it doesn’t work and (c) they have more important school work to do. When they finally get around to starting to revise for exams, they then revise in ineffective ways.

This seminar addresses these problems. Students leave the seminar inspired to start effective revision immediately, they understand how revision can actually be interesting and they know how to revise in a way that works.

Again, this is not the “same old - do more homework” message young people have heard for years. This is a presentation which incorporates interesting psychological research which explains exactly how to get the best results without hours of study. It includes practical and useful suggestions students can implement immediately.

Past comments made by students regarding this module:
I believe I will do better in exams now
I really liked learning about revision and methods for revision
I think all year 10s and 11s should attend so they know what they are up for the next year
Thankyou - I’m not so scared now!

This session generally runs for approximately 45 minutes. Follow-up lesson plans to this seminar (to be used in smaller home groups and co-ordinated by teachers) are also available.

This seminar is also part of the Studywise package, for information about this package click here: Studywise

Managing Stress and Tough Times

Studies show that more than 1/3 of senior school students in Australia experience higher than normal levels of stress, anxiety and depression around exam time. This stress then affects their ability to think calmly, study effectively and relate to others. For students who are not stressed about exams, almost all of them are experiencing or have experienced tough times or stress in other areas of life.

This seminar teaches students how to identify early warning signs of stress, how to take control over what they do have control over, how to put in place practical stress management strategies themselves, how to lower their physiological stress levels and how to deal with difficult times calmly and effectively.

Past comments made by students regarding this seminar:

The seminar on stress gave me a push to get stuff done.
This has helped me calm down about Year 12 and understand that you can get on top of things
I learnt how to deal with stress.

This seminar is also part of the Studywise package, for information about this package click here: Studywise

A Teenagers Guide to Parents

A great deal of research shows that teenagers who have a positive relationship with parents are more likely to be well-adjusted and successful at school, socially and at work.

In the same way that parents often benefit from information about the “generation gap”, teenagers also find it beneficial to hear exactly how this changing world has made them into different kinds of people than their parents before them.

This seminar aims to give young people practical ways they can improve their relationship with their parents or guardians, resolve conflict with adults and communicate with people at different ages and stages to them. Also acknowledged in the context of this seminar is that young people can “only do so much”, that parents also have a large part to play in improving parent-teen relationships.

Be warned - this presentation is not aimed at adults! This is an extremely fast paced presentation packed with humour, stories, relevant examples and is pitched exactly to where teenagers “are at”. Students will be engaged, interested and definitely will not be bored.

This session generally runs for approximately 45 minutes. Follow-up lesson plans to this seminar (to be used in smaller home groups and co-ordinated by teachers) are also available.

Social Intelligence

A typical source of struggle for teenagers is learning how to deal with the pitfalls of peer issues.

This seminar aims to help students gain the social skills which help them to deal creatively and confidently with their peers, as well as look at how to manage conflict calmly without panicking when it (inevitably) arises.

This seminar is always popular with young people who are often eager to learn about making and keeping friendships and who are sometimes desperate to know how to survive the difficult times.

Past comments made by students regarding this module:

- Me and the other girls have really enjoyed your talks because you talk to us like adults and not children - which is great!
- This presentation has given me hope.
- This makes it easier to know what to do when someone doesn’t like you

This session generally runs for approximately 45 minutes. Follow-up lesson plans to this seminar (to be used in smaller home groups and co-ordinated by teachers) are also available.

Leadership for Life

Young leaders have the potential to make a difference; to instigate positive changes in the life of their school, family and community. However, to do so they need guidance, support and assistance.

Leadership for Life presentations are specifically aimed at young people who have been identified as leaders. These seminars are designed to inspire a new generation of leaders and give practical ideas to build communities around them.

Specifically, Leadership for Life presentations:

Help young people develop dreams and create goals, and inspire others around them to do so also
Teach young people how to connect with others and create a sense of unity in their own communities
Show young people how to manage their emotions in ways which are helpful and constructive
Help young leaders to generate optimism and hope in the people they lead

Comments from Leadership for Life Seminars:
- What you said will stick with me forever, Student, SRC group
- Thankyou for talking to us. Many people in the SRC have commented on how useful and inspiring your teachings were. What you said will be remembered by all of us for a long time. Prefects.
- Kirrilie’s enthusiasm and knowledge of student leadership was obvious from the first moments of her presentation. Kirrilie had easy rapport with the students and engaged them in memorable and important discussion. SRC Co-ordinator

The length of “Leadership for Life” seminars vary from 30 minute to half day sessions, depending upon the age of students, numbers of students and school budget. Kirrilie will discuss the school’s requirements and help you decide what is best for the each group.

Thinking about the future

Research indicates that young people typically feel overly pessimistic about the future of our society in general, but overly optimistic about their own personal ability to succeed in this society.

This seminar addresses both of these issues.

Information is presented which shows that the future world of careers has much to offer. A positive outlook for the future is presented. Students are helped to see that their futures can be exciting and full of possibilities.

At the same time, the message is given that to succeed in this new post-school world, a degree of commitment and effort is required. Key ingredients for success are discussed. Practical, ready to use ideas about how to start preparing for the future now are given.

Past comments made by students regarding this presentation:
This made me feel like I can do a lot with my life
I really learnt that being negative won’t get you anywhere.
I really liked the positive attitudes presented.
This presentation made us feel good - thankyou very much.

This session generally runs for approximately 45 minutes. Follow-up lesson plans to this seminar (to be used in smaller home groups and co-ordinated by teachers) are also available.

Go Figure! – Enjoying the Shape You Have (Girls Only)

85% of teenage girls dislike the way they look. A huge number of them diet, binge eat, go through periods of excessive exercise and generally have disordered eating patterns. Teenage girls are in desperate need of reassuring, balanced information about body image and dieting.

This seminar aims to help teenage girls feel good about their body, focus on health rather than weight, be informed about the deceptive and insidious effects of media messages about beauty and to enjoy their body shape.

Past comments made by girls regarding this presentation:

This presentation made us feel good – thankyou very much
I really liked the positive attitudes presented.
I never knew lots of that stuff. It helps.

Myths and Secrets of Success

Teenagers often erroneously believe that being successful is about knowing exactly what you want, being confident all the time and never getting scared. They have unrealistic ideas about what makes people successful. This seminar helps young people understand that fear and anxiety are a normal part of life. It encourages young people to take sensible risks and to be willing to be anxious for the sake of achieving their goals.

Past comments made by students regarding this presentation:

This presentation made us feel good – thankyou very much
I really liked the positive attitudes presented.
I never knew lots of that stuff. It helps.

*Cyber-Life

Young people are the greatest users of the internet in Australia. More than 80% have regular access to a mobile phone. Whilst this brings many benefits, it also brings about new challenges. Cyber-bullying is on the rise. Students get addicted to spending time on the net, at the expense of family time, homework and physical exercise.

In this seminar students learn about how to effectively and safely communicate using mobile phones, email and the net/MSN. This session is designed to reduce the incidence of cyber-bullying and help students know what to do when they feel upset by a cyber-conversation.

Comments from audience members who have attended this seminar in the past include:

Kirrilie is very funny and I learnt a lot
She really knows what we are doing on the net and gave some good ideas
I feel relieved that other people are going through the same things as me

*Please note this seminar is presented in conjunction with a school survey of net/phone use amongst teens*