Youth
How Tenth Graders Can Explore Career Interests
Sophomore year is the lowest-pressure, highest-leverage time to test career ideas — and free federal tools do most of the heavy lifting.
By Zara Nasser • April 23, 2026
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Youth
Youth covers what teenagers and young adults face outside the classroom: first jobs and pay rights, managing money, time online, friendships, and the early independence decisions that shape later ones. Coverage stays practical and avoids lecturing. Written for young readers directly, and for adults trying to understand the current version.
Youth
What Youth Volunteering Teaches Beyond the Classroom
Community service builds skills schools rarely grade — and the data on who volunteers suggests teens get more from it than hours logged.
By Marta Kowalczyk • March 31, 2026
Youth
How to Talk With Teens About Summer Jobs
A summer job can teach punctuality, money sense, and confidence — if the family conversation goes better than a lecture.
By Marta Kowalczyk • March 8, 2026
Youth
Why Executive Function Skills Matter in Middle School
Planning, working memory, and self-control are the real curriculum of the middle school years — and they can be taught.
By Hiroshi Nakamura • February 14, 2026
Youth
What the Research Says About Teen Sleep and School Start Times
Teens need eight to ten hours of sleep, and most don't get it — the question is what families and schools can actually do.
By Zara Nasser • January 22, 2026
Youth
How Ninth Graders Can Start High School Strong
Ninth grade sets the tone for graduation, and the research says the first year matters more than most families realize.
By Marta Kowalczyk • December 30, 2025