The Teens Are Not Alright: School and Classroom Practices to Support Student Well-Being

Stress, anxiety, and burnout are on the rise. The teens are not alright—but educators can help.

In this thought-provoking resource for all middle and high school educators, researcher and veteran educator Cathy Vatterott explores the growing epidemic of teen stress. She discusses how schools can shift from a traditional approach, in which achievement at all costs is the goal, to one that balances academics with wellness and prioritizes adolescents' social, emotional, and physical needs.

The Teens Are Not Alright examines
• The social and cultural factors that contribute to teen stress;
• How the biological changes that happen during adolescence intersect with students' developmental needs for autonomy and competence;
• The shifts in practice that are necessary to create less stressful schools and classrooms and support student well-being;
• How teachers can create the optimal classroom environment by building positive relationships and incorporating student autonomy into norms and routines, learning, and assessment; and
• How schools can develop a comprehensive mental health support system made up of practices, policies, and programs that help children grow into healthy, well-adjusted adults.

With practical tips and insights drawn from the author's experience working with students, teachers, and administrators, readers will come away prepared and inspired to meet their adolescent students' needs and make school a safer place for them to learn and grow.

Dr. Cathy Vatterott is Professor Emeritus of Education at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, a former middle school and high school teacher, and a former middle school principal. She is the author of three ASCD books: The Teens Are Not Alright: School and Classroom Practices to Support Student Well-Being (2025); Rethinking Homework: Best Practices That Support Diverse Needs, 2nd Edition (2018); and Rethinking Grading: Meaningful Assessment for Standards-Based Learning (2015). She frequently presents at national conferences and serves as a consultant to K–12 schools on the topics of homework and grading.