Support at home helps teens in their journey to adulthood. Here are ten ways to help your teen learn science and math.

1. Let teenagers know you believe in them and care about what they are doing in school.

Tell them you know they can do well in science in math. Expect them to go to school regularly. Insist that they take science and math courses. Ask your teen what he or she did in math or science class that day.

Learn what courses your teenager must take to be able to go to college or technical school. For example, algebra is an important math course. Find out which science courses and how many your teenager needs for higher education. Monitor course choices. Do not leave counseling to somebody else.

2. Encourage teenagers to work, to hope, and to dream.

Talk about the ways science an math can be part of their future plans. People who have had good math, science, and technology educations will find jobs. The teen years are good years for learning about careers.

Families can look in their communities for people who use math and science in their careers. The video store owner, the cab dispatcher, or the doctor at the clinic all use math or science in their jobs.

Look beyond the community as well. Your son or daughter might wan to be an astronaut, a marine biologist, or an aeronautical engineer.

3. Monitor television viewing

Students who do well in math and science watch less television than other students. Less TV leaves time for other activities. For teenagers, an alternative to TV might be joining an activity or a club or volunteering in a veterinary clinic or a hospital. It's often more fun to do things with a friend, so encourage the buddy system when seeking out activities.

4. Find activities such as classes and clubs for your teen.

There are many after-school , weekend, and summer programs in science and math for young people. There are science camps and places where students can take part in scientific research. Computer programs are held in schools, museums, local universities, and churches. Teenagers often like programs given in local colleges because they can be around older students.

There are programs like these all over the country. Your local library, school guidance office, community center, or science museum can help you find some in your area.

5. Find an adult mentor or role model for your teen.

Another caring adult can make a big difference in a young person's life. A mentor can be a relative, a college student, a friend, a teacher, or someone else who takes a personal, one-to-one interest in a teenager's school and out-of-school life. Someone who has been successful in school or who has pursued a science or math career can be an inspiring mentor.

In some schools mentor programs link teenagers with adults in the work world. Find out if there is such a program in your teen's school or local college or technical school. Many adults in the work world want to help and encourage young people to "reach for the stars."

6. Provide reading material in the home.

We know that teenagers who have magazines, books, and newspapers at home do better in their courses at school. Looking at photographs and illustrations is often an excellent way to learn science. You can check out magazines such as Games, Discover, or Popular Science from your school or local library. Or you can subscribe to them. Many newspapers have science and technology sections.

Encourage dinner table discussions. When teens talk about their ideas and observations, they become better thinkers.

7. Keep in touch with your teenager's school.

Students do better in school when their parents are active in school events. Go to open houses or back-to-school nights. Make an appointment to meet your teenager's teachers.

Parents sometimes think they should visit school only when their child is having trouble. This is not the case. Keep in touch with the school even if your child tells you not to. Most children, including teenagers, respect their parents for caring about what happens in their school.

If your school itself has problems, find other parents who are concerned. Join together to talk about the problems and explore ways to take action to solve them.

8. Recognize the importance of peer pressure.

Among some teen peer groups, it is not "cool" to like or study math and science. Teenagers report that the steady encouragement of an adult is what helps them keep up their math and science work. Families can offer support. You can also ask teachers and counselors at school to join with you in monitoring choice of courses as well as your teen's progress.

9. Use mealtimes or other family times to discuss how science and math connect to everyday life for teenagers.

For example, families can talk about how science and health are connected. Knowing about how their bodies work, good nutrition, and disease prevention can help teens take care of themselves. Well-informed teens can also help their family and friends stay healthy.

Many teens are concerned with money. Families can discuss the math needed to figure out cost, interest, and ways to earn, save, and spend money wisely.

Headline news is often about science or math topic. Look for interesting news stories to talk about with your teen. Talk about how your home life is connected to environmental issues such as recycling, or air and water pollution.

Teenagers who have science and math knowledge can make healthy choices for themselves at home and in their communities.