Northern Illinois University students created these pages based on the research they did about issues and problems that teachers of teens might encounter. Each student who worked on this website is preparing to work professionally with adolescents. The website for teachers in an outgrowth of the Inside Information for Teens website http://www.cedu.niu/~shumow/iit .

The website was created for several reasons. First, although a wealth of information is available about many issues that concern teachers of adolescents, teachers are very busy and have little time to research issues as they arise. We wanted to create a source where teachers of adolescents could find accurate, helpful information quickly.

A second reason for creating a website is to utilize technological advantages of the web. For example, teachers can find information on individual issues. The information also is available around the clock so they can find it when they need it or have time. Finally, information can be updated each semester to keep up with any advances or changes in knowledge.

A third reason for creating the website has to do with the professional preparation of the students at Northern. As educational professionals, the students will be faced with helping adolescents learn, develop, and cope with numerous issues. By conducting the research on these topics and by examining the work of other students in the class, they will gain knowledge and skills that will help them when they are teachers. The website will be a resource for them in the future.

Each page on this site has been reviewed by at least one expert on the topic and revised according to the feedback. Future and practicing teachers also provided additional feedback on the pages.