Adolescent Development by Meryl Divya Joseph
I believe that prevention is the best medicine. If we learn more in depth of what to expect from our students we can enhance the learning experience by preventing the possible implications of various factors of their development. Below is a development chart for high school students grades 9-12 and the educational implications of these characteristics.
Prevention:In order to boost student confidence it may be good to highlight the student’s strengths in the classroom and engage the student whenever possible with activities that motivate the student. It would be good to try all possible avenues of teaching so the student may become a creative thinker and a curious learner.
Prevention:Be supportive of students as a member of the society. Challenge students to make the good decisions in life by implementing real life experiences in the classroom. Some of the best life lessons I have learned is from my teachers who shared their downfalls with me and the other students in the class. It's all about choices and we hope our students make the right ones.
Emotional Characteristics | Educational Implications |
Many psychiatric disorders either appear or become prominent during adolescence | Disorders or depression may make students withdraw in the classroom. They may feel picked on by the teacher. This can strain the relationship between teacher and student. |
The most common typed of emotional disorder during adolescence is depression. |
Prevention:Bring awareness to the classroom about avoiding stress and provide time outs to students when they are feeling overwhelmed. Be an example of calmness in the classroom, do not provoke students to feel worthless or out of place. Do provide avenues to let students grow,provide students counselors or school psychologists in the school for access to help when they need it.
Cognitive Characteristics | Educational Implications |
High school students become increasingly capable of engaging in formal thought, but they may not use this capability | Students learn to think for themselves and may question authority. The authority of the teacher must be established in such a way that it is both visible yet non-threatening. |
Between the ages of 12 and 16, political thinking becomes more abstract, liberal, and knowledgeable |
Prevention:Never treat a student as a friend. Students are not our friends they are always students. Display authority simply by coming to work as a professional. Teaching is a job but also a way of life and we must incorporate our values as well as the students values in the classroom in a meaningful way.