Adolescent Growth and Development KNR 242

Who is Today’s Adolescent? 10% of total population is in the age group. 10% of total population is in the age group. Ethnicity: Ethnicity: 65% White ∎ 15% African-American 65% White ∎ 15% African-American 16% Hispanic ∎ 4% Asian 16% Hispanic ∎ 4% Asian 1% Native American 1% Native American Poverty Levels Poverty Levels 18% live in poverty 18% live in poverty 35% of African-American and Hispanic live in poverty 35% of African-American and Hispanic live in poverty

Who is Today’s Adolescent? Parental Situation Parental Situation 68% live with two parents 68% live with two parents 23% - mothers only ∎ 4%- fathers only 23% - mothers only ∎ 4%- fathers only 4% neither father or mother 4% neither father or mother >50% African American youth: mother only >50% African American youth: mother only Health Issues Health Issues 81% are in good health 81% are in good health Community Service Community Service 31% volunteer for community service 31% volunteer for community service

Who is Today’s Adolescent? Audio entertainment Audio entertainment Television habits Television habits Cars Cars Fashion Fashion Hair and Hats Hair and Hats Tattoos and Body Piercing Tattoos and Body Piercing Music Music

Importance of Getting To Know Students Teachers who are familiar with student characteristics have a considerable advantage in planning their teaching. Teachers who are familiar with student characteristics have a considerable advantage in planning their teaching. Educational programs must consider: Educational programs must consider: Common characteristics of students Common characteristics of students Significant differences among students Significant differences among students Social forces that affect students Social forces that affect students

Physical Growth and Development Boys and girls are taller, heavier and mature earlier than ever before. Boys and girls are taller, heavier and mature earlier than ever before. Adolescents differ widely in physical growth, body build and physical capacity. Adolescents differ widely in physical growth, body build and physical capacity. Significant physiological differences exist between genders and within each gender. Significant physiological differences exist between genders and within each gender. Boys and girls of the same age differ in rates of maturation. Boys and girls of the same age differ in rates of maturation.

Intellectual Development Today's youth are better informed. Today's youth are better informed. The wealth of information and choices available to teens may cause confusion in processing information and making decisions. The wealth of information and choices available to teens may cause confusion in processing information and making decisions. The number of learning disabled students has increased dramatically. The number of learning disabled students has increased dramatically.

Social Development Adolescents change social interaction patterns and challenge parental and authority roles. Adolescents change social interaction patterns and challenge parental and authority roles. Peer approval is more important Peer approval is more important Adolescents need to learn to accept responsibility for their actions. Adolescents need to learn to accept responsibility for their actions. During mid-adolescence, boys and girls mature at different rates. During mid-adolescence, boys and girls mature at different rates. During late-adolescence, teens become more accepting of others, despite differences. During late-adolescence, teens become more accepting of others, despite differences.

Emotional Development Students need to build and maintain feelings of personal worth and belonging. Students need to build and maintain feelings of personal worth and belonging. They struggle with appearance, hormonal, personality, and mood changes. They struggle with appearance, hormonal, personality, and mood changes. They try to establish independence while maintaining adult approval and affection. They try to establish independence while maintaining adult approval and affection. Youth try on different personalities to find one that suits them. Youth try on different personalities to find one that suits them. They are concerned about social injustices. They are concerned about social injustices.

Implications of Student Differences for Teaching Knowing individual differences helps teachers individualize instruction. Knowing individual differences helps teachers individualize instruction. Students in one grade level may be as much as 11 months different in age, not counting older students who have been held back. Students in one grade level may be as much as 11 months different in age, not counting older students who have been held back. The trend is toward inclusion and acceptance of all students. The trend is toward inclusion and acceptance of all students.

Implications of Student Differences for Teaching Motor ability factors predispose students to success in different activities (agility, balance, coordination, flexibility, strength, speed). Motor ability factors predispose students to success in different activities (agility, balance, coordination, flexibility, strength, speed). Programs should include a variety of activities so students will find something commensurate with their abilities and be challenged to extend their abilities. Programs should include a variety of activities so students will find something commensurate with their abilities and be challenged to extend their abilities.

Meeting Student Needs Students learn best when: Students learn best when: learning involves doing. learning involves doing. learning is reinforced by success or positive feedback. learning is reinforced by success or positive feedback. a variety of meaningful experiences are provided at appropriate levels for students. a variety of meaningful experiences are provided at appropriate levels for students. learning is connected with previous knowledge. learning is connected with previous knowledge. Students choose how to learn and demonstrate the products of learning Students choose how to learn and demonstrate the products of learning

Individual differences are respected and valued. Focus on what students can do. Focus on what students can do. Equal educational opportunities require different treatments to meet differing needs of students. Equal educational opportunities require different treatments to meet differing needs of students.

Eliminate embarrassment and failure. Choosing teams Choosing teams Elimination games Elimination games Grading policies Grading policies

Build ego-strength (self-concept) Listen to students. Listen to students. Learn names and pronounce them correctly. Learn names and pronounce them correctly. Learn about students--cultures, interests. Learn about students--cultures, interests. Give leadership opportunities. Give leadership opportunities. Provide success in skill performance and fitness activities. Provide success in skill performance and fitness activities. Compliment students when deserved and appropriate. Compliment students when deserved and appropriate.

Ability group for mastery teaching and student success. Success builds self-esteem. Success builds self-esteem. Success encourages attempting of new skills. Success encourages attempting of new skills. Success elicits greater effort. Success elicits greater effort.

Alter and adapt. Modify activities. Modify activities. Emphasize cooperation. Emphasize cooperation. Capitalize on students' strengths. Capitalize on students' strengths.