Newman, J. (2010). They're moody. Secretive. Infuriating! Now scientists are starting to figure
out why. Retrieved from http://www.parade.com/news/2010/11/28-inside-the-teenage-brain.html
Newman, J. (2010). They're moody. Secretive. Infuriating! Now scientists are starting to figure
out why. Retrieved from http://www.parade.com/news/2010/11/28-inside-the-teenage-brain.html
The article touted above regarding brain development of adolescents and teenagers fits well under all of the Essential Attributes of This We Believe. DEVELOPMENTALLY RESPONSIVE - we must learn and use the nature of young adolescents as the foundation on which all of our decisions are made - it's been my experience that 8th graders want to know the 'WHY' behind everything they are asked to do. CHALLENGING - We must learn to recognize that every student can learn and everyone is held to high expectations, while at the same time understand that our students are transitioning developmentally in many areas including brain development, which often impedes their abilities to make good decisions for themselves. EMPOWERING - we must serve as role models and work to provide all students with the knowledge and skills they need to take control of their lives, which includes considering consequences before they act, as well as after they act when poor decisions were made - making such situations learning opportunities for them. EQUITABLE - we must become adult advocates for every student's right to learn and provide challenging and relevant learning opportunities.
ReplyDeleteCouldn't agree with you more, Anna. This We Believe states that Empowerment is an essential attribute. We need to help these kids become empowered adults but to achieve this we need to make them self and community aware, we need to teach them to think, and we need to educate them.
ReplyDeleteFuther on that, we need to offer these kids the role models and environments they need to grow and to become empowered, as In This We Believe states. We need to provide the materials and the knowledge of how to use the materials, but most importantly we need to encourage them to learn to use them for themselves.
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