Understanding Adolescents-A Constructive Approach
By Audrey Iglehart
EDI 550/551 Psychology of Adolescent Students
School of Education
Long Island University, C. W. Post
May 22, 2009
I found today’s class discussion interesting and worthwhile. It was hard to believe that three hours flew by. It would seem that many of us in the room believe that adolescents have many of the same characteristics and that these believed characteristics could be considered stereotypes. At the conclusion of class when the issue of how to see adolescents through a different lens was brought up I enjoyed this immensely. Personally, I can’t stand when adults ask adolescents why they did something or acted a certain way. The person asking is looking for an adult answer with evidence of adult rational thinking and most of the time adolescents don’t think that way. They are just beginning to be able to do that. The way they develop this higher order thinking is through experimentation. This experimentation can cause them to test the limits and act out; it is just part of being an adolescent. My answer to those adult is usually because they are a kid.
I think far too often we adults forget what it was like to be a teenager. How every emotion was amplified; you never love as deeply, hate as much, cry as hard, get as jealous, form deep friendships, laugh as hard, goof around as you do when you are younger. Instead of being annoyed by their raging hormones or behaviors, adults should learn to embrace the adolescent for the interesting people they are becoming. This is why I believe that middle school and high school teachers take more of a mentor role on than a parental role that is necessary in the elementary grades. I find them entertaining and I would never want to work with a different group.
I found the readings to be fascinating, it allows for a great deal of introspection. I suppose I am what Marcia labels as a diffused identity person, and therefore was mixed up in sex and drugs when I was in high school. I suppose I was a mix of crowds as were my friends. We did smoke a tremendous amount of pot in high school and I was never really engaged in school, I guess we were hippies. I still keep in contact with these friends and ironic as is sounds we are all in the education field and doing well.
Long Island University, C. W. Post
May 22, 2009
I found today’s class discussion interesting and worthwhile. It was hard to believe that three hours flew by. It would seem that many of us in the room believe that adolescents have many of the same characteristics and that these believed characteristics could be considered stereotypes. At the conclusion of class when the issue of how to see adolescents through a different lens was brought up I enjoyed this immensely. Personally, I can’t stand when adults ask adolescents why they did something or acted a certain way. The person asking is looking for an adult answer with evidence of adult rational thinking and most of the time adolescents don’t think that way. They are just beginning to be able to do that. The way they develop this higher order thinking is through experimentation. This experimentation can cause them to test the limits and act out; it is just part of being an adolescent. My answer to those adult is usually because they are a kid.
I think far too often we adults forget what it was like to be a teenager. How every emotion was amplified; you never love as deeply, hate as much, cry as hard, get as jealous, form deep friendships, laugh as hard, goof around as you do when you are younger. Instead of being annoyed by their raging hormones or behaviors, adults should learn to embrace the adolescent for the interesting people they are becoming. This is why I believe that middle school and high school teachers take more of a mentor role on than a parental role that is necessary in the elementary grades. I find them entertaining and I would never want to work with a different group.
I found the readings to be fascinating, it allows for a great deal of introspection. I suppose I am what Marcia labels as a diffused identity person, and therefore was mixed up in sex and drugs when I was in high school. I suppose I was a mix of crowds as were my friends. We did smoke a tremendous amount of pot in high school and I was never really engaged in school, I guess we were hippies. I still keep in contact with these friends and ironic as is sounds we are all in the education field and doing well.
0 comments:
Post a Comment