The Middle School Years
Early adolescents are slowly
moving from seeking and meeting adult expectations to seeking and
meeting their own expectations. As they move from the dependence of
childhood to the independence that is expected of productive adults in
our society, the new rights and responsibilities bring tension and
disagreement between the students and the adults around them.
The most notable characteristic of
the early adolescent is the physical growth that accompanies puberty.
Sexual identity becomes part of the complex sorting out of childhood and
adult expectations as they develop their new self-identity. Students at
this age are usually focused on self throughout this period and tend to
be introspective and very critical of each phase of their own
development.
Friendships become very important
and tend to be developed through shared activities. These groupings of
students then phase into the stage of shared identity – the seeking out
of those most like their own self-perception. Students at this age are
establishing the behaviors that will probably direct their actions for
the next several years. It is important during this critical period to
assist students in the formation of positive self-concepts, the
development of self-responsibility in all aspects of their behavior and
an awareness of sex-role stereotyping issues. Students also need to
further develop their awareness of work and how their interests and
abilities help them to make academic and career choices.