Middle School Tips: Social and Emotional Development

 
 

Introduction

Middle school aged children are in a developmental stage that is referred to as early adolescence. Early adolescence (10-14 years old) is a time of many physical, mental, emotional, and social changes. The transition from elementary school to middle school can be a stressful, overwhelming time for children in this age group. Hormones, and bodies change as puberty begins. Students may be worried about these changes and how they are looked at by others. Some students may experience substantial drops in self-esteem as a result of these things. While this is more prominent in females, it is seen in males as well.

At this age, students make more of their own choices about friends, appearance, sports, studying, and school. They become more independent, with their own personality and interests. This heightened emphasis on independence may cause students in this age group to push adults for more privacy than they were previously given.

As middle school aged children experience physical, mental, emotional and social changes, their perceptions of themselves begin to change accordingly. This shift in students' sense of self is a key characteristic of their social and emotional development. By using what we know about the social and emotional development of middle school aged children, we can adjust our lessons to maximize their academic learning.

Social & Emotional Development
 

During Middle School, young adolescents are developing their own self-identity and their identity among their peers. 

Students are likely to:
  • Experience a withdraw from parental figures and seek other adults or friends as role models.
  • Place greater importance on friends and groups
  • Seek out their own peer groups to associate with 
  • Encounter peer pressure, the need to conform to the accepted ideas of the group. 
  • Frequently feel:
    • Social discomfort
      • Awkwardness
      • Loneliness
    • Angry
    • Sad
    • Anxious
Erikson's Stages of Development 
Identity vs Role Confusion

Students are experiencing mixed feelings about 
where they fit into society, and may experiment with 
several different roles, until they achieve a 
sense of identity.

They may experience self-doubt, embarrassment, 
feelings of awkwardness and isolation, confusion, 
and depression 

Due to these negative feelings, some students 
will turn to a path of delinquency and rebellion, 
or become paralyzed by feelings of inferiority. 

However the majority of students will become 
well adjusted to the emotional challenges posed 
during this stage, and will develop their own 
sense of ideals.

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Social Media 
has become a dominant force in 
young adolescents' lives

Social Media (any site that allows social 
interaction) has given today's youth a portal 
for entertainment and communication.

It is of utmost importance that parents 
and educators understand these sites 
to encourage healthy use.

*Monitor for potential problems such as
 cyberbullying and exposure to 
inappropriate content.*

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Bullying 
affecting all those involved

Though boys were more likely to be defined as 
bullies, these students will display school 
problems such as difficulty getting along 
with classmates, in addition to experiencing 
more conduct problems.

In contrast, the victims were more emotionally 
distressed and socially marginalized by 
their classmates.


Early Adolescence Phenomenons
  1. The Spotlight Effect The idea that, in any social situation, everyone's attention is focus only on them.  Young adolescents have a self-centered view of their sense of self. This phenomena causes students to put a high emphasis on their personal appearance. These students may alter who they are as they attempt to gain acceptance and approval from their peers. This heightened sensitivity to what others are thinking may lead to self-criticism, and a negative self image.
  2. Personal Fable
    The belief that a young adolescent'    s feelings and thoughts are unique to them and that the people around them have never experienced the emotions they are having. These students may insist that no adult (especially teachers and parents) understand them or could possibly know how they feel. Personal fable causes students in this age group to  shut out parents and teachers who "don't understand" them. These students tend to shift their trust from adults to their peers, going to their friends for advice when they have problems instead of going to their parents or another adult. This shift causes them to want more privacy from adults, especially their parents.


Classroom Implications, Ideas, and Management

Discipline
  • Avoid overreacting
    • Adults who do respond with anger or power-assertive discipline make it difficult for students to regulate their own emotions, and they become overwhelmed.

Classroom Meetings
  • Creating a safe classroom environment
  • Talk about emotions and issues
    • Create opportunities to talk about any emotions or issues that arise in the classroom or curriculum

The "Leave Me Alone" Pass
  • Each student gets one pass, printed on bright card stock with various counterfeit-detection design elements. (Again, they keep track of them, or not.) 
  • They can use the pass on a day they just want to put their head down and not deal with class. 
  • LMA passes cannot be used on a test or quiz day.
  • Helps students feel empowered and in control of their classroom experience




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