Ten Things We Ten Things We Should Know Should Know

About Education About Education for Young for Young Adolescent Adolescent LearnersLearners

Team ChallengeTeam ChallengeCharacteristics of

successful schools for young adolescents

according to the research.

1. How many studies have been 1. How many studies have been done over the past 25 years done over the past 25 years

to determine the to determine the characteristics of successful characteristics of successful

schools for young schools for young adolescents:adolescents:

A.A. 37003700

B.B. 20002000

C.C. Less than 500Less than 500

A. 3700A. 3700

2. Name 1 2. Name 1 universally universally supported supported

recommendation for recommendation for the effective the effective

organization of organization of schools for young schools for young

adolescents.adolescents.

A. Interdisciplinary A. Interdisciplinary TeamsTeamsB. Flexible, Longer B. Flexible, Longer Blocks of Class timeBlocks of Class timeC. Wider hallways C. Wider hallways

Choose One

A. A. InterdiscipliInterdisciplinary Teamsnary Teams

3. According to research 3. According to research (US& Canada), which one of (US& Canada), which one of the following is THE BEST the following is THE BEST

predictor of college predictor of college readiness ?readiness ?

A. High school GPAA. High school GPA

B. Advanced Placement B. Advanced Placement courses takencourses taken

C. 8th grade achievementC. 8th grade achievement

D. Socio-Economic StatusD. Socio-Economic Status

B. 8th Grade Achievement

4. What does research 4. What does research show about middle level show about middle level

schools that schools that consistently implement consistently implement programs that address programs that address

the social and emotional the social and emotional needs of young needs of young adolescents?adolescents?

A. Student self esteem increases but there’s no academic improvement

B. Academic performance increases

C. Reduction in bullying and improvement is student academic performance.

D. There’s no impact on either self esteem or academic performance.

C.C. Reduction in bullying and improvement is student academic performance.

5. What are 5. What are two two immediate effects immediate effects

of hormonal changes of hormonal changes during young during young adolescence?adolescence?

A. Student behavior becomes more predictable.

B. Students are unable to sit still for whole class instruction.

C. Peer relationships become secondary to relationships with adults.

D. There is a greater need for bathing and deodorant.

B. Students are unable to sit still for whole class instruction.

D. There is a greater need for bathing and deodorant.

6. Stress causes 6. Stress causes the body to the body to produce cortisol. produce cortisol. How does cortisol How does cortisol affect the young affect the young adolescent with adolescent with new learning?new learning?

A. interferes with the A. interferes with the brain’s ability to brain’s ability to organize and retrieve new organize and retrieve new information.information.

B. reduces overreaction.B. reduces overreaction.

C. supports reflection C. supports reflection and transfer for and transfer for learning.learning.

D. has nothing to do with D. has nothing to do with learning.learning.

A. Interferes with A. Interferes with the brain’s ability the brain’s ability to organize and to organize and retrieve new retrieve new informationinformation

7. Research links 7. Research links healthy adolescent healthy adolescent diets and their diets and their

ability to learn! ability to learn!

What percentage of What percentage of young adolescents eat young adolescents eat

a good diet?a good diet?

A. 59%A. 59%

B. 23%B. 23%

C. 15%C. 15%

D. 6%D. 6%

D. 6%

8. Which of the 8. Which of the following are most following are most common responses to common responses to

young adolescents’ unmet young adolescents’ unmet need for proper need for proper

nutrition?:nutrition?:

A. Drowsiness

B. Physical Pain

C. Inattention

D. All of the above

D. All of the above

9. Between the ages of 10-14 middle school

students grow and gain...

A. 10-20 in. and gain A. 10-20 in. and gain 40-50 lbs.40-50 lbs.

B. 5-10 in. and gain B. 5-10 in. and gain 10-20 lbs.10-20 lbs.

C. 5-15 in. and gain 5-C. 5-15 in. and gain 5-15 lbs.15 lbs.

A. 10-20 in. and gain A. 10-20 in. and gain 40-50 lbs.40-50 lbs.

10. Most young 10. Most young adolescents respond adolescents respond

to their own to their own developmental developmental changes with:changes with:

A. excitement and anticipation

B. calm acceptance

C. confusion and self doubt

D. anger and self-doubt

C. confusion and self doubt

BONUS:BONUS:

What parts of the What parts of the body grow fastest body grow fastest

in young in young adolescents?adolescents?

A. feet, nose, hands

B. head, toes, arms

C. teeth, eyes, legs

A. feet, nose, hands

Works ConsultedFeinstein, Sheryl. Secrets of the Teenage Brain. San Diego:

The Brain Store, 2004.

“Frontline”. Thirteen WNET New York.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/teenbrain/. 10/1/04.1/0

Jensen, Eric. Brain-Based Learning. San Diego: The Brainstore. 1996. 4.

Knowles, Trudy and Dave Brown. What Every Middle School Teacher Should Know. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann, 2000.

This We Believe: Successful School for Young Adolescents. Columbus, OH: NMSA, 2010

Van Hoose, John, Strahan, David & Mark L’Esperance. Promoting Harmony: Young Adolescent Development and School Practices. Columbus, OH: NMSA, 2001.