Module 4 Blog

Module Question #4: The text states that “adolescents appear to need more intense emotional stimulation than either children or adults.” What implications does this have for instruction. Peer-to-peer confrontations? Student-to-teacher confrontations?

            In relation to the idea that adolescents need more intense emotional stimulation than children or adults, it is important that the teacher addresses this. There is a point in life where we all reach a rough spot of emotion, or when we are at an emotional rollercoaster, and that is what it is like for adolescents. Adolescents are at the age where their bodies are changing physically and mentally, therefore their emotions are all in a jumble. If possible, teachers should attempt to create lessons that will somehow relate to the emotions of his or her students.  Once it becomes the time for peer-to-peer confrontations between adolescents it can be a rough time because they are at the point in life when they are trying to find themselves, and who their real friends are. At this age, they might have a hard time coping with the decision between right and wrong. We have often heard the saying “you are whom you associate yourself with.” Parents to their adolescent children most often use this saying because it helps with defining who you will become as a person. The way in which students and teachers interact with each other is different within the adolescent years. This confrontation changes because teachers go from being so called enemies to becoming role models for their students. Students may feel as if though they confide in their teachers more at this age. From my own personal experiences, I found that as years went on and especially my senior year, I was able to relate to my teachers more since they would talk of their college experiences and attempt to send us in the right direction.