Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
Культура Документы
to adulthood. However, the physical, social/emotional, and cognitive development during this
time period can vary between each individual for many reasons. Over the past few weeks I have
had an opportunity to learn more about the factors that influence their development and the ways
in which differences in development may affect learning. The insight that I was given into
adolescent development came partly from classroom observations as well as teacher, student, and
parent interviews. Each source provided a unique perspective, reaffirmed what their role is and
how important they are to the development of adolescents. The information provided, along with
my observations helped me to reflect further on development and what my professional role will
I decided to focus on adolescence throughout this course because I wanted to learn more
about how academics and an academic setting are impacted by typical developmental challenges
in adolescence. My hope was to gain a better understanding of those challenges and explore
ways in which they could be supported. In their article, Adolescents With ADHD: Experiences of
Having an ADHD Diagnosis and Negotiations of Self-Image and Identity, Jones and Hesse
mention that, “Adolescence is a period of life where the foundation of identity is formed. The
process of identity formation involves the adolescents questioning who they are, who they want
to become, and where they fit into society” (2017). This formative period in a young person’s
life is influenced by parents, peers, teachers, and their ability to manage the various changes that
happen during this time. When considering the number of societal pressures that are
encountered, the interpersonal relationships and reinforcements that youth have during this time
student to handle. I find that during this age period it would be important to consider how much
of a young person’s behavior is related to growth and development and how much is connected
to a learning disability. As an example, researchers have been examining the effects that
changes in the sleep habits have on adolescents. In Sleep disturbances in adolescents with
ADHD: A systematic review and framework for future research b y Lunsford-Avery, Krystal, and
Kollins state that, “As adolescents age, they experience competing psychosocial demands on
their evening time, and frequently stay up late to complete homework, socialize, watch
television, use electronic media devices, and participate in after-school activities or jobs” (2016).
This is significant because as the article later states, “the requirement to rise earlier during high
school results in premature termination of sleep and sleep debt as well as associated impairments
For educators, it is important to note that there are multiple external factors that can
impact a student’s performance in their classrooms. Taking the time to engage with them
and ask them what they think their challenges are may be the first step towards creating a
ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT REFLECTION
4
positive change. As a future counselor, encouraging the communication between
According to the teacher that I interviewed, one of the high school students that I
observed has a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Grogan and
The adolescent with ADHD struggles with a wide range of problems that include: poor
distractibility and inattention, disorganization, and poor task completion; cognitive gaps
and thoughts in words; impaired ability to work toward future goals requiring deferred
For this teacher, it was extremely important to work with the student to ensure that he was
understanding the material that was being presented in a variety of ways. Additionally, being
creative with instruction time so that the student did not have to be in one place for the duration
of the period was also important. Overall, it is important for adolescents to be in learning
environments that meet their needs. Whether it is having a code to use with the teacher when
they are feeling overstimulated or simply need to step out for a moment, feeling supported in an
academic environment will hopefully help compensate for some of the other challenges that a
When I consider the ways in which the freshman that I observed may be supported to be
more successful in the classroom, there are a significant number of factors to consider. As
Boyer, Geurts, and Van der Oord stated in Planning Skills of Adolescents With ADHD, “I n
ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT REFLECTION
5
adolescence, the control and help of parents and teachers diminishes as compared with
childhood, while at the same time, the transition to secondary school increases the need for EF’s
particularly for planning skills” (2014). As mentioned earlier in the same article, Executive
Functions (EFs) “are described as neurocognitive processes that enable self-control” (2014). In
an attempt to support students who may be struggling with the transition to high school and
establishing a healthy routine, it may be helpful to create groups for freshmen to express some of
their challenges, problem solve, and network. Additionally, perhaps creating panels with
upperclassmen sharing their experiences on how they dealt with challenges may help students
While relationships with peers and teachers are important, the involvement and
relationship between adolescents and their parents are also to be considered when examining the
Regardless of family structure and the fact that some families confront a myriad
and supportive family environments are pivotal leveraging points for positive
youth outcomes across all social classes, regardless of the diversity of the family
It is important that parents have open communication with adolescents about challenges and
problem solve together. By perceiving parents to be teammates, adolescents can feel more
positively about themselves and empowered to problem solve more independently. As stated in
must readjust their expectations and parenting styles to allow for the youth’s needs for increasing
ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT REFLECTION
6
independence and autonomy” (2012, p. 416). While parents will always play an important role
in the lives of their children, in adolescence they play a critical role in helping them transition to
adulthood.
As a Professional School Counselor, it is my hope that I will be able to consider all of the
factors that impact the development of children and adolescents in the work that I do with them.
Adolescents spend a significant amount of time in school and it is during a lot of that time that
students have experiences that impact their academic, social/emotional, and cognitive
teachers, and mentors as part of the microsystem, or the innermost layer closest to a person.
Therefore, the way in which we work with students at school needs to meet the needs of each
individual student. While I recognize that there are other factors influencing the development of
adolescents, the impact that my role as school counselor can have on their lives needs to be a
References
1. Boyer, B. E., Geurts, H. M., & Van der Oord, S. (n.d.). Planning Skills of Adolescents
With ADHD. JOURNAL OF ATTENTION DISORDERS, 22(1), 46–57.
https://doi-org.libproxy.chapman.edu/10.1177/1087054714538658
2. Clinkinbeard, S., Simi, P., Evans, M., & Anderson, A. (2011). Sleep and Delinquency:
Does the Amount of Sleep Matter? Journal of Youth & Adolescence, 40(7), 916–930.
https://doi-org.libproxy.chapman.edu/10.1007/s10964-010-9594-6
3. Grogan, M., & Weitzman, J. (2015). Using the 12-Steps as a Parenting Intervention With
ADHD Adolescents. American Journal of Family Therapy, 43( 4), 364–377.
https://doi-org.libproxy.chapman.edu/10.1080/01926187.2015.1051904
4. Jones, S., & Hesse, M. (n.d.). Adolescents With ADHD: Experiences of Having an
ADHD Diagnosis and Negotiations of Self-Image and Identity. JOURNAL OF
ATTENTION DISORDERS, 22( 1), 92–102.
https://doi-org.libproxy.chapman.edu/10.1177/1087054714522513
5. Kerig, P. K., Ludlow, A., & Wenar, C. (2012). Developmental Psychopathology. New
York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
6. Lunsford-Avery, J. R., Krystal, A. D., & Kollins, S. H. (n.d.). Sleep disturbances in
adolescents with ADHD: A systematic review and framework for future research.
CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY REVIEW, 50, 159–174.
https://doi-org.libproxy.chapman.edu/10.1016/j.cpr.2016.10.004
7. Murry, V. M., & Lippold, M. A. (n.d.). Parenting Practices in Diverse Family Structures:
Examination of Adolescents’ Development and Adjustment. JOURNAL OF RESEARCH
ON ADOLESCENCE, 28( 3), 650–664.
https://doi-org.libproxy.chapman.edu/10.1111/jora.12390
8. Saab, H., & Klinger, D. (2010). School differences in adolescent health and wellbeing:
Findings from the Canadian Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children Study. Social
Science & Medicine, 70(6), 850–858.
https://doi-org.libproxy.chapman.edu/10.1016/j.socscimed.2009.11.012