Middle school students are naturally curious about their expanding possibilities. This stage of their lives is a time of transition, of figuring out who they are and where they belong in the world. Many students also think that the world they look at through the classroom window is distant and unconnected to the world of chalkboards and pop…

This article illuminates the current status of our understanding regarding the academic and social-emotional needs of gifted, early adolescent females in the United States. A synthesis of both theoretical and empirical studies addresses two foundational questions. First, how do we describe the unique population of gifted, female, adolescent…

In this article the authors explore the relationship between concepts of identity and the purpose, process, and products of youth media arts organizations. Since the explicit mission of these organizations is to work with adolescents to explore and represent identities, the authors develop our understanding of how organizations conceptualize…

Objectives: To longitudinally describe prosocial behaviour development from childhood to adolescence, using multiple informants within Canadian and Italian samples. Method: Participants in Study 1 were 1037 boys from low socioeconomic status (SES) areas in Montreal, Canada, for whom yearly teacher and mother reports were obtained between the ages…

This brief is a summary of "Increasing the Application of Developmental Sciences Knowledge in Educator Preparation: Policy Issues and Recommendations" by Robert C. Pianta, Randy Hitz and Blake West. It includes highlights and policy recommendations contained in that paper. This brief argues that teachers and education administrators need…

Richard Settersten and Barbara Ray examine the lengthening transition to adulthood over the past several decades, as well as the challenges the new schedule poses for young people, families, and society. The authors begin with a brief history of becoming an adult, noting that the schedule that youth follow to arrive at adulthood changes to meet…

The "Contemporary Health Series" covers critical health and family life topics in a sequence of modules with two curricular divisions: "Into Adolescence" for middle school teachers and "Entering Adulthood" for high school teachers. This module provides high school students with specific tools to plan for their futures beyond high school. The…

This packet contains articles by and for teenagers and articles and tips sheets for educators and parents. Included are: (1) "What Teens Need from Teachers, Parents, and Other Adults" (Stephen Small); (2) "Visually Impaired, Deaf Teens Share Views"; (3) "Teens Benefit from Community Service" (Kelli Krueger); (4) "My Experience in Foster Care;" (5)…

The personality correlates of timing of puberty were investigated in this study. Estimates of total body water/body weight (TBW/BW) ratios obtained from the height and weight measurements of 85 sixth-grade girls were the primary measure of pubertal timing. Information on breast development and menarche was also obtained. Measures included scales…

The effect of the middle school experience upon the pre-adolescent's self-concept development is the focus of this report. Self-concept is defined as an understanding of the self based upon an internal frame of reference. The development of a positive self-concept has been frequently listed as a goal of the middle schools. Five research projects…

The Objective Measure of Ego Identity was administered to 350 adolescents to test the Eriksonian theory of a developmental continuum from role diffusion to identity achievement. The results offer construct validity for the dynamic process proposed by Blos and Erikson, but do not support the categorization procedure as set forth by Adams, Shea, and…

Recognizes concern that today's adolescents, including early adolescents, may be making important life choices such as parenthood before they are developmentally ready for such roles. Deals with pregnancy in adolescents and modes of responding to this phenomenon by those in the counseling and other helping professions. (Author/NRB)

Considers the adjustments adolescents must make to deviations, especially those related to physical norms. While some deviations are due to the timing of development, others are a result of genetics and are therefore permanent. Suggests guidelines for parents, teachers and counselors to assist adolescents in making adjustments to deviations. (BH)

Confirmed the relationship among identity achievement, value competence, and valuing fulfillment, in a study involving 99 college students. Suggested that identity status may reflect axiological maturity, but an increase in the level of such maturity is needed. (JAC)

Reviews 10 items from the ERIC collection covering various aspects of adolescence: the impact of pop music, attitudes about drinking, television viewing, the effect of the new morality, the adolescent learning process, popular books, attitudes toward school, and others. (JMF)