Download - Transition into secondary school
Transition into Secondary SchoolParent Information Night
It is the Best of Times,
It is the Worst of Times
Tanya Dickenson
School Counsellor
Puberty
Puberty refers to the biological development processes by which a child’s body changes into an adult body capable of sexual reproduction
It affects not only the body but also the brain, reorienting psychological processing of emotional and social stimuli
Puberty – The defining transition from childhood to adulthood
Measures of most abilities indicate adolescence is the healthiest and most resilient period of the lifespan.
From Childhood to Adolescence: Improvements in strength, speed, reaction time, mental
reasoning abilities,
Yet, more mental health issues arise in this time than any other.
The Health Paradox of Adolescence
Primary causes of death and disability are related to problems with control of behaviour and emotion.
Increasing rates of accidents, suicide, depression, alcohol & substance use, violence reckless behaviour, eating disorders, problems related to risky sexual behaviours…..
Youth are heated by Nature as drunken men by wine. Aristotle
I would that there were no age between ten and twenty three…for there is nothing in between but getting wenches with child, wronging the ancientry, stealing, fighting…
Shakespeare (The Winter’s Tale; Act III)
Adolescence
That awkward period between sexual maturation and the attainment of adult roles and responsibilities.
Sensation seeking
Risk-taking
Peer directed interactions
These behaviours not only promote the skills necessary for independence bit also create greater vulnerability to emotional and behavioural dysregulation
Adolescence
The dramatic historical change to earlier onset of puberty impacts not only the physical aspects of development but also the social experiences of young adolescents.
The context of early adolescence in modern life
Changes in the Beginning of Adolescence
Developmental process out of synch
A set of core self regulation skills mature during this time, although more slowly than the emotional changes
Ability to control social and emotional behaviour Resistance to peer influence – lots of emotional work
It’s like revving an engine but waiting for brain development. All revved up and nowhere to go!
Emotional maturity is the ability to control and regulate Kids are having all of the emotions, they just don’t know what to
do with them.
Psychosocial Development
Intellectual and Psychosocial Maturity
The emotional responses to the changes in sex steroids are still poorly understood
All families and societies describe a marked change in children with respect to their relationships with the parents, peers and members of the opposite gender
Violent events by males increase dramatically in adolescence
Emotional and Social Changes in Puberty
Affects in Family Members
Often pubertal stage is more strongly associated with mental health outcomes than is age or other transitions (eg school)
Puberty and Mental Health
Girls who go through puberty early, have a greater chance of developing depression
Boys who go through puberty later, have a greater likelihood of developing depression
Smaller – social stressors eg, not as strong, can’t physically do as much
Girls are twice as likely as boys to develop depression during adolescence
Father Absence
Early Life Stress Family stress early in life predicts early puberty in girls
Prior Symptoms Children with higher levels of problems before puberty tend to
have earlier puberty
Determinants of Pubertal Timing
Puberty is associated with positive development and risks
Early puberty is associated with increased risk for problems such as depression, especially in girls.
Boys are more complex, with studies showing that both early and late puberty can increase risk in boys
Implications
Adolescence do not sleep enough, however, when they do sleep, it’s good quality sleep
Biologically, they prefer to go to bed later and get up later.
Not sure if we will be changing the time school starts to accommodate them
Peer group available 24/7 Increased risk of depression and suicide
Kids become unmotivated to improve sleep
Sleep
Students look forward to More freedom
New challenges
Other subjects
Different teachers
Opportunity to make new friends
High School
The social hierarchy is reshuffled
Students in schools with a formal transition program are less frequently bullied
Small rural schools, where everyone knows each other - consequences
Absence of physical transition, know the rules, teachers etc
Absence of social network changes. They know the students.
Settling in Socially
For students wellbeing and belonging, they need to connect with
School
Teachers
Students
Students connectedness in secondary school is a predictor of academic and health outcomes
Decreased classroom and peer problems
Decreased emotional problems
Increased social skills
Student Connectedness
Researchers in this area, suggest that for a smoother transition to high school, schools need to give priority to pastoral care strategies
Rural students demonstrate a higher sense of belonging than their urban peers when transitioning to high school
Communicate, Communicate, Communicate!!!
You are their constant
You are their best support
Encourage them to learn from their mistakes
Support their decisions (the good ones!)
Encourage them to seek assistance when needed
Share your experiences
Do not be afraid to say NO!
Parents
What is “transition”?
‘a period of change that can be both challenging and exciting, in which children and families adjust to new roles, identities and expectations, new interactions and new relationships’ (DEECD, 2011)
Why is all this important?
Change is difficult. 11/12 year olds move from self-contained classrooms, to larger more diverse groups.
There is an increase in expectations of students to be independent academic performers;
changes to peer groups with concerns around social acceptance which can lead to low self-esteem
Declines in academic performance giving rise to anxiety and depression levels.
Transition is a social and academic turning point for adolescents.
Student Belonging and Well-being
1. Social connection is very important for adolescents. Positive outcomes in this area can lead to increased academic motivation.
2. Gender differences: girls’ difficulty around transition can be centred on the forming of new friendships; boys have difficulty negotiating the change in school setting.
3. Divorced/Separated families: girls from these families find making friends more difficult than boys, though they are better adjusted to the academic characteristics of transition.
4. Marston’s (2008) study found that boys struggled more with transition than girls.
5. Students look forward to more freedom, new challenges, other subjects, different teachers and the opportunity to make new friends.
6. Connectedness in secondary is a strong predictor of academic success
Support: Teachers and Parents
Bru et. al (2010) suggests that: ‘Teachers’ ability to support students is a crucial element for quality learning environments. Students who feel supported by teachers are found to have positive motivational orientation to school work, and experience positive social and emotioal well-being (p.519-20)
Support: Peers
Attendance at primary schools where friendships survive the move to secondary school have a profound effect on the how children settle into secondary school and how likely they are to form solid and stable friendships later in life (Weller, 2007).
Social aspects of transition to secondary school often outweigh the significance of academic outcomes.
Social lives of adolescents: buckle up!
It is expected:
That teenagers’ relationships will be complex
That teenagers will experience conflict in these relationships
That some teenagers will experience some form of negative peer interaction – this is normal.
That, initially, teenagers should be able to be given the opportunity to work this all out for themselves
Social world of Girls
Social World
Queen Bee
Torn Bystander
Target
Champion
Sidekick
Banker
Messenger
Pleaser/ Wannabe
Social world of boys
Interests
Sport
Technology
Cultural Girls
Other Interests
Academic Outcomes
Factors which affect academic outcomes:
Participation in extra-curricular (positive engagement with school; increased commitment to school)
Teacher bonding, popularity
Positive social relationships are protective against low academic performance
Participation in transition programs by both students and teachers
Family-school connectedness
Dimensions of parent involvement: direct participation, academic encouragement and expectations of attainment.
Pubertally advanced students need stronger authoritative boundaries than their less developed peers (Mothers are very important here).
Smooth transition is aided by parents who: remain a constant support; monitor their child’s activities; intervene positively.