Transcript
Page 1: Transition into secondary school

Transition into Secondary SchoolParent Information Night

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It is the Best of Times,

It is the Worst of Times

Tanya Dickenson

School Counsellor

Puberty

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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

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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

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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…..

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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

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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

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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

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Changes in the Beginning of Adolescence

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Developmental process out of synch

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A set of core self regulation skills mature during this time, although more slowly than the emotional changes

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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

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Intellectual and Psychosocial Maturity

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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

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Affects in Family Members

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Often pubertal stage is more strongly associated with mental health outcomes than is age or other transitions (eg school)

Puberty and Mental Health

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Students look forward to More freedom

New challenges

Other subjects

Different teachers

Opportunity to make new friends

High School

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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)

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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.

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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

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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)

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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.

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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

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Social world of Girls

Social World

Queen Bee

Torn Bystander

Target

Champion

Sidekick

Banker

Messenger

Pleaser/ Wannabe

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Social world of boys

Interests

Sport

Technology

Cultural Girls

Other Interests

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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

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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.


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