Reading notes for Jan. 15

Eccles, et al: Development during adolescence: The impact of stage-environment fit on young adolescents’ experiences in schools and in families

Cushman: Fires in the Bathroom

Jacqueline Eccles and colleagues have adapted the theory of person-environment fit to explain the difficulties many students have with the transition from elementary school to junior high/middle school.  They are especially interested in effects on students’ motivation and engagement in school.  This article summarizes some of the changes in students’ abilities and interests as they enter early adolescence, as well as some of the differences in the environments of elementary and middle school.  Eccles and her research group provide evidence from several studies detailing how conflicts between developmental level and the characteristics of middle schools/junior highs could explain most of the self-esteem and motivational problems that occur in early adolescence.  This is useful information for teachers who wish to create classroom environments that promote motivation, learning, and development.

As you read, reflect on your own experiences in middle school/junior high. In what way do they support or contrast with what Eccles and her colleagues describe?

According to some researchers, optimal motivation and healthy development require that three basic needs be met: the need for relatedness, the need for autonomy, and the need to be or become competent. In what ways might this explain some of Eccles & company’s findings? Given their work, which of these needs might adolescents have difficulty meeting in school? How might these needs help explain some troublesome behaviors seen in adolescents?

Do the ideas in Eccles, et al. help explain the opinions of the adolescents writing in Cushman’s book, Fires in the Bathroom? Find specific examples.