Welcome to High School!A Developmental Profile of 9th Grade students Chelsey Brown and
Seth Blakeslee
Areas of DevelopmentEmotional Social
Moral Behavioral
PhysicalIntellectual
• Fear/Uncertainty• Moodiness• Loneliness
Emotional Development
• Focus on acceptance• Seeking independence• Self-absorbed
Social Development
• Finding themselves• Searching for identity• Experimentation
Moral Development
• Distancing selves from parents (rebelling)• Spending time on socially-focused behaviors(appearance, sports,working out, etc.)
Behavioral Development
• Developing capacity for abstract thought• Increased awareness ofcause and effect• Capable of setting goals, but not necessarily realistic ones
Intellectual Development
• Most are nearing end ofgrowth (esp. girls)• Acceptance or rejectionof physical appearance
Physical Development
Instructional Techniques3 things to remember about 9th-grade students: transition, transition, transition!
•Focus on study skills (note-taking, time management, reading comprehension)•Give your class some structure – this will ease the transition (consistent routines and expectations)•Plenty of facilitated social interaction in class (group work, partner interaction)
StrategiesDo:Push your studentsGuide themSet high expectationsProvide specific instructionsRecognize need to fit inUnderstand their transitionRecognize and appreciate individualityRecognize need for independenceDevelop mentoring relationshipsMake an appeal to student interestsDon’t:
Baby your studentsExpect them to act like seniorsBelittle themOverwhelm them with pending doom (fear of failure is already too great)
Areas of Concern•Transitional year: new environment, new pressures, new distractions•Course failures, expulsion/suspension rates, dropout rates higher in 9th gradethan in any other High School grade levels
Areas of Interest for Teachers•Find ways to incorporate self-reflection or opinions in classroom
- Journal writing)•Develop lines of communication with Middle School teachers
- Enhances community•Work collaboratively with other teachers (families/teams)
- Increases consistency- Creates more supportive environment
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