Socio-emotional Development

Development Characteristics Implications to Teaching

1. Strong need for peer approval and Employment of collaborative learning

belongingness through higher academic engagement

2. Decreasing need for adult approval Employment of affirmation/affirmative

language and positive reinforcement
3. Wants independence in decision-making

4. Rebellious and defiant of authority but

still dependent on adults

5. Seek secure social environment of peers

when they feel adult rejection

6. Torn between conformity to or being Employment of experiential and explorative

distinct from their peers learning through providing activities that
allow them to take on new roles
7. Experiment with new behaviors as they
seek social identity

8. Issues of sexual orientation and identity Implementation of emotional support

system and gender sensitivity in the class

9. Negative peer associations Teaching about negative/unhealthy

relationships through contextualization
during lessons instead of direct
confrontation

10. Social and emotional vulnerability due to Provision of assessment activities that
media influence (bandwagoning) encourage critical-thinking and firm stands

11. Romantic/sexual attraction Less to no prying into private relationships,

but necessitates the teacher’s role of
reminding students of school rules

12. Tend to emulate their esteemed peers Employment of affirmation/affirmative

and non-parent adults. language and positive reinforcement