Monday April 7, 2014

Circle Question: What is something you think has changed about being a teenager since your parents time?

Check Homework

Review notes:
What have we learned so far?

Notes-

Reasonable to assume that no one understands them.
Once kid becomes a teenager its almost like they get invaded by another brain and this throws the parents off.
Teenage years are just another phase of child development.  Parents need to remember this.
Dramatic brain growth just before puberty.
Biology of teen behavior is just starting to be explored through things like CAT scans and MRI's.
Frontal Cortex has a growth spurt right before puberty.  Frontal cortex thickens at this time.
Previous thinking was that the brain stopped changing by age three.  That is changing.
Neural pathways are created and strengthened by using them.  If not they are lost.
Use it or loose it.
We are creating those pathways as a teenager.
Prefrontal Cortex...planning behavior...Chief executive. Our ability to change our minds happens here.
Prefrontal Cortex regulates emotions as it grows.  Thats why adults don't have the mood swings like teenagers do.
Research shows that children's transition to puberty is like the transition to being a baby.  In fact its like a 2nd wave of overproduction of brain cells in the pre-frontal cortex.
Adolesence is a time of high risk behavior.  Teenagers are not making reasoned decisions.
Regulation of mood change is happening in the PFC
Growth in the Cerebellum is now known to smooth out emotions and thoughts.  This keeps developing into your mid 20's.
Teenagers require at least 9.25 hours of sleep per night.  

Inside the Teenage Brain
Preload questions 2 minutes
Notes on movie:
1. Five things you always suspected about being a teenager and the movie confirms.
2. Five things you just learned about being a teenager that you never heard or thought of.



Homework Due:
Interview an adult or parent about what they thought was the hardest thing about being a teenager  when they were growing up? (First make a prediction) And what is the hardest thing they think teenagers face today? (First make a prediction)  After the interview share with them what you thought they would say.  Were you right?  If not, explain why you came up with different answers.  These responses must be written down.