Chapter 1:Knowing Students Well

1. "Teachers should realize they are working with kids who feel that they are somewhat adults and don't like to be treated as little kids" (p.7 Alexis). This jumped out at me as a perfect definition of a teenager. There is a constant struggle in adolescence between independence and dependence. Alexis herself couldn't describe it, so she used the word "somewhat".
2. The tadpole adults: almost there, but not the full frog. The tough part is that they don't have a sign on them to tell you if at that moment they are feeling like a kid or an adult, and they expect you to know! If you treat them like an adult when they are in kid mode, you could damage your relationship. Teachers have the second hardest job involving this age group. Their parents have it the worst. I think a teacher can actually influence what side of that fence the teen is on by managing the relationship, and being the even keel who is not their parent.