Erikson Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt in Middle School Children

Industry vs. Inferiority in Middle School ChildrenBy: Alexandra BluthWebster UniversityEPSY 5150

AudienceI believe this topic would be most beneficial to present to a group of middle school teachersI would present this during professional development, at my current middle schoolThey need to be aware of the issues our students face and variety of developmental concepts in order to better help our studentsThis will provide them with better understanding of our students social emotional state and what interventions they can play a part in to help our students grow

Industry vs. InferiorityAs explained in learning theories:

This is called the Latency stagecapable of learning, creating and accomplishing numerous new skills and knowledge, thus developing a sense of industry.social stage of development and if we experience unresolved feelings of inadequacy and inferiority among our peers, we can have serious problems in terms of competence and self-esteem.

Industry vs. InferiorityRelating with peersA sense of community within the schoolMoving from free play or unstructured time with peers to play with rules and frame work requiring teamwork in a more structure settingSeen through sportsmastering school material, such as: social studies, reading, arithmeticPreparing for High school and College, academically

RelationshipsThis stage is often seen in school age children, between 6-12 years old

Social relationships change as such, friends group and role models shiftParents are still important but no longer the main authoritySchool and neighborhood become our most significant relationship

Student BelongingnessThere have been a variety of studies to determine what plays a part in students feelings of belonging in school and society

Teachers' beliefs of students' place in the social ranking and students' felling of being accepted were not relatedStudents varied in the value they placed on student-student and student-teacher relationships in their definitions of belongingness

Perspectives on Middle School Aged ChildrenStudents are viewed as those who can easily be duped or persuaded by societies overall messageThey are influenced by not only their teachers but their peersStudents who reject society find meaning through consumerism and mass media They are being separated from values, languages and practices of todays society

Moving from School to SchoolIt is extremely common for students to move throughout middle schoolIt has been called into question, in multiple studies that as students move their identities could be tethered to multiple settingsThis will cause a struggle for students to feel accepted and find a social group in which they can feel as though they belong

BrainstormingWhat questions come to mind for you?

What have you experienced as issues, as a middle school student and teacher?

How does our changing society impact adolescents of today?

With the Questions RaisedWhat positive changes can be made?What interventions should we put into place?

Questions RaisedWhat happens when students do not have a sense of self to base their decisions off of?When students are falling behind in school what role does this play in their level of self worth and what interventions can be given?What types of support can be given to students when they are unsure of where they belong?

InterventionsStudents should be offered a community meeting spaceA time where they can bring up social and community issues they are havingCreate a sense of community within the school, allowing them to have people to come and talk to when strugglingTutoring groups provided to ensure a positive outlook and confidence in schoolStudents should be offered a mentorship program, either with adults or college studentsA positive role modelSomeone who will help them interact and determine what is appropriate behavior

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