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CALLP Module 18
CALLP Module 18
CALLP Module 18
Introduction
This Module seeks to facilitate the learning in defining/describing
the high school learners along physical, cognitive, socio-emotional
development. There are also activities provided for you in order to
deepen and strengthen your knowledge about the topic. You need to
answer them with sincerity and great focus so that you will be equipped
with things that relate to the development of the adolescent learners.
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Are you ready for today’s lesson? This time, you are
tasked to read the texts below and be able to comprehend it
well.
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Defining adolescence
Puberty changes
Throughout life, growth hormones condition gradual increases in body size and
weight. Hormone flooding during adolescence causes an acceleration known as growth
spurts. Growth spurts include a change in body dimensions (leg length, shoulder width, trunk
length). Spurt in height is ascribed to trunk growth rather than leg growth. In girls, the growth
spurts generally begin at age 10 reaching its peak at age 11 and-a-half, while slow continual
growth occurs for several more years. For boys, growth spurts begin at age 12 reaching a
peak at age 14 and declining at age 15 and a half, while slow continual growth continues on
for several more years. Among girls, 98% of adult height is generally reached at age 16, while
boys do so at age 17. Growth in height is conditioned by stages in bone maturation. The
muscles also grow in terms of size and strength. Similar growth spurts occur for weight,
muscle size, head and face maturation, and the reproductive organs. All muscular and
skeletal dimensions appear to take part in the growth spurts during adolescence.
The elevation of the female breast is the first external sign of puberty in girls,
accompanied by growth of the uterus and vagina. Generally, girls achieve menarche
beginning age 11 until age 13. There are ethnic differences such as African American and
European American girls exhibiting secondary sex activities as early as 8 and 9 years;
menarche as early as 11 and 12 years, respectively.
In contrast with menarche, spermarche signals the first sign of puberty and sexual
maturity in boys. The need to discharge semen-mixed with a sticky fluid produced by the
prostate gland -occurs periodically. Discharge of semen occurs during sleep caused by sexual
dreams. It may also occur during conscious manipulation of the male sexual organ known as
masturbation. Religion strictly prohibits masturbation that is coupled with sexual fantasies, but
science liberally regards masturbation as a normal phenomenon unless it becomes a habitual
aberration that may affect confidence in heterosexual (boy-and-girl) relationship.
The secular trend is a phenomenon of more rapid physical maturation during this
century. In the 1800s, girls in industrial societies had their first menstrual period at age 15-17,
and age later in repressed societies. Today boys reach their maximum height at age 18-20
and 13- 14 for girls, but adult height 100 years ago was at 23-25 for boys and 19-20 for girls.
The secular trend is ascribed to varied factors, such as: interaction of genetic and
environmental influences, improved health care and living conditions, and control of infectious
diseases. Better nutrition is a major factor since this provides more protein and calories for
humans from conception upwards. Observably, the secular trend in industrial countries
appears to be levelling off while the experience of secular trends is just starting in peasant
economies of the world.
Sexual identity
Coming to terms with a positive LGBT (lésbian, gay, bisexual and transgender)
identity is usually difficult for variety of reasons, including family, race and religious cultures.
Risks to the homosexual adolescent are real mid a heteronormative environment and LGBTs
may suffer ostracism, hurtful jokes, and even violence.
Self-esteem
Piaget formulated the theory of Formal Operational Thinking which demonstrates how
the cognitive capacity of the adolescent allows him/ her to go beyond the sensible and concrete
in order to dwell on what is abstract, hypothetical and possible. More specifically, formal
operational thinking consists in:
a. Propositional thinking - making assertions outside visual evidence, and stating what
may be possible in things not seen by the eyes (for example, whether an unseen object
is red or green, big or small, flat or round).
b. Relativistic thinking - subjectively making an opinion on facts involving one's own bias,
prejudice of distortion of facts - which may be either right or wrong (for example, arguing
for or against the superiority of the races, whether white, brown, yellow or black).
c. Real versus possible examining a situation and exploring the possible in terms of
situations or solutions (e.g. possible success in implementing a student project or a
school policy). "
For Piaget one indication of the presence of formal operational thinking is the ability of
the adolescent thinker for combinational analysis, which is his taking stock of the effects of
several variables in a situation, testing one variable at a time, and not randomly. An application
of a situation which requires combinational analysis is the school laboratory experiment where
high school students test chemical elements singly and in combination, resulting in an
understanding of chemical changes.
Scientific evidence shows that while adolescents may obtain the capacity for formal
operational thinking, only experience and education will allow them to practice it. School math
and science activities such as performing Physics-type problems (balance scales, pendulums,
projections of images and shadows, etc.) certainly help in actualizing formal operational thinking.
Outside formal operational thinking through mathematical and science studies, the
adolescent enters into a new capability which makes him a problem-solving thinker. This
involves identifying problems and seeking new and creative solutions for them. The problem-
finding thinker is one who is able to rethink and reorganize ideas and ask questions, even
defining totally new problems not previously seen.
The adolescent may further experience an increase in depth of thought. Thus he/she is
able to bring what is logically "best" for everyday life, whether or not this may be the objectively
correct solution or response to a situation or problem.
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In his experiments, Siegler used rule models in relation to balance, weight, distance,
conflict-weight, conflict-distance, and other conflict balance problems. He examined the correct
and wrong answers to each of the problems, drawing out rule models in thinking and knowing.
a. speed in information processing, coupled with greater awareness and control and
acquired knowledge base a more efficient kind of thinking compared with that of
the child
Metacognition
Overachievement
During adolescence, he/she can achieve very high academic grades, in spite
of not getting 1Q grades that are at the top 3 or 5 percent of the bell curve. The case
of overachievers is a reminder that the Intelligence Quotient test is not the only
determinant in school achievement. There are other factors such as motivation interest,
work habits, and personality development. Beyond statistical achievement in curricular
subjects (English, Math, Science, Araling Panlipunan, etc.) the overachieving
adolescent may demonstrate superior work habits, greater interest in school work,
more consistency in doing assignments, and more grade/ performance consciousness.
Overall, they show more responsibility, consciousness and planning compared with
"normal" achievers. Characteristics of overachievers are:
1. Positive self- value (self-esteem, confidence, optimism);
2. Openness to authority (responsive to expectations of parents and teachers);
3. Positive interpersonal relations (responsive and sensitive to feelings of others);
4. Less conflict on the issue of self-autonomy (feels freedom to make right
choices, initiates and leads activities);
5. Academic orientation (disciplined work habits, high motivation to discover and
learn, interest in study values and varied fields of study);
6. Goal orientation (efficiency and energy in organizing, planning, setting target,
prioritizing long-term goals over short-term rewards); and
7. Control over anxiety (well composed and relaxed performance of organized
tasks).
Underachievement
The adolescent may perform below the standards set. Possible potentials do
not cope with the opportunity to learn and score in the top quarter of measured
academic ability. Grades are below measured aptitudes for academic achievement.
Underachievement may become more pronounced when high school class work
becomes more demanding. Withdrawn underachievers refer to those who have a
more pronounced tendency to be passive resulting in being submissive and docile.
They follow the path of no resistance, not reacting to given assignments and school
regulations. Generally quiet, they do not participate in class activities. Aggressive
underachievers are those who tend to be talkative, disruptive and rebellious.
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2. Idealism. This refers to imagining the far-fetched and less ideal situations at
home, in school, and in society. The teen may imagine a utopia or heaven on
earth leading to discouragement when social realities become harsh (e.g.
unexpected low grades, family discord, etc.).
c. Activities in school that allow participation, such as projects, field trips, joint
internet research, etc., and
During adolescence the teen develops social cognition in the context of family structure,
the school, the community, and media. He also manifests emotions which need to be regulated
for success in school as well as for his own emotional well-being. In the classroom, the teacher
has the mandate for creating a positive learning environment, while facilitating the students'
sound moral judgment. This module will describe the adolescent age trend in social behavior as
the student interacts with the School, the community and the larger social environment.
Human emotions
Generally, emotions are commonly known as human feelings that are manifested by
varied conscious or unconscious moods. A more accurate description is that it is a subjective
reaction to internal or external stimulus that involves physical change, action or appraisal. Thus,
the child reacts to inner hunger for food or comfort from surrounding environment. The unique
patterns of emotions are (i) event that is strong or important (ii) physiological changes in heart
pulse rate, brain activity, hormone levels and body temperature (iii) readiness for action often
described as "fight or flight" (iv) dependence of the emotion on how the stimulus is appraised or
interpreted. Biologists view that the part of the body which controls emotional reactions is the
autonomic nervous system connected to most of the glands and muscles in the body. The
system has two parts: the sympathetic part which excites or arouses and the parasympathetic
part which depresses body functions. These parts coordinate for arousal or slowing down amid
the challenges of life.
Emotions function by focusing attention, motivating and enabling the individual to face a
situation in life or withdraw and run away from it. Positive emotions like interest and joy motivate
the individual to continue his/her behavior. On the other hand, negative emotions may cause
withdrawal from what may be perceived as bad or dangerous. For Charles Darwin there are six
basic emotions, namely interest, joy/ happiness, sadness, anger, disgust and fear. Other
scientists expanded the list to include love, pride, hope, gratitude, compassion, jealousy and
anxiety.
Social emotions
Social emotions start to emerge as early as the toddler years (15-24 months) comprised
by such feelings as envy, embarrassment, shame, guilt and pride. Observable emotions during
these years may not be accurate, but they can be a problem if not controlled. Even among early
learners, emotions affect learning, since learners pay more attention to things with emotional
significance. Emotions can also organize recall, such that learners tend to remember details of
emotionally strong experiences.
In time, emotional competence can be developed by the child and this means he/she
gains the ability to regulate emotions and understand the emotions of other people. Girls are
more skilled in regulating emotions, but they are more likely than boys to be anxious, and twice
as likely to be depressed. Adolescent girls are more likely than boys to have both negative and
positive interactions with family and friends.
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1. Corpuz, B.B., Lucas, MR. D., Borabo, HD. L. & Lucido, P. I. (2018). The Child
and Adolescent Learners and Learning Principles, Lorimar Publishing Inc.,
Quezon City, Philippines.
2. Corpuz, B.B., Lucas, MR. D., Borabo, HD. L. & Lucido, P. I. (2010). The Child
and Adolescent Development: Looking at Learners at Different Life
Stages, Lorimar Publishing Inc., Quezon City, Philippines.
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