Thirteen
Thirteen is an example of a movie that covers the life of an adolescent. The movie was released in 2003 and it covers the life of a twelve-year-old girl named Tracy who is a junior high student. Tracy starts abusing drugs, getting involved in sexual acts and also indulges in crime after getting into a friendship with a troubled member of her class.
Mean Girls
Mean girls is another American movie that describes the life of adolescent teenage girls. The movie was produced in 2004 and describes the life of Cady Heron. The movie describes how teenage girls get into fights and the extents they are willing to go to get revenge over their friends who have wronged them.
American Pie
Another example of a movie involving teenagers and adolescents is the American pie. It is an American TV series that started airing in 1999. The movie features a group of senior high school students who are sexually naïve and are eager to experience the feeling of having sex.
Adolescents and Their Issues
In all the above movies, Adolescents are described to be naïve, clueless, and lost. They get into unhealthy relationships that threaten their wellbeing and lead them into immorality. Sex is a major issue among adolescents. Most teenagers are curious about sex and most of them are so determined to get into the act. Drug and substance abuse are also another problem that adolescents face when they are lost and cannot differentiate between right and wrong.
Issues that adolescents faced were as a result of lack of character. Most teenagers do not have the character to say no to their friends that are taking them in the wrong direction. The issues can also be associated with lack of care. Some parents do not give their children the required care and hence they don’t know the way to follow. Lack of confidence also plays a major role in the issues affecting Adolescents. Teenagers are faced with esteem issues and as a result, they seek approval from their peers. In the process, they end up doing crazy things just to fit in and be accepted by their friends. Allen’s four ways to help teens become mature were absent as most parents were not aware of what was going on in their kid's lives.
Chapter 10
Mrs. Johnson has exceptional students in her class who require more attention than the majority. Her class has exceptionally good students and weaker students. These two groups of students require a different level of attention. Contemporary approaches will make her teaching become more effective as she will be able to accommodate all her students.
Involving Students
In order to improve the classroom atmosphere, Mrs. Johnson should involve the students by asking questions and also asking them to participate in other classroom activities. The relationship between the teacher and her students is key to their well-being and their achievements. Therefore, Mrs. Johnson should strive to create a healthy relationship with the students.
Understanding Students
In order to understand her students, she should determine each student's strengths and weaknesses. She should also seek to know how her students relate to each other. Mrs. Johnson should also be dedicated to ensuring that her students get as much from her as they can.
Parents' Role
Pomerantz states that parents are key to the success of their children. Parents should motivate their children by giving incentives or gifts for good results. Also, parents should talk to their children frequently to establish the problems they are dealing with, especially emotional problems. Parents should also tame their children to ensure that they are moving in the right direction.
Peer Pressure
Peer pressure is the most common problem that adolescents face. Peer pressure is defined as being directly influenced by members of your peer group. It results in following one's peers and changing your values and character to fit in. The effects of peer pressure can be positive or negative depending on the nature of the individuals involved. Studying peer pressure would help me have a better understanding of adolescents as each and every teenager is affected by peer pressure. Adolescents are very concerned with fitting in and gaining approval from their peers. Therefore understanding peer pressure would help teenagers know how to deal with negative peer pressure. From studying peer pressure, I want to know why most adolescents are still victims of negative peer pressure irrespective of the number of times they are warned against its effects on their lives.
