All posts by Mariya Pugacheva

We’re Not Living in the Past

Perspectives & History of Adolescence, Urban Adolescents

“A final theme, the importance of historical change, is woven throughout our discussion. In general, the nature and meaning of adolescence is evolving, with a simultaneous acceleration of transitions into adult norms and values and prolongation of the achievement of autonomy for many segments of the population.” – “Insights on Adolescence From a Life Course Perspective”

I chose this passage because I think this is something that we forget to take into consideration when interacting with adolescents. We have our own experiences of what it was like to be an adolescent and sometimes we may take information and knowledge from that without remembering that these kids were born in a different time and have a different idea of what it means to be going through puberty and adolescence. But this article more generally was talking about socio-economic and biological changes that have happened throughout history that make being a teenager different now than it was then. If educators want to better understand these adolescents and better help them learn, we need to take into account the world that they have grown up in.

Teachers: Don’t “Yuck” Students’ “Yum”

Observing to Learn and Learning to Observe, Urban Adolescents

“Finally, an effective teacher who is able to inspire students by getting to know them can actually do a great deal to overcome anti-academic tendencies. They can do this by getting students to believe in themselves, by getting them to learn how to work hard and persist, and by getting them to dream, plan for the future, and set goals.” Noguera “Joaquin’s Dilemma”

Personally, I may have been an immigrant but I did have it easier in school because on the outside I was white. In 3rd grade I had entered my first public school after being at a predominantly white-Italian Catholic school. It vastly different – not everyone was expected to do well. I was called the teacher’s pet because I was one of the few that actually did the work and was a “goody two shoes”. Continue reading Teachers: Don’t “Yuck” Students’ “Yum” →

Let’s Talk About It

Culturally, Linguistically, and Socioeconomically Diverse Adolescents in Urban Contexts: Framing the Conversation, Urban Adolescents

MVP: Silencing and Nurturing Voice in an Improbable Context: Urban Adolescents in Public School
By: Michelle Fine

I found this reading to be the most important because while some of the other pieces were just as true and just as valuable, this one spoke to me as the issue we could actually start doing something about as educators of adolescents. There are socioeconomic issues in the American society and what we need to do is begin to talk about them and to make students aware. Continue reading Let’s Talk About It →