The Development of Adolescents

This chapter discusses several developmental aspects that affect our students: intellectual, moral, developmental, physical, and how they develop as a reader. All these are important to librarians because our goal is to know our students, and with these things in mind, we can match the student with the perfect book.

Unfortunately, society adds an enormous amount of pressure to the lives of our students and children. Some may become extremely unsatisfied with their looks and wonder if they are normal. They dislike what they see in the mirror and struggle to accept their appearance. Others may struggle with their sexuality and an internal battle is occurring in their mind, for they do not fit that mold society has created. As librarians, it is imperative that we purchase books that students can relate to and show that the characters struggle with similar situations.  Through these books, the students must be reminded that current situations are not permanent. Library books should give students hope and an understanding that all teens struggle but are also able to flourish. Another thing to keep in mind is the students’ cognitive development. As teacher librarians, we will have to teach.  We must be aware they may not have the ability to answer abstract questions or read books that require this way of thinking. Students at or around age fourteen, may can answer complex questions. But, we must always be observant and detect body language that may indicate confusion. If this occurs, we must provide scaffolding prior to questioning the students.

As children grow up, they interact and build friendships quite different from when they were younger. They become young adults and interact with those who they identify with and may even feel more confident about being friends with the opposite sex (they stop having cooties). Young adults start seeking ways to earn money due to the desire to gain independence (and money can help with that). They also think about who they are and what they believe in. They dream about their future and become more focused on figuring out what they want to do when they grow up.

Morality is another element that changes as children mature and become young adults or adults. We move from behaving because we enjoy rewards or fear punishments, to possibly sacrificing our lives so others may live. As librarians, we must understand that children may not be at the moral level a specific book requires the reader to be to fully grasp its message.

As human beings, we all have different needs that must be met for us to thrive in society. We must be well rested and fed to be able to function. We also need to feel safe, loved, and respected. And, we need to know that they sky's the limit and we can be whatever we want to be. We must not forget that children and young adults also have these needs. They require books that touch on these subjects and help them feel loved and accepted.

What kind of readers do we serve? That is an excellent question to ask when we are hired as a librarian. Knowing and understanding our students’ reading development can help us meet their needs. Some students read books written by their favorite author and enjoy series. Others look for books that resemble their own lives or are looking to experience new things. And, many read to simply to laugh or cry with the characters and become part of the book.  

Through an effective reference interview, we can successfully match a book to a student based on his likes, dislikes, or needs. Successfully? Maybe not successfully!  I used to think that if I mastered the skill of “reference interviewing,” I had nothing else to worry about. Now, I know I must keep in mind their developmental stages to truly match the student to the correct book or resource. My library must have a balanced collection that meets the different stages the students I serve may find themselves in. An excellent way to start knowing my students, is looking at reports that provide data such as students’ first language, income, or parents education level. Of course, these may just be numbers and our children are more than numbers, but it is a good place to start. Developing relationships with students and parents can also help me modify my collection to ensure I am providing equal access to the student who is coming to school hungry or to the student who has a mini library at home.