Professional Growth - Being Popular: Why it Consumes Teens and Continues to Affect Adults

A great ARTICLE from KQED's Mindshift that mirrors our conversation during Monday's staff meeting regarding social/emotional needs of teens. 

The article explores the complicated nature of the pecking order inside and outside our classroom including where social media fits in. "Unfortunately, one of the fastest ways to get attention from peers is to exercise “dominance, aggression, and power, and that is where the second form of popularity — status — is formed.” 

According to the author, even in high school, "when assigning group work, teachers shouldn’t assume that teenagers have the skills to work together effectively, said Prinstein. Small groups are often a microcosm of larger social dynamics — and can be both powerful and potentially painful for participants."

Finally, the cost/benefit of navigating these social pressures truly results in “the ability to interact with peers and remain emotionally regulated predicts addiction, dropout rates, relationships issues and even child-rearing ability.”