Understanding Middle Schoolers

Do you have trouble understanding middle schoolers?

If you have trouble understanding pre-teens and young teenagers, you're not alone! Many people have trouble understanding middle schoolers, so don't feel bad if their behavior confounds you at times. An infographic I found on Twitter is here to help. I watch social media closely and it's my job to share some of the hot topics on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and other outlets that teachers, principals, students, and parents are contributing.

Dan McCabe posted an infographic on his Twitter account about how the mind of a middle schooler works. The infographic comes from Brain Waves Instruction and gives small insights into the mind of a middle school child. For example, it states that up to 40 percent of the time, an adolescent will misinterpret emotions and instructions. I'm sure this fact surprises no one who is around middle schoolers often. You can see that fact and others listed in the infographic below.

According to the infographic, the years between 10 and 15 are some of the most essential to a person's learning because that's the age range when people experience their greatest brain growth. That's why its imperative we try to understand middle schoolers and how they learn.

How will knowing these facts improve your teaching skills? Do any of these facts surprise you? If so, which ones and why? Do you know any other facts that could help teachers understand middle schoolers?

Tori Pakizer is the Social Media Editor at SimpleK12.com. She writes regularly about the use of educational technology in K-12 classrooms, and specializes in how teachers use Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and other social media. You can follow Tori and SimpleK12 on Twitter @SimpleK12. If you have ideas for using social media in schools, please send your information or tip to editor@simplek12.com.