Adolescents at School: Perspectives on Youth, Identity, and Education

by Michael Sadowski (Editor), Deborah Meier

As any teacher or parent knows, adolescence is a time when youth grapple with the question, “Who am I?” Issues of race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexual orientation, and ability can complicate this question for young people, affecting their schoolwork and their relationships with teachers, family, and peers.

This new edition of Adolescents at School builds and expands the strengths and insights of the much-acclaimed first edition. Drawing from the perspectives of teachers, researchers, and administrators—and adolescents themselves—it examines the complex, changing identities young people manage while they confront the challenges of schools.

A uniquely practical, insightful, and jargon-free volume, Adolescents at School points to ways to foster the success of every student in our schools and classrooms.

Genres: Education, Nonfiction, Teaching, Read For School, Textbooks

264 pages, Paperback

Published August 1, 2008

Reviews

[Jana Hoffpauir · Rating 5 out of 5]

This should be required reading for anyone working with pre-teen to young adult age range in education. A good read with many perspectives and tons of research.

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is not a solution to the issues of adolescent identity development and education. Rather, it offers food for thought on the variety and complexity of adolescent issues.

I was really surprised by this book. The range of topics, as well as the insights of each of the authors, have given me much to consider in approaching education and building relationships with my students.

[Kara Jones · Rating 1 out of 5]

YUCK! A bunch of PC garbage!!! 250 pages of yada yada yada. I am so glad it is over! I really hope I get a reasonable buy back on this book. Did I mention I didn't really enjoy this book???

[Katherine Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book that explores all areas of identity formation. The interviews with adolescents are poignant and extremely beneficial to educators who wish to do all they can for those who have "fallen through the cracks". The adolescents speak for themselves: Sadowski does not try to speak for them or over them. Instead, he provides context and clarity. All educators should read this book.

[Nicholas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book on issues of Adolescent development and identity in the school contest with chapters by a host of well known experts. Deals with issues from race and culture, to gender, sexuality, social class, disability, faith, and the general complexity of adolescent identity formation. I have used this with excellent reception for my courses on adolescent development for high school teacher candidates.

[Ricardo Garcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely recommend to any professional (from teachers to policymakers) working with YAs

[Kayla Connolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

so so helpful for anyone wanting to teach middle grades students!!

[Ryan Mooney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent collection of journal-based essays on issues surrounding adolescence and public education. It informs the reader of interventions that schools can use to improve their faculty's understanding of racial, cultural and gender differences. There are several vignettes about student success stories and public school's that are making an effort to accommodate diverse populations.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a collection of essays about many different types of adolescents, from LGBT students to Asian-American students to boys vs. girls. In the end, this book affirmed for me that there are certain universal truths about adolescents, especially in terms of forging a self-identity at that age. I found it very helpful to read the array of essays. The writing is accessible and direct, not overly wordy like some similar texts.

[Nicholas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each section deals with a different identity issue–such as race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and disability, social class–and includes an essay and then a profile and/or commentary on the issue. It is not meant to be comprehensive, but rather offer perspectives on these issue that inform and open up one’s thinking. Each is powerful in its own way, and include the voices of the students themselves. Authors include Pedro Noguera, Beverly Daniel Tatum and Sonia Lee among others.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a collection of essays about teens and the sorts of things that affect their lives, specifically in school. Most of the essays are awesome and insightful. I had to read it for a class, but it was definitely an enjoyable read, and would be a great resource for a parent of a teen or anyone who will be working with teenagers.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super rare that a textbook is intriguing enough to finish reading the whole thing including the parts that weren't assigned by the professor so I decided to add it to my Goodreads. If you are looking for a book that explores the different identities that adolescents carry, this textbook is great!

[Ashlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was detailed and helped me in my masters program. I enjoyed reading, highlighting, and referencing many things.