Identity TIPR

For the most part in my observations I have noted that students are primarily in the Identity v. Role Confusion stage of Erikson's model.  This is a very interesting stage of developmental crisis because it is essentially the stage of life where students are trying to figure out who they are, and what they want to do with their lives. It is also very interesting to me how these stages build on each other.  If students are struggling with Industry v. Inferiority and don't have confidence in themselves it can be that much harder for them to develop a role in society.  Likewise, it is interesting to see how those students who have successfully completed the industry v. inferiority stage are better equipped to lead those around them.  Marcia's theory fits in well with this because each of these phases  include different aspects of identity and as Marcia points out these phases are constantly being negotiated or tried.  I like this because unlike Erikson Marcia's theory seems to leave room for more improvement.  With this idea of improvement in mind Miss. F does a great job of showing her students how they have improved.  She also has implemented different novels into her curriculum to help students gain a greater understanding of the world around them and be open to new ideas and different cultures.  Miss. F seems to be trying to educate her students by giving them the facts and then allowing those facts to shape the world around them. 

One thing that I think would better help the students in these aspects is to allow them more opportunities to lead.  Miss F. teaches a remedial English class that she says does well and shows them how they have improved over the semester.  I think it would help their confidence and self-esteem.  Thus allowing them to better pass Erikson's industry v. inferiority stage. 

When I teach my mini-lesson I will try to do just that by giving students who don't normally speak up in class a chance to do so, while also incorporating more group work.  An interesting thing that one of my teachers did was assign someone the role of leader.  That way the natural leaders are not able to simply step in.

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