Vol. 8, Spring 2005

Book Review

by Maria Timberlake, M. Ed.
The University of Maine
Center for Community Inclusion and Disability Studies

 

True or False? Teenagers are ruled by their hormones; they are more interested in socializing than academics; and they challenge every rule just because they can?

 

If you live and/or work with teenagers, and wonder about their behavior, there is a new book that will answer this question and more. It is called Secrets of the Teenage Brain, Research-Based Strategies for Reaching & Teaching Today’s Adolescents by Sheryl Feinstein, Ph.D., published by The Brain Store, San Diego, CA in 2004.

 

Dr. Feinstein not only gives the reader facts about adolescent brain development, she has used brain-based strategies in writing the book, making it very accessible to the reader. There are seven chapters, each contains diagrams of the brain; brief, real-life scenarios of teen interactions; photos; and a bulleted list of strategies. The format makes the book very easy to read; the information is clear; and the reader can gain ideas and insights right away.

 

For example, my teenage son is convinced that the most effective way to study for his freshman biology exam is to get up an hour early the day of the test and “study”. Although I talked with him about memory pathways and the importance of studying ahead of time so that the information goes into his long-term memory, he is convinced that his way is superior. The truth is: his way DOES work for him. Even though I am convinced he will not retain the information on DNA sequences, he is satisfied because his hour of cramming got him an “A.”

 

What does Dr. Feinstein’s book say about this situation? She shares the research on the incredible growth of the hippocampus during adolescence and the MRIs of teens that illustrate gains in short term memory. So, my son is correct that his ability to memorize information has skyrocketed. However, I am also correct that cramming will not insure long-term memory. With Dr Feinstein’s explanation of teen memory and behavior, I can understand my son’s choices and acknowledge what is working while giving him some other ideas.

 

Check out this book for some current research and excellent examples of teenage learning and development. By the way, the answer to the True or False question is False! Read the book.