When discussing how adolescents develop, its first important to look at physical development. This is puberty. Adolescents ask if they are normal and question their physical bodies. Its an uneasy time of change which is important to remember when dealing with adolescents. There are many books that deal with this issue, and our job as educators is to look for books that will help to ensure them they will get through it.
Adolescents also develop intellectualy. Piaget discusses how we transition between a sensory motor stage to a concrete stage to a more formal operational stage. In the past it was said kids begin the transition from concrete to abstract around age ten. That has since changed to fourteen. This should drive the kinds of questions that we ask kids. Scaffolding may be needed. Also think about the books that will be offered. It is important to think where the kids are in terms of intellectual development.
Adolescents also develop how they look at their morals. Kolberg's theory says kids operate as a preconventional moral development where they work off rewards and punishments. Convential is where we follow the rules. Post-conventional is where we recognize the laws, but the humanity of an individual may be more important. For example, the Civil Rights era. This information should be used when looking for books that are developmentally appropriate for the students.
It is important to look at the needs for kids. Maslow's Needs Hierarchy shows that each need from the bottom of the pyramid needs to be met before reaching the needs at the top. For example, we must take care of kids physiological and safety needs before we are able to meeet self actualization needs. After safety needs, we must take care of the love and belonging needs, then the self esteem needs.
When developing as readers, we may look at reading for unconscience delight or reading autobiographically. Our classrooms or library should reflect diversity to meet the needs of all developing readers.
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