Secrets of the teenage brain: a psychologist's guide for teachers

If being a teenager is hard, teaching them is harder. Here are four insights into the adolescent brain - and how it can inform classroom practice

Teenagers think differently to grownups - they are more likely to take risks, be sleepy, misread emotions, give in to peer-pressure and lack self-control. Thanks to advances in technology, we have been able to peer inside the teenage brain and see more clearly how it works. So what have we discovered? And how can teachers use this information to help young people navigate the challenges of growing up and getting an education?