Marie+Grano


 * Record of Assignments**
 * Name of Student:Marie Grano**

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** Adolescence **

** W : What you want to know (curiosities/inquiry questions) **
[insert at least three questions you want to know about this age group, bold the one you like the most, then delete instructions in brackets] 1. **What are the cognitive/chemical changes that spark moodiness and effect emotional and social health?**

Sample Poster:

** Resource #1 **
Several of the physical changes that occur to adolescents are results of puberty, girls developing hips, and gaining fat, and boys gaining muscle and their voices deepening. Along with physical changes emotional changes occur during puberty. Girls that experience puberty early on (ages10-12) are more likely to feel left out or too different from their peers. While boys who experience puberty earlier than the norm feel more in charge and comfortable with themselves. Girls are especially at risk of developing an eating disorder, such as anorexia or bulimia during puberty. Kids in their teenage years are now exposed and experienced with their sexuality. Either through school, the media, or their friends and family adolescents learn about sex and the consequences of pre-marital or unprotected sex. Adolescents often time experiment with drugs, in most situations kids are just curious and do not become life-long addicts. Self-consciousness can become a huge part of a teens life, they can become obsessed how other people view them and take extreme criticism of other people's opinions. The viewing of oneself as a important and capable person can greatly cope adolescents self criticism. When adolescents are making decisions they often times rely on intuitive judgements. However decision-making is often difficult for adolescents because they are incapable of predicting outcomes. When teens are transferring to a new school, or adjusting to a bigger school or stricter guidelines, some kids have trouble keeping their grades up. While well adjusted kids continue to receive high grades. The majority of school dropouts are kids who have trouble academically, or have low academic self-esteem.
 * Read:**

I thought it was extremely interesting how girls and boys react in complete different ways to going through puberty. Also all of the different factors that go into how adolescents learn about and experience sex, such as social-economical status, older siblings, divorced parents, or even when they went through puberty. It is becoming more and more clear that the media has a profound impact on how kids grow up and make decisions. The "imaginary audience" and "personal fable" theories I think impact every adolescent in some way. The cognitive changes that occur causes teens to focus more on how they look and how they are perceived by their peers. It becomes clear that the reason adolescents have more trouble making decisions is because they do not have enough experience to understand the outcomes of their decisions.
 * Respond:**


 * APA Citation:**
 * [insert APA citation]

There are psychological, emotional, physical and cognitive factors that contribute to adolescents becoming self-conscious. Adolescents become impulsive, moody, and encourage resistance to authority. These behaviors promote a teenager to want to become independent and have their own viewpoints and opinions on issues in the world. A study conducted by Roberts, Sarigiani, Peterson, and Newman found that pubertal timing has a huge impact on a adolescent's body image. Boys positive body image improved with an increased pubertal status, whereas all girls in fifth through ninth grade were dissatisfied with their body. Parental occupation also had a correlation with adolescent changes, kid's whose parents have jobs with a steady income adjust better than kid's whose parents struggle with money or sustaining a steady job.
 * Read:**


 * Respond:**

Moodiness in adolescents is largely correlated with body image. Kid's who are not as comfortable with how they look are going to have a negative outlook of themselves which triggers impulsive behavior and moodiness. The way kid's are raised, their parents, gender, and when they reach puberty all contribute to the amount of anxiety and moodiness an adolescent will experience. It is also more likely for girls to experience a negative body image than boys. After puberty is seems that suddenly adolescents are constantly being dealing with conflicts surrounding body-image and their perception of themselves.


 * APA Citation:**
 * Pletsch, P. K., Johnson, M. K., Tosi, C. B., Thurston, C. A., & Riesch, S. K. (1991). Self-Image Among Early Adolescents: Revisited. //Journal Of Community Health Nursing //, //8 //(4), 215.

** Resource #3 **

 * Read:**
 * A study was conducted comparing how parents and teachers react to adolescents moodiness and what they believe contributes to teen moodiness and risk-taking behaviors. The study found that less than ten percent of families experience no difficulties communicating with their teenager. Parents reported that minor disputes with their kids were often times are intensified and blown out of proportion. The stereo type that adolescents are constantly struggling with stress and fitting in with the social norms also play a part in how parents and teachers view their kids. Teachers may believe these stereo types because they are exposed to a large amount of diverse students, teacher's also recognized a higher amount of stress and moodiness from students.


 * Respond:**

Parents and Teacher's both agree that moodiness is often present in adolescent behavior. It was interesting to discover that stereo types portrayed in the media of how adolescents should act affect how their teacher's view them. For example, middle school and junior high classes are known as a period where teacher's and classroom procedures are more strict, so teacher's believe that they should act in this way. Teacher's also reported a overall higher amount of "acting out" behaviors. This may be because teenagers tend to spend more time conversing with their friends, rather than their parents so the teacher's experience adolescents when they are with their friends and are more likely to act out.

Hines, A. R., & Paulson, S. E. (2006). PARENTS' AND TEACHERS' PERCEPTIONS OF ADOLESCENT STORM AND STRESS: RELATIONS WITH PARENTING AND TEACHING STYLES. Adolescence, 41(164), 597-614.
 * APA Citation:**

** Resource #4 **

 * Read:**
 * [insert 1 paragraph summarizing what you read here]


 * Respond:**
 * [insert 1 paragraph response/reaction to what you read here]


 * APA Citation:**
 * [insert APA citation]

** 5. Sexuality Activity **
([])

The video I chose was of two young girls talking and one of them using the term,"that's so gay". A woman, overhearing their conversation prompts the girls and tells them that everyone is now saying their names associating with something that is stupid or irritating. The commercial is directed towards young people who use the word "gay" to describe something they don't appreciate or respect. The purpose of the ad is to have kids really think about how it would make them feel to have someone associate their name, or who they are with something they don't respect. I think if this commercial was shown in schools the amount of kids saying, "that's so gay" would decrease dramatically.
 * Describe your resource:**

http://glsen.org/article/thinkb4youspeak-guide-educators-grades-6-12
 * Link to your specific resource:**

**Observation Site Information**
[you must confirm with site it is okay to observe with your location, then delete instructions in brackets]

** A. Site details: **
> Contact person: N/A
 * Name of site: Kenwood Mall
 * Link to site:http://www.kenwoodtownecentre.com



__ ** B. Describe your setting ** __
Kenwood Mall is located on Montgomery Road in Cincinnati Ohio. With two levels of shopping Kenwood mall has several different options for shoppers including, department stores, teens/juniors, kids, womens, mens, and speciality stores. The mall is also a common meeting place for young adolescents to socialize and have fun with their friends. Since young adolescents cannot drive it is an opportunity to be near their parents but also have a chance to explore with their friends. The mall also offers a food court where guests have a variety of choices for a meal. There are some fast-food restaurants such as Auntie Anne's Pretzels there are also several sit-down restaurants offered to guests such as Maggiano's. Kenwood mall is also involved in several fundraising events such as, "Dress for Success" donation drive, Power of Pink to raise money for breast cancer research. Also "Celebrate Schools!" where all proceeds go towards class projects.

=
While observing at the mall I noticed several examples of adolescent moodiness and factors that may contribute to teen moodiness. The most prominent example of adolescent moodiness that i experienced while at the mall was in the popular teen clothing store Forever 21. The mother and daughter shopping together caught everyone's attention in the store because the young girl's(probably 13,14) mother was yelling at her daughter from across the store. With making a few assumptions I recognized this mother as an authoritarian parent. She was picking out clothes and making decisions for her daughter without even asking her daughter for consent on which dresses she would like to try on. Even when I was trying on clothes in the dressing room I could still clearly hear this mother yelling at her daughter and expressing her very blunt opinions of what would and would not look good on her daughter. I was in shock that this woman could act in such a way in public, what was even more shocking to me was the way her daughter followed her mother around, almost as if she expected nothing less from her mother.===== I spent a short while in the food court of the mall, hoping to observe some eating habits of teenagers. Most all of the eating options in the food court are fast-food such as Chipolte, Chic Fil-A, Panda Express, and other delicious/ unhealthy choices. I did not notice a lot of eating habits from adolescents. I did however observe one table of three teen girls(probably about 15), one of the three girls was eating Chic Fil-A the other two were only watching her eat. While making an assumption I inferred that the two other girls may have body image issues. Especially while shopping at a mall body image issues are likely to be exposed by teenage girls. It is possible for young girls to become very vulnerable while shopping for clothes, there is the fear of clothes not fitting properly, or girls not believing they live up to societies standards. These particular girls who looked to be about fifteen years old are in the age group that are at the highest risk of developing an eating disorder. One aspect of interaction teenagers had with each other that I consistently noticed while at the mall was that any group of friends shopping together were always dressed in similar ways. I saw a group of girls probably thirteen years old they were all wearing athletic shorts, high socks, and tennis shoes. A group of older girls were also dressed similar, in leggings, and riding boots. I recognized this as maybe representing the different cliques the girls belonged too. Perhaps the girls in the athletic clothing are the "jocks" or are all members of a sport team. I recognized relations between parents and teens often seemed tense in the mall. I observed a mother whose daughter was younger than most of the other girls who were shopping with their mothers (about 12). This young girl seemed happier to be shopping with her mom and seemed to even be enjoying her time with her mom. These observations stress the fact that as children grow into adolescents and begin puberty they tend to want to spend more time with their friends and less time with their parents.

** Physical **
What did you notice about the physical differences between boys and girls (pp. 283-288)? Most of the groups of friends that I observed that were shopping together seemed to be in the same phases of puberty. I think this stresses the fact that most adolescents tend to be friends with the peers that are similar to them and have similar interests.

What did you notice about the adolescent’s mood (p. 289)? I noticed the girl in Forever 21 was expecting her mother to act in the embarrassing way that she did. This stuck out to me as authoritarian parenting because the daughter assumed that her mother was going to act in the controlling way she did.

What did you notice about the adolescent’s relationship with adults (p. 289)? I did take note that the younger girls I observed shopping with their mothers seemed more content and happy spending time with their mother. While the older girls were more likely to seem irritated by their parents.

What did you notice about the role of body image in adolescent behavior (p. 290)? The three girls eating in the food court and only one of the friends was eating, the other two simply sat and watched the one girl eat. I made the assumption that maybe the other two girls are concerned with body image or were displeased with the unhealthy options at the food court.

What did you notice about peer relationships ( pp. 290-291)? All of the teenagers that were shopping together tended to dress and act in the same way.

What did you notice about eating habits (pp. 291-292)? I only noticed the one instance in the food court of the three girls eating lunch together. The two girls that were not eating may not have been eating because they are concerned with their body image and believe they need to "improve" their body.

I did not experience any sex or substance abuse references while at the mall.

** Physical Cognitive **
I observed groups of friends who appeared to be in the same stage of puberty. Adolescents' tend to be friends with peers who have similar pubertal timing.

** Emotional **
The mother and daughter that I encountered in the mall displayed authoritarian parenting, which has a huge correlation with moodiness among adolescents. The mother was yelling at her daughter from across the store and avidly telling her what clothes will and will not look good on her.

** Social **
The groups of friends that were shopping together dressed in similar ways and had similar mannerisms. The different cliques and crowds were displayed at the mall. There were several different groups of girls shopping together dressed in basically the same outfits. There was a group of younger boys playing a interactive video game outside of the Microsoft store. This proves that kids with the same interests and pubertal timing tend to be a part of the same social crowd or clique.

** Revisiting Your Curiosities **
[Answer your original questions as best as you can, given the course material and your observations. You must make at least 4 references to the text with page numbers.] There are several biological, psychological, and social factors that contribute to adolescent moodiness. As kids get older they tend to observe the world in a new and different way, "Negative events increased steadily from childhood to adolescence, and teenagers also seemed to react to them with greater emotion than children"(289). As children get older they tend to experience the world with more emotion than they did when they were younger. The way adolescents spend their time also influence their mood, "Low points of adolescents' days tended to occur in adult-structured setting-class, job, and religious services. High points were times spent with peers and coincided with Friday and Saturday evenings"(289). Not surprisingly teens experienced their highest mood points when they are socializing with their peers, and in contrast their lowest points when in adult-structured settings. Parenting styles also affect the moods of teenagers, " Children and adolescents subjected to psychological control exhibit adjustment problems involving anxious, moody, withdrawn, and aggressive behaviors"(216). Teens and children who have authoritarian parents are at a greater risk to have mood and anxiety problems. A final factor that contributes to adolescent moodiness is teens feeling they do not fit up to "standards" or do not fit the "cultural script" of going out with friends and being involved with romantic partners, "Teenagers who spend weekend evenings at home often feel profoundly lonely"(289).
 * W : What you want to know (inquiry questions) **
 * 1.**
 * What sparks moodiness among adolescents and effect emotional and social health?**


 * 2. [insert title of PowerPoint or Poster]**

For my presentation I explored the different factors that cause adolescent moodiness. Moodiness in adolescents' is largely correlated with body image. Kids who are not as comfortable with how they look are more likely to have a negative outlook of themselves which triggers impulsive behavior and moodiness. Pubertal timing also has a large role in determining teen attitudes, as kids get older their need to fit in and be accepted by their peers increases significantly. If a significant amount of a kid's friends and peers start puberty and begin developing before they do or if they begin developing before their peers they may feel left out of different from their peers, this will definitely have a large effect on a teen's mood. The most prominent factor I found in teen moodiness is that as children grow older they experience the world as a whole with much more emotion than they did when they were younger. Personal Fable plays a big part in this theory, adolescents' tend to believe that they are unique and no one can understand how they are feeling.
 * 3. Creative Presentations**

As a future teacher I would need to be aware of the different instances that can spark moodiness or attitudes among students'. I think each student is different in what may upset them and it is important as a teacher to be aware of each individual student's needs.
 * 4. What new questions emerge for you as a future teacher?**

Late Adulthood

Describe your Older Adult Project: My Grandma Irene turned ninety in October. My grandma has had to go through several life changes in the past ten years. My grandpa died of Alzheimer's disease about ten years ago after living in a nursing home for several years. After my grandpa died my grandma had to move out of her house. My grandma, growing old and weak had to move out of the house her father built, she grew up in, and raised her two children in. She moved just down the street from my family. At the time I was very young (7 or 8) I did not realize the profound affect my grandpa dying had on my grandma and on my entire family. After my grandpa died grandma Irene began to become more and more frail. After many years of living on her own grandma eventually had to have live-in assistance to help her with day to day tasks. It amazes me to look at pictures of my grandma taken only ten years ago compared to how she looks now. She has shrunk tremendously in size and needs help doing simple tasks around her house.

Describe your experience: After my grandpa died my grandma did not adjust well to living without her husband, "The greatest problem for recently widowed elders is profound loneliness"(489). I think it took years for my grandma to actually create a daily routine without having my grandpa to care for constantly. As my grandma grew older she lost a significant amount of her physical abilities, "physical declines can lead to a sense of loss of personal control"(479). After a few years of my grandma living by herself my dad and aunt Karen had to take away her car. My grandma was very upset when her driving privileges were taken away, she felt that she was now stuck in her house with no way to ever leave and be independent again. As my grandma grew older there was more pressure on my dad and my aunt to take care of her, as social networks shrink in size, relationships with adult children become more important"(492). My grandma was always thrilled when my family visits but now more than ever she cherishes when we visit her and stay for an extended period of time. Finally, my grandma has a live-in helper to help her with everyday tasks which is referred to as assisted living(485). This was also a difficult transition for my grandma because she essentially had to share her home with a stranger.