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Running Head: Principles of Education Psychology

Principle of Education Phycology

PEPSI
Briana Munoz Juarez
College of Southern Nevada

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Running Head: Principles of Education Psychology

Abstract
In this paper I will be presenting to you my PEPSI and I will go through each of the stages.
You will learn many different factors about the development of my six- teen year old niece
Cassandra. I will go through all of the knowledge that I learned as I watched her grow into the
young lady that she is today. Every child has a different way of developing, it has to do with
many factors such as if the child was raised in a home of one parent or a home with both parents.
This assignment was very interesting for me and also very informative because it made me look
even closer into the development of Cassandra and learn the stage that she is in and the level that
she is in school.
Key Words: PEPSI, Cassandra

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Running Head: Principles of Education Psychology

Bio on the Child

PEPSI
The child that I choice to use for my observation for PEPSI is my sixteen year old niece
Cassandra Serna. I choice Cassandra because she is the oldest of my nephews and I believe that
she is more aware of her morals, such as right from wrong. Cassandra is a child whom is very
loved and supported by all of her family members. Cassandra has had a very privileged life and
is turning into a responsible young lady who is very intelligent and unique.
Cassandra was born on May 30th, 1999 in Fullerton California. Cassandra was the first
child of Cecilia Serna and Luis Serna, she came into this world with a ton of love to a married
Hispanic couple. Cassandra lived her first three years of life in Anaheim California and at the age
of three years and a half her family moved into Las Vegas, Nevada. Cassandra became an older
sister to Jordan at the age of four. Cassandra has been a very unique child, she was extremely
playful and was always laughing about something but she also always had a strong character as
well. Her mother is a teacher and her father is a truck driver so she has had a very privileged life.
Her socioeconomic status is a middle class family. She has been raised in a home that is
extremely strict on education, which explains her starting pre- K at age of three.
In conclusion Cassandra is a teenager who even though was very privileged throughout
her upcoming, is hard working and intelligent. Cassandra is working a part time job while
attending school (11th grade). Her parents have been able to provide for her and then some, her
mother has worked hard for Cassandra to be humble and know that life is not essay, that not
everyone is fortunate as she is. Cassandra has been doing community service for about two years

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Running Head: Principles of Education Psychology

during her summer break, which I believe has made her appreciate the type of life style that she
has a little more.

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Running Head: Principles of Education Psychology

Physical Development
PEPSI
Every child grows and develops different and Gesell was able to prove that. He believed
that there was stages that every child goes through ( St. Rosemary Educational Institution). The
child that I choice for my assignment does not have any disabilities or serious health issues. She
is exactly in the stage that she should be in. Girls that are sixteen years of age "have usually
reached full physical development and are concerned with the way they look and are dissatisfied
with their bodies and their weight" ( Parents & Teachers).
Cassandra is currently "5'2 and has already started her menstruation and has had it for
about one year already. The only health issue that she has had throughout her life is that her
menstruation is extremely irregular, her mother has the same issue. Cassandra does not play any
sports in high school but she was involved in sports at a young age. She played soccer,
volleyball, and baseball. The only sport that is involved with currently is swimming during the
summer time. Cassandra does not diet as (Parents & Teachers) say that 50% of girls of the age of
sixteen actually diet.
In conclusion Cassandra's physical development is accurate for her age. She does not
have any issues or is behind on what is the development for someone her age should be like.
Thankfully she has any had any sort of issues with her health beside the menstruation issue
which has already been taken care of. Cassandra was in a car accident at the age of twelve and
the family was a bit worried at first because it was a hard impact on her small body ( she was the
youngest in the vehicle) but thankfully the accident did not do any physical damage to her
development.

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Running Head: Principles of Education Psychology

Emotional Development
PEPSI
Cassandra was raised in a home that gave her a ton of unconditional love but in a way
also very blunt and honest. Cassandra is not an emotional person, which I believe comes from
her mom because her mother had a very tough childhood and was raised in even a more
detachable family emotionally. Cassandra is kind but she is not the type of person to cry or show
much affectionate affection towards people. "Most adolescents experience emotional conflicts at
some point (Slavin,2015). Cassandra recently had a very emotional experience that happened in
her life that she says " will forever impact her life".
Cassandra like any other teenager has had fears, sadly the fear that she had was difficult
for the family to notice since she is not very unemotional she has always had a very straight face,
some people find her to be rude but that is just the way that she has always been. Cassandra had
a boyfriend at the age of fifteen and the family knew him because he attended family parties but
even then none of us noticed that she was being harmed throughout the last couple of months in
her relationship. In our family we have education majors, we have a high school councilor whom
is Cassandra's mom and not even she noticed any of the signs. Cassandra was in a abusive
relationship, but thankfully she asked for help from her mother (Cassandra and her mom are
extremely close), even then it took Cassandra about three months to tell her mom what was
going on. "Hopeless, unaccountably angry behavior can be a clue that the adolescent needs
help"(pg.63). Cassandra went through a really hard time and it was extremely hard to watch, but
thankfully she is back to her original self, she is recovered from the damage, the kid would bully
her and control what she wore, who she spoke with, and would tell her not to tell her mother
anything.

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Running Head: Principles of Education Psychology

In Conclusion form the reading it is normal for teenagers of Cassandra age to go through
some emotional stages. Cassandra was very vulnerable but she was taught by all of us that it is
not okay for a girl to be told what to do or not do by their significant other. My god- mother took
action as soon as she found out which is the way that all parents should react. Parents cannot
ignore problems just because they think it is normal and that the child will simply get over it. It is
extremely important for parents to help their child if they are have an emotional occur in their
life. Cassandra is in the stage five "identity versus role confusion ages 12-18" (Slavin pg. 66)

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Running Head: Principles of Education Psychology

Philosophical Development
PEPSI
" Young children are more rigid in their views of right from wrong than older children
and adults tend to be" (Slavin, pg 52) Cassandra definitely knows right wrong right at the age of
sixteen. She is very well behaved, she has never given my god- mother any issues to deal with at
school. She is very respectful to her elders and has great manners. From Piagets stages of Moral
Development I would have to say that Cassandra has "Autonomous Morality".
Cassandra is in stage three of Kohlberg's stages of Moral Reasoning. "This is the stage at
which children have an unquestioning belief that one should "do unto others as you would have
them do unto you" Slavin, pg.54). Cassandra has good morals for her young age. I asked
Cassandra what she taught was bad, and she quickly said" drugs are bad, because they do a great
damage to your brain cells and to your overall health throughout the years the drug is used" I
looked at her and smiled and she that she was right. Cassandra was raised in a catholic home, but
there was a time in her life in which she decided to say that she was atheist. Atheist is " a person
who denies or disbelieves the existence of a supreme being or beings"( Dictionary.com). Quickly
Cassandra's mother explained to her that she was not atheist but was catholic. Cassandra has
never been a rebellious child. She is very mature for her age.
In conclusion Cassandra is on the stage that she is suppose to be for her age. She is very
smart and is also very responsible for her actions. Cassandra grow up in a home that allowed her
to explore but also was told what was expected from her. Many of her morals came from her
parents if she has any questions she asks her mom, they have a really close relationship.

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Running Head: Principles of Education Psychology

Social Development
PEPSI
Cassandra has never had a problem socializing with others. She is very quiet and shy at
times but I always thought that it was because she spoke to those whom she felt comfortable
with. She is an honest person and she is also very blunt. Every since I can remember she has had
the same best friend. She is not an awkward child at all she knows how to interact with others
very well. I believe that Cassandra is currently in the moratorium stage , " Adolescents in a state
of moratorium have begun to experiment with occupational and ideological choices but have not
yet made definite commitments to either"(Slavin, pg 61). Cassandra is a Junior and has already
been searching for a University but she has yet not decided what career she wants to pursue.
Cassandra is currently working a part time job at the fashion show mall and I believe that
it has helped her to become more social as to not be afraid or shy to speak to complete strangers.
" Relationships with friends are still important, yet your teen will have other interests as he
develops a more clear sense of who she is(Teenagers). Cassandra is currently in a relationship
but it much more different than her last relationship she seems more at peace and now hangs out
with her friends and boyfriend at the same time. " In general, the amount of time spent with
friends increases dramatically; adolescents spend more time with their peers than they do with
family members or by themselves (pg. 62) Cassandra spends most of her time with her friends at
school or at work currently.
In conclusion Cassandra is socially very active and she is also in the stage in which she is
learning who she is and a lot of that exploring has to do with her circle of friends. Her character
has grown ever since she started to work. Her self esteem is off the roof she is very happy with
who she is and the way that she looks, she is extremely confident. I believe that every child

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Running Head: Principles of Education Psychology

should be allowed to be socially involved in groups and social networks as well. Even though
Cassandra is still not allowed to be involved in any of the social networks that are trending she
still is socially evolved at the stage that she is suppose to be for her age.

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Running Head: Principles of Education Psychology

Intellectual Development
PEPSI
Cassandra is extremely intelligent for her age. Cassandra is in the 11th grade
currently a student of Veterans Tribute Career and Technical Academy. She is above average in
the following subjects; Reading, writing, Math, and Science. All of her classes this year are
honors and AP classes. I believe that it has to do with the fact that her mom has always been
extremely strict with school. Cassandra is already getting prepared to take the AST, and ACT
exams to be prepared for the senior year.
Cassandra is in the final stage of Piaget's stages of development. She is in the formal
operation stage which is from the age of eleven to adulthood. Sometimes around the onset of
puberty, children's thinking begins to develop into the form that is characteristics of adults"
(Slavin, Pg.35). Cassandra is very mature and she now knows that with her actions come
consequences. She now understands the action that she might do today may affect her future for
the worst. Cassandra has learned by Mediation most of her life. "Older children and adults help
learners by explaining, modeling, or breaking down complex skills, knowledge, or concepts"
(PG.39). Cassandra has learned from her mother and other individuals that she has seen in her
family that are educated and whom try hard to improve themselves in the intellectual level.
In conclusion Cassandra is above in most of her subjects and is abnormal in only one
subject which is in her PE class. Cassandra has been exposed to many different people in her life
who have taught her to try hard in school. Cassandra is in the intellectual stage that she is
suppose to be for her age. I am sure that Cassandra will grow up to be a Doctor, Lawyer, or
Pediatrician. She is in the age in which she will discover what she really wants in life one day

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Running Head: Principles of Education Psychology

and then change her mind once again the next but she is still preparing herself and has the skills
to succeed in which ever career she choices.

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Running Head: Principles of Education Psychology

Graph
PEPSI

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Running Head: Principles of Education Psychology

Recommendations for Teachers/ Parents

PEPSI
Cassandra is a very special young lady that will accomplish whatever she puts her mind
into! She is very mature and intelligent for her age but it is still very important for her to keep
having the support that she gets from her family and school for her to keep doing good. After
going over the analysis of Cassandra I have came to realize a couple of things that will be very
helpful for her teachers and parents to know.
The recommendation that I have for Cassandra's peer in her physical Development is for
her mom to keep being active her Cassandra's personal check ups because Cassandra is afraid
that she will be sterile by the age that she wants to have kids since her period is irregular. In
Cassandra's Emotional stage I would recommend her teachers to not ignore Cassandra's trust
issues with boys and to speak to her if they see her feeling uncomfortable around the opposite
sex. I would recommend for Cassandra's to be understanding with Cassandra if she asks any
questions about religion and for her to answer all of her questions. I would recommend
Cassandra's parents to help her with her science homework because science is the subject that
Cassandra does not feel so confident in.
In conclusion I believe that Cassandra was raised in a great home because even though
Cassandra is currently still a bit damaged from the damage that her boyfriend made to her
psychologically she is being extremely brave and strong. Parents and teachers cannot ignore
signs of a child being hurt. If a teacher or parent sees a sign of their child getting bullied or being
in a abusive relationship, we as adults need to help our children and guide them in the best way
that we can.

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Running Head: Principles of Education Psychology

Reference
St. Rosemary Educational Institution. "Growth and Development Theory: ARNOLD GESELL
(1880 1961)." http://schoolworkhelper.net/. St. Rosemary Educational Institution, Last
Update: 2015. Web.
Parents & Teachers: Teen Growth & Development, Years 15 to 17. (n.d.). Retrieved November
23, 2015, from http:// www.pamf.org/parenting - teens/health/growth-development/
growth.html
Slavin, Robert E.(2015). Social, Moral, and Emotional Development. pg.63
atheist. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged. Retrieved November 25, 2015 from Dictionary.com
website http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/atheist
"Teenagers (15-17 Years of Age)." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, 6 Nov. 2015. Web. 23 Nov. 2015.