Running head: STUDENT OBSERVATION 1

Student Observation

Ethan Nolan Mills

College of Southern Nevada

EDU 220

Professor Wyckoff

22 March 2017
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Student Observation

Physical

Throughout this paper, I will be referencing the child growth development chart by

Washingtons Education Department also noted as CDG and a few tips from the Center for

Disease Control and Prevention but will be noted as the CDC. My childs name is Royce, he is a

15-year-old white male living with Asperger Syndrome. He lives with his parents and 3 siblings.

While at home Royce likes to play video games and research random science facts on the

internet. Royce also likes to go to church with his family and pull pranks his older sisters. When

first meeting Royce last year I noticed, he was an inquisitive person by nature. He loves to test

anyones knowledge of his two favorite subjects which are science or computer science. While in

class Royce enjoys spouting out facts about science so much that he is now seen as the class

encyclopedia. Though he prefers to keep to himself, Royce feels that he can become friends with

adults easier than with children his own age.

For 12-year-olds to 15-years-old the Child development chart notes at a physical level

that children his age should be concerned about how others see them and this not the case for

Royce. It is known that Royce is not worried about his appearance and just wears whatever

clothes are clean to school. Royce is a growing male and like other boys in high school has

developed a muskier stench that he has yet learned to mask which the child development chart

note that physically children around this time grow taller, have acne everywhere and start

growing facial hair. (CDG,2017) When it comes to dealing with the opposite sex, Royce falls

short on have any real interest in girls because hed rather talk to adults or be by himself. He has

had past relationships and considers himself a love expert but has no immediate interest in

dating. His most recent relationship was within this school year with a classmate. Within a
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month, Royce ended the relationship by confessing that he had no feelings for her and could not

continue with their relationship. For now, he doesnt currently show any desires to be around

female students in a relationship way nor is at all concerned with how they see him.

Emotional

Royce is a pretty happy child and very rarely shows any emotional distress. I so far in my

2 years of knowing him, he has yet expressed to me of anything that has caused him anxiety.

From Ive witnessed he doesnt sulk around at school but if we reference to the chart his peers at

this age sulk a lot, and show concern about their grades and appearance. (CDG, 2017) Also that

most kids around this age experience depression which lead to bad grades and drug

experimentation. (CDC) This is not Royce at all for he is very confident in himself and only

cares about himself.

Intellectual/Cognitive

Royce is very confident in himself and is always willing to show off his intellect. When

he is struggles in a class, he feels that it is the teacher who is not preforming and cannot explain

the material well enough to him or to his fellow classmates. Therefore, its the teachers fault that

his/her students cannot pass the class. This attitude I believe shows that he does feel very

important and knows his self-worth thus when asked his if feels important to the world, the

answer would be yes. Apparently, that is a characteristic that is displayed among children his age

per the intellectual section of the CDG. (CDG, 2017) He will help others when he feels like it,

but will mostly likely just give the other students the answers instead of helping them find the

answers. Royce looks out for himself mostly and care very little of others.
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He is able to out preform most students in the subjects like Math and Science but

struggles in English and Reading. Spelling words that are longer than four letters are what he

struggles with the most. Sometimes Royce will read simple books that peak his interest but it is

assumed that he mostly watches videos or listen to the text read to him to compensate for his lack

of reading skills. Because Royce is a man of science anyone who tries to challenge his

knowledge about the subject will soon regret it. Sometimes you must remind Royce that he

doesnt know everything and that science is an ongoing discovery of our world but hell always

insist that he is right to a certain degree. For me is it better to defuse him with humor than

continuing to argue with him. According to the CDG intellectual section children around Royces

age love to argue and are able to remember facts a lot more than children who are younger.

(CDG,2017) This is not the case with Royce.

Social/Psychosocial

Like any other 15-year-old Royce doesnt communicate as much with his parent but still

thrives on conversations with adults. Royce will claim he has no feelings towards anyone thus he

pushes away anyone who tries to get close him. So, Royce does follow the Social section of the

chart in the aspect of boys pushing away their parents, spending less time with his family and he

doesnt show affection towards others. (CDG, 2017) Royce loves to spend time alone

researching random facts and then debating his latest discoveries with adults about what he has

discovered. Because Royce has Asperger Syndrome he doesnt understand social ques. Royce is

also very frank in his conversations with others, because he only speaks the truth, he can quickly

offend others with the way he talks to them.

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It has been noted that others will avoid an argument by completely agreeing with Royces

comments. Though Royce has gotten better in the past, he would continue to talk to anyone even

the conversation had died. I have noticed that when he does choose to spend time with other

children his age he chooses to hang around ones who are not on the same intellectual level as he

is but share the same awkwardness as him. Royce doesnt have a lot of friends his own age due

to his awkwardness and smart kid manner thus he relies on his siblings and trusted adults for

companionship. This does not follow the social section of the child development chart at all

which states that Royce should have a small group of friends and should mostly fight with his

siblings. (CDG, 2017) Though he has mentioned that he doesnt always get along with his is

brothers and sisters, he generally enjoys having them around and as said many times before he

likes to be alone.

Moral.

Royce feels that if there is a way to obtain something then it he is supposed to have it.

Royce will always weigh the alternatives of getting caught which goes along with the moral

section of the child development chart. (CDG, 2017) But he will go after it anyways while

looking for ways around getting caught. He will watch others for a short while then devise

strategies duplicate them or avoid their mistakes. When he stumbles on to something new he will

get it for himself but then share the wealth with the people he likes. Royce understands that the

world is not a fair place and tries to use that to his advantage. Typically, he doesnt care how

others are treated in this world, he simply believes that others have the power to fix whatever

problem they have. Though he doesnt make excuses for himself for having a disability, he

exploits this fact if the person is not knowledgeable of what exactly Asperger Syndrome is. In the
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moral section children, his age has a general concern for what happens to others and Royce does

not display that concern at all. (CDG, 2017)

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References

Teenagers (15-17 years of age). (2017, January 03). Retrieved March 15, 2017, from

https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/childdevelopment/positiveparenting/adolescence2.html

Child Development Guide: Twelve to Fifteen Years. (n.d.). Retrieved March 15, 2017, from

http://depts.washington.edu/allcwe2/fosterparents/training/cdevguid/cdg14.htm
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Appendix

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT: Twelve to Charts Provided by:

Fifteen Years
Normal Characteristics: 1993 SUNY Research

Experiences sudden and rapid Foundation/Center for Development of

increases in height, weight, and strength with
the onset of adolescence. Human Services New York State Child
Girls are gradually reaching physical and
sexual maturity. Boys are beginning to mature Welfare Training Institute, State University
physically and sexually.
Acne appears, especially with certain types of College at Buffalo
skin.

Is concerned with appearance.

Increased likelihood of acting on sexual
desires.

INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT:
Twelve to Fifteen Years
Normal Characteristics:

Thrives on arguments and discussions.

Increasingly able to memorize; to think

logically about concepts; to engage in
introspection and probing into own thinking; to
plan realistically for the future.

May read a great deal. Talk to youth about

reading; offer suggested readings.
Needs to feel important in world and to believe
in something.
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Appendix

EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT: Twelve

to Fifteen Years
Charts Provided by:
Normal Characteristics:
1993 SUNY Research

Foundation/Center for Development of Human

Commonly sulks; directs verbal anger at
authority figure. Services New York State Child Welfare

Worries about grades, appearance, and Training Institute, State University College at
popularity; is withdrawn, introspective.
Buffalo

MORAL DEVELOPMENT: Twelve to

Fifteen Years

Normal Characteristics

Knows right and wrong; tries to weigh

alternatives and arrive at decisions alone.

Is concerned about fair treatment of others; is

usually reasonably thoughtful; is unlikely to
lie.