Welcome!
Welcome to Child Growth and Development! I’m excited to spend the next 16 weeks with you exploring how children grow and change from pregnancy through adolescence. Over the next semester you will learn new concepts and vocabulary for explaining how children develop. You will leave this class with a new perspective on children.
About Me!
My name is Dr. Jessica Brennan. You can call me Jessica, Dr. Brennan, or Professor Brennan. I am a Professor of Child Development. I grew up in San Francisco and attended a couple of California Community Colleges before transferring to Mills College in Oakland where I completed my BA in Psychology and my MA in Infant Mental Health. I then moved to the UK and earned my PhD in Developmental Psychology. Next, I spent a year in Delaware doing a postdoc with an evidenced-based home visiting intervention for young children and their families as a clinical supervisor. I have been at MJC since Fall 2018 and I'm so happy to be back home in California - one winter on the East Coast was enough to send this Cali girl back home!
How to Contact Me
Email: brennanj@mjc.edu
Phone: 209-575-6345
Text: 209-315-5598
Communication
I am committed to helping you achieve success in this course. Communication is a key aspect of that success. Please read below for tips on communication:
Email or text are the best and quickest methods of communication for this course
Understand that it may take me up to 48 hours to respond, but I will respond as quickly as I can.
When emailing, please include your class and section number, Example: CLDDV 103 section 7909.
Course Description
This course examines the major physical, psychosocial, and cognitive/language developmental milestones for children, both typical and atypical, from conception through adolescence. Emphasis on interactions between maturational process and environmental factors. Studying developmental theory and investigative research methodologies, students will observe children, evaluate individual differences, and analyze characteristics of development at various stages. Field trips might be required.
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon satisfactory completion of this course, the student should be prepared to:
Identify cultural, economic, political, historical contexts that affect children’s development.
Apply developmental theory to child observations, surveys, and/or interviews using investigative research methodologies.
Describe major developmental milestones for children from conception through adolescence in the areas of physical, psychosocial, cognitive, and language development.
Differentiate characteristics of typical and atypical development.
Identify and compare major theoretical frameworks related to the study of human development.
LATE WORK POLICY
I was a student once too and I completely understand that things come up in life. For this reason I have set up a couple of policies that allow you some flexibility for this semester's assignments.
I drop your lowest 2 quizzes (so if you miss a quiz, it counts as one of your lowest and will go away like it never happened)
I drop your lowest discussions (for those weeks when you just can't human)
I drop your lowest exam (just in case it slips your mind)
In addition to the policies above, my late work policy is:
Late work is accepted up to 7 days past the due date
I accept all late work with the exception of discussions and exams (which is why I drop your lowest scores).
What do I have to do in this class?
Point Distribution
Points are earned through a variety of learning activities assigned throughout the semester. The total number of points earned will determine your course grade.
Grading breakdown:
90% + = A
80 - 89.9% = B
70 - 79.9% = C
60 - 69.9% = D
<60% = F
But What If?
What if.... I'm sick? Email me, text me, check in and let me know.
What if...... I have a death in the family? Email me, text me, check in and let me know.
What if...... I couldn't do my homework because of work? Email me, text me, check in and let me know.
What if...... I'm getting a failing grade? Email me, text me, check in and let me know.
Are you noticing a theme?
I'm here to help you, but I can only do that if you let me know what is going on, so stay in touch!
Resources
Last But Not Least!
Whether you believe it or not, whether anyone has told you before, you belong here. You are exactly where you are meant to be. Welcome!