Case Study - Middle School - Devon and Kelly

Focused Topics Sexual Development & Behavior in K-12 Students Lesson 1 Explore Case Study - Middle School - Devon and Kelly Reflection	WWW.VIRTUALLABSCHOOL.ORG ACTIVITY ID: 23106 Name Certifier Date
Reflecting on Sexual Development & Behavior: Middle School Case Study Read the case study about Devon and Kelly, then complete the activities on the following pages. Reflect on your responses with a colleague. Devon and Kelly are 13-year-old students in your classroom. They both claimed to be “boyfriend and girlfriend” about two months ago, though they frequently break up and get back together. Devon and Kelly’s families are good friends, and they socialize together often. Other students in the school gossip about how the two of them “make out in Kelly’s bedroom” when Devon’s family is visiting. Devon and Kelly have been observed to hold hands and put their arms around each other during school, especially when getting off the bus and during lunchtime. School staff have asked that they not engage in these behaviors and explained what types of touch are appropriate, but they need to be reminded of these guidelines. Sometimes when they are “broken up,” Devon will attempt to put his arms around Kelly even when it is unwanted. School staff respond to this by telling Devon to, “Leave Kelly alone.” A teacher has separately spoken with both sets of parents about the behaviors and guidelines given to Devon and Kelly about appropriate touch while at school. Both sets of parents seem to think, “kids this age will be kids.” Kelly’s parent responded that their behaviors are “cute” and says that this is the age when kids start dating. Devon’s parent found the behavior to be funny and stated, “Devon is learning how to chase girls.” Think about Devon's and Kelly’s sexual development-physical changes, knowledge and beliefs, and behaviors and record the information in the table. Physical Changes Both are pre-pubescent or going through puberty, likely experiencing physical and hormonal changes Knowledge & Beliefs Understand the concepts of boyfriend and girlfriend and self-identify with these terms Parents are OK that they are dating and use physical affection Receive mixed messages about appropriate touch from parents and staff Devon may not understand consent Behaviors Holding hands and putting arms around each other Sometimes wanted by both, other times not consensual Record your thoughts on the following factors to reflect on Devon's and Kelly’s sexual behavior. Culture & Family Norms Families are friends, think it’s OK for their children to engage in this behavior and to be dating Devon’s parent thinks “chasing girls”–type behavior is acceptable Development Students this age begin to have more complex peer relations, friendships are very important to sense of self May feel peer pressure May desire the attention of others in a romantic way Behaviors are typical, although Devon needs support Function of the Behavior Behaviors are thought out ways to show each other affection, sometimes unwanted by Kelly Frequency & Participation Off and on for two months while at school Environment In the school environment, coming off the bus and when outdoors Effect on Others Kelly does not always want to engage in these behaviors Other students may be observing Ease of Redirection Somewhat responsive to redirection Devon needs redirection specific to consent

Reflection

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ACTIVITY ID: 23106

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Certifier

Date

Reflecting on Sexual Development & Behavior: Middle School Case Study

Read the case study about Devon and Kelly, then complete the activities on the following pages. Reflect on your responses with a colleague.

Devon and Kelly are 13-year-old students in your classroom. They both claimed to be “boyfriend and girlfriend” about two months ago, though they frequently break up and get back together. Devon and Kelly’s families are good friends, and they socialize together often. Other students in the school gossip about how the two of them “make out in Kelly’s bedroom” when Devon’s family is visiting.

Devon and Kelly have been observed to hold hands and put their arms around each other during school, especially when getting off the bus and during lunchtime. School staff have asked that they not engage in these behaviors and explained what types of touch are appropriate, but they need to be reminded of these guidelines. Sometimes when they are “broken up,” Devon will attempt to put his arms around Kelly even when it is unwanted. School staff respond to this by telling Devon to, “Leave Kelly alone.” A teacher has separately spoken with both sets of parents about the behaviors and guidelines given to Devon and Kelly about appropriate touch while at school. Both sets of parents seem to think, “kids this age will be kids.” Kelly’s parent responded that their behaviors are “cute” and says that this is the age when kids start dating. Devon’s parent found the behavior to be funny and stated, “Devon is learning how to chase girls.”

Think about Devon's and Kelly’s sexual development-physical changes, knowledge and beliefs, and behaviors and record the information in the table.

Physical Changes

Both are pre-pubescent or going through puberty, likely experiencing physical and hormonal changes

Knowledge & Beliefs

Understand the concepts of boyfriend and girlfriend and self-identify with these terms
Parents are OK that they are dating and use physical affection
Receive mixed messages about appropriate touch from parents and staff
Devon may not understand consent

Behaviors

Holding hands and putting arms around each other
Sometimes wanted by both, other times not consensual

Record your thoughts on the following factors to reflect on Devon's and Kelly’s sexual behavior.

Culture & Family Norms

Families are friends, think it’s OK for their children to engage in this behavior and to be dating
Devon’s parent thinks “chasing girls”–type behavior is acceptable

Development

Students this age begin to have more complex peer relations, friendships are very important to sense of self
May feel peer pressure
May desire the attention of others in a romantic way
Behaviors are typical, although Devon needs support

Function of the Behavior

Behaviors are thought out ways to show each other affection, sometimes unwanted by Kelly

Frequency & Participation

Off and on for two months while at school

Environment

In the school environment, coming off the bus and when outdoors

Effect on Others

Kelly does not always want to engage in these behaviors
Other students may be observing

Ease of Redirection

Somewhat responsive to redirection
Devon needs redirection specific to consent