*** do both options

Two Extra Credit Assignment Options-

This week you have an opportunity to make up points, if you choose to. This is an OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT.

The possible points will be 10, but it will be posted in the assignments and grade book as 0 to avoid negatively affecting

anyone who does not choose to do the assignment.

You have two choices for this assignment:

Option #1-What we need to know about vaccine changes

Assignment #1 We are hearing quite a bit about vaccines in the news. Our government is planning to change vaccine recommendations for children. Have they changed the recommendations yet?

The vaccine committee met. Review their recommendations on the site below:

Research the CDC website to see if any new recommendations are posted there.

2.Research what vaccines the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends for children.

What is the currently recommended vaccine schedule for children? (ages and vaccines)

What is the controversy over Robert Kennedy Jr. and his views on vaccines? What is his area of expertise?

Write a two page paper explaining what you researched about:

1. childhood vaccines-what are the recommended vaccines and the ages a child should receive them
2. explain what happened at the vaccine summit and any changes they recommended to the vaccine schedule
3. what is the controversy about Health and Human Services Director Robert Kennedy Jr.s appointment to his role?

Assignment Option #2:

Two-page paper, Licensing Requirements on Outdoor Environment and Meal Requirements

Research California Licensing requirements for preschool playgrounds.

Summarize the playground requirements in your paper, on page one.

Research California Licensing requirements for food served at preschool.

Second page is to summarize the snack and meal requirements and procedures surrounding food preparation:

1 What food preparation requirements are required?

2.What snacks of meals are required for a full day program? A half day program?

3.What does licensing say about allergies and special food preparation?

4, What does licensing say about meals sent from home?

W7 Video Discussion Strange Situation

Infants seek social bonds, which they develop with one or several people as long as the caregivers are responsive and familiar. In the early months, synchrony begins: infants and caregiver interact face to face, making split-second adjustments in their emotional responses to each other. The still-face situation mentioned in the book reveals the importance of facial expression to infants.

Early responsiveness evolves into attachment, an emotional bond that encourages toddlers to explore. Secure attachment allows learning to progress; insecure infants are less confident and may develop emotional impairments. As infants become more curious and as they encounter new toys, people, and events, they use social referencing to learn whether such new things are fearsome or fun.

Although mothers are infants usual, and most social partners, the emotional connections evident in synchrony, attachment, and social referencing, can also occur with fathers, other relatives, and day-care providers. Instead of harming infants, as was once feared, non-maternal care can enhance infants psychosocial development.

Mary Ainsworth developed an experimental procedure know as the Strange Situation. She did this to observe the variety of attachment forms that are exhibited between infants and their primary caregiver (for the purposes of this discussion I’m going to refer to the primary caregiver as the mother).

The Strange Situation demonstrates different attachment styles which are based on the interaction behaviors directed towards the mother when she returns to the room after leaving the infant alone with someone the infant does not know. There are 4 things that the researchers wanted to pay attention to when observing the baby’s behavior: These are not the discussion questions, these are the 4 things that the researchers were looking at and things for you to watch for in the video.

1. Does the baby seek out the mother when she returns and want to be near her
2. Does the baby maintain contact with the mother after she returns
3. Does the baby avoid the mother and avoid contact with her
4. Was the baby resistant to contact and comforting by the mother

In this video we will observe a baby’s response when the mother returns to the room. Pay attention to the child’s level of separation anxiety, her stranger anxiety, and her behavior when mom returns to the room. The child’s behavior will give us many clues about the level of attachment this child has with her mother.

Mary Ainsworth originally identified 3 types of attachment styles from her research, Secure attachment, Insecure Avoidant attachment, and Insecure ambivalent or resistant attachment. Several years later Disorganized attachment was added to the list.

Secure attachmentSecure children feel confident that their mother will be available to meet their needs. They use her as a safe base to explore the environment and seek her comfort in times of distress (Main, & Cassidy, 1988).

Insecure Avoidantinsecure avoidant children do not focus on their mother when exploring a new environment. They are very independent of mom, both physically and emotionally. They do not seek her out when distressed.

Insecure Ambivalent/Resistantthe infant has an ambivalent behavioral style towards their mother. They may have clingy and dependent behavior, but they might also reject the mother when she tries to interact with the infant.

Watch this Strange Situation Video linked below, and record your thoughts on what you watched, what type of attachment does this baby exhibit? What makes you think that? HINT: Pay close attention to what happens when mom leaves the room and what happens when she returns.

Please expand this discussion by responding to as least one of your classmates by comparing their response to your own. You may use the text or the video to support your response. This week I will probably not be commenting on your individual discussions but please look for my feedback on your written assignment that was due at the end of week 6.

Grading Rubric: View the grading rubric by clicking the settings icon in the upper right and select Show Rubric.

*** do both options

Two Extra Credit Assignment Options-

This week you have an opportunity to make up points, if you choose to. This is an OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT.

The possible points will be 10, but it will be posted in the assignments and grade book as 0 to avoid negatively affecting

anyone who does not choose to do the assignment.

You have two choices for this assignment:

Option #1-What we need to know about vaccine changes

Assignment #1 We are hearing quite a bit about vaccines in the news. Our government is planning to change vaccine recommendations for children. Have they changed the recommendations yet?

The vaccine committee met. Review their recommendations on the site below:

Research the CDC website to see if any new recommendations are posted there.

2.Research what vaccines the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends for children.

What is the currently recommended vaccine schedule for children? (ages and vaccines)

What is the controversy over Robert Kennedy Jr. and his views on vaccines? What is his area of expertise?

Write a two page paper explaining what you researched about:

1. childhood vaccines-what are the recommended vaccines and the ages a child should receive them
2. explain what happened at the vaccine summit and any changes they recommended to the vaccine schedule
3. what is the controversy about Health and Human Services Director Robert Kennedy Jr.s appointment to his role?

Assignment Option #2:

Two-page paper, Licensing Requirements on Outdoor Environment and Meal Requirements

Research California Licensing requirements for preschool playgrounds.

Summarize the playground requirements in your paper, on page one.

Research California Licensing requirements for food served at preschool.

Second page is to summarize the snack and meal requirements and procedures surrounding food preparation:

1 What food preparation requirements are required?

2.What snacks of meals are required for a full day program? A half day program?

3.What does licensing say about allergies and special food preparation?

4, What does licensing say about meals sent from home?

*** d both options

Two Extra Credit Assignment Options-

This week you have an opportunity to make up points, if you choose to. This is an OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT.

The possible points will be 10, but it will be posted in the assignments and grade book as 0 to avoid negatively affecting

anyone who does not choose to do the assignment.

You have two choices for this assignment:

Option #1-What we need to know about vaccine changes

Assignment #1 We are hearing quite a bit about vaccines in the news. Our government is planning to change vaccine recommendations for children. Have they changed the recommendations yet?

The vaccine committee met. Review their recommendations on the site below:

Research the CDC website to see if any new recommendations are posted there.

2.Research what vaccines the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends for children.

What is the currently recommended vaccine schedule for children? (ages and vaccines)

What is the controversy over Robert Kennedy Jr. and his views on vaccines? What is his area of expertise?

Write a two page paper explaining what you researched about:

1. childhood vaccines-what are the recommended vaccines and the ages a child should receive them
2. explain what happened at the vaccine summit and any changes they recommended to the vaccine schedule
3. what is the controversy about Health and Human Services Director Robert Kennedy Jr.s appointment to his role?

Assignment Option #2:

Two-page paper, Licensing Requirements on Outdoor Environment and Meal Requirements

Research California Licensing requirements for preschool playgrounds.

Summarize the playground requirements in your paper, on page one.

Research California Licensing requirements for food served at preschool.

Second page is to summarize the snack and meal requirements and procedures surrounding food preparation:

1 What food preparation requirements are required?

2.What snacks of meals are required for a full day program? A half day program?

3.What does licensing say about allergies and special food preparation?

4, What does licensing say about meals sent from home?

Ive attached the instructions and the article this should not be a long reflection please answer all questions.

some notes:

Personal concerns to include:

• Youre not 100% sure what career you want
• You want work-life balance, not just success
• Fear of burnout in high-demand careers (like consulting)
• Pressure to constantly improve

Connect to IO psych:

• Workplace stress
• Employee well-being
• Balance between productivity and mental health

Theorizing Sex & Gender

Due to Canvas 3/18 by 11:59 pm (30 points)

This week, were exploring how social, cultural, and scientific assumptions shape how we understand sex and gender. Use the readings and videos to reflect on your own experiences and observations. Your posts should demonstrate engagement with the materials and your classmates ideas.

Write a 250-300 word post responding to ALL 4 of the prompts below:

1. How do gender roles influence childrens play? Think back to your childhood. How gendered were the toys and activities available to you?
2. How does Emily Martins essay demonstrate that science is not neutral, but influenced by cultural and gender assumptions?
3. How does Anne Fausto-Sterling challenge the idea that there are only two sexes? Are there parts of the readings you find surprising, challenging, or even uncomfortable? Why?
4. Can you think of a time when someone in your family/community pushed back against gender expectations, or when you noticed those expectations shaping your own life?

You must reference each assigned reading/media at least once using either a direct quotation or a specific example. For readings, include page numbers; for the TED Talk, include a timestamp if possible.

After posting your reflection, reply to at least twoclassmates. Superficial responses will not receive full credit. Your replies should demonstrate engagement by doing one or more of the following:

• Asking a follow-up question
• Noting a connection or similarity with your own experience
• Offering a different perspective and explaining why
• Reflecting on something they said that stood out to you

Each reply should be 4-6 sentences and contribute to building a thoughtful and supportive classroom community.

Example 1 Armenta

Gender roles definitely did influence how kids play from a young age. Thinking back when I was younger, most of the toys and activities around me were pretty gendered I was expected to play fight, play video games and with action figures while girls were usually given dolls or play kitchen sets. Even commercials were heavy on certain toys focusing on certain genders boy or girl. According to the Social Constructionism, ideas like gender are formed by everyone in society. Which explains why kids learn these roles so early (UMass Amherst Libraries). This shows how what was being shown to us as kids also help us form how we feel about gender roles growing up.

Emily Martins reading shows us that science isnt always neutral because cultural beliefs can play a role into different understandings of gender. She explains how the sperm is often described as competitive and strong while the egg is passive and waits for the sperm. This promotes stereotypes about men being dominant and women being passive even though thats not exactly how biology works. It even shows that science can be influenced by gender assumptions as well.

Anne Fausto-Sterling challenges the idea that there are only two sexes by explaining that biology is more complex. She talks about intersex people and argues that sex exists on a spectrum its not just male and female. I found this surprising because I always thought there were only two sexes. It was not catching on at first, but it made me realize that what were taught growing up isnt always the only answer.

In Emily Quinns TED Talk she shares her experience being intersex and says, I am not a mistake (Quinn). That really stood out to me because it shows how harmful strict gender expectations can be to people. Even in my life Ive felt pressure to act tough and not show emotions. But Ive also seen people challenge those expectations as well which shows that gender roles can change over time.

Example 2 juniper

1. Gender roles influence children’s play in many different ways. I am the youngest of six and the first few years of my life where on a farm in Michigan. I don’t recall much that early on but definitely remember being given toys that influenced me. I was given toy shovels, trucks, even small playhouse farm toys where one character was meant to be the “daddy” and he was larger and wore work clothes, and the “mommy” toy had an apron and was even placed in the kitchen on the box art. I will never forget that because I was much closer with my sisters than my dad and brother and even that early, enjoyed playing with the “mommy” toy because it was representing the side of my family that was nicer to me earlier on. Something that really stood out to me in Emily Quinns Ted Talk was that Intersex people represent over 2% of the population, 150 million worldwide. (11:07). This was a metric I really enjoyed hearing and has caused me to do some research of my own.

2. One of the lines that really stood out to me from Emily Martins book was “The egg is said to have a ‘corona’ a crown, and to be accompanied by ‘attendant cells.’ It is the holy, set apart and above, the queen to the sperms king.” EGG AND THE SPERM, Page 490. This stood out to me because I could see this being something easily passed down to society because we all fundamentally understand the very simple concepts of “Kind and Queen” It feels like a gender role that has been used for such a long portion of human history and is useful for the sabotage of constructing gender roles in society.

3. Anne Fausto-Sterling challenges the idea of binary sex by proposing that sexuality is on a spectrum rather that the preset limitations society has created, and suggest upwards of five-sex systems. The Five Sexes, Page 19. I actually found this helpful to better understand, as with most things in life, it is a spectrum. Things from autism to even colors. When I learn something knew and think of it as a spectrum, it helps me see everyone and everything outside of the bold lines. This has helped me specifically with my own friends who are non-binary and enjoy being seen as more masculine but enjoy wearing dresses. I have been lucky to have great friends who enjoy very much blending the lines of gender norms. On this most recent daylight savings we actually all chose to wear dresses (regardless of the individual genders) and bike through Balboa Park. It was wonderful and I can not imagine that happening when I was a child without the news getting involved. (I am now 34)

4. Absolutely. I just had this breakthrough in therapy last year. When I was young I was very entrepreneurial. I had a trash collecting business, sold snacks and baked goods, and puppet shows for the younger kids. This was all before I entered high school. I was excited and believed in myself. I had already known then I liked multiple genders as a kid. I saw no difference in liking my friends regardless of their gender. I knew after kissing a boy and girl, even back then that something was “wrong” and I had to hide it. But up until that point my father was extremely supportive. I will never forget the red light in Santee, CA we sat at when I told him I think I am gay. He already was upset I would play “female” characters in video games. Now I know I am pansexual, but at the time the only “naughty” word I knew was “gay”. From that day on he treated me very differently and chose to never step into my light again. I even tried going to church more to win his affection back. I lost a lot of confidence and motivation and took me 20 years to claw it back. Gender & sexual orientation will forever play a center role in my mental health journey.

Interpretive Discussion: Packet 3

What Do Humans Do With Suffering?

Discussion Prompt

Some religious traditions respond to suffering without offering consolation or explanation. Instead, they attempt to alter the human relationship to pain, desire, and impermanence.

Choose one text from Packet 3 that addresses suffering.

Consider:

• Whether the text explains suffering or refuses explanation
• What practices or disciplines it proposes
• How it redefines liberation or endurance

Your Task

In your original post (approximately 300400 words):

1. Identify the text (title and tradition)
2. Describe the problem the text addresses
3. Interpret what the text is doing or attempting to resolve
4. Connect your interpretation to the packets guiding question

Then respond substantively to one peer, engaging their interpretation rather than summarizing it.

You are not expected to agree with the text or resolve its tensions.

Example 1 Elaina

I chose to focus on the Dao De Jing from the Daoist tradition, traditionally attributed to Laozi. I feel that the text avoids giving a clear answer to why suffering exists. Instead of trying to explain why suffering exists, it focuses on changing how people react to struggle, desire, and the need to control things.

The problem the text focuses on is that people often create their own suffering by trying too hard to control the world around them. The Dao De Jing suggests that when people constantly chase wealth, status, or success, they move away from the natural balance of life. It also criticizes rulers who try to control everything. The text suggests that too much force and interference creates more problems, because when people try to control everything, they end up creating stress, conflict, and dissatisfaction.

Instead of explaining suffering, the text encourages people to live in harmony with the natural flow of the universe, called the Dao, or the Way. An important idea from the text is to avoid forcing things or trying to control the outcome and instead move with the natural flow of life rather than pushing against it. The text also encourages people to be humble and focus on a simpler way of living. For example, it says that the best rulers are the ones that people barely notice, which shows that harmony happens when leaders do not try to control everything.

The Dao De Jing presents a different idea of liberation. Instead of solving suffering or trying to completely eliminate it, the goal is to change how we relate to it. A person can live more peacefully by letting go of ego, control, and excessive desire. By following the Dao and accepting that life is always changing, people may experience less frustration and struggle.

Example 2 Marissa

The text I decided to choose is the Four Noble Truths, created by Buddhism. This text contains the words of Buddha on the truth of suffering, the origin of suffering, and how to deal with suffering by following the Eightfold Path. One problem that the text addresses is suffering: what is it, and how people can deal with it? The text from the First Noble Truth shows us that Buddhism believes that the problem, suffering, is much more than just death. Buddhism claims that true suffering is humans being unfulfilled and unsatisfied, as the human soul searches for more secular pleasures and is always left empty. Then, the Second Noble Truth shows that all suffering stems from unhealthy greed, desire, and ignorance. The Third Noble Truth attempts to resolve the problem: How can we extinguish desire if it is the root of all suffering? The Third Noble Truth claims that humans need to reach nirvana in order to quench all desire, as nirvana is a state of mind that reaches spiritual joy, and passion/desire is cut off. We can see this in The Fire Sermon when nirvana is mentioned, as it says “When he finds estrangement, passion fades out. With the fading of passion, he is liberated. When liberated, there is knowledge that he is liberated. He understands: ‘Birth is exhausted, the holy life has been lived out, what can be done is done, of this there is no more beyond.’” The Fire Sermon (SN 35:28) This shows that Buddha is making a clear claim that the problem of suffering can only be solved by detaching yourself from desire and attaining nirvana; nothing more, and nothing less.

Connecting back to the opening question: What Do Humans Do With Suffering? The Four Noble Truths give us a solution to suffering, and that is attaining nirvana, which is spiritual joy and prosperity. Buddhism allowed others to view suffering in a much more deeper way, and to extinguish suffering in more of a spiritual aspect. So, humans had found a way to be redeemed or freed from suffering through following the paths of attaining nirvana in Buddhism.

Interpretive Discussion: Packet 2

How Do Communities Hold Themselves Together?

Discussion Prompt

As communities grow, religious traditions often develop laws, rituals, and ethical expectations that regulate behavior and reinforce collective identity.

Choose one text from Packet 2 that addresses law, ritual, or communal responsibility.

Focus on:

• How the text shapes behavior
• What kind of social order it promotes
• Who is included or excluded by its structure

Your Task

In your original post (approximately 300400 words):

1. Identify the text (title and tradition)
2. Describe the problem the text addresses
3. Interpret what the text is doing or attempting to resolve
4. Connect your interpretation to the packets guiding question

Then respond substantively to one peer, engaging their interpretation rather than summarizing it.

You are not expected to agree with the text or resolve its tensions.

Example 1 Marissa

In Packet 2, the text I have decided to pick is Exodus Chapter 19 from the Torah, regarding law, covenant, and responsibility in Judaism. In this chapter, the Israelites arrive at Mount Sinai, and God gives the leader of the Israelites, Moses, commandments for the Israelites to follow. God tells Moses to command the people of Israel not to touch the mountain, and God promises blessings, protection, and prosperity in return. Exodus 19:5 states Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: showing that when the people obey, they will be favored by God and will receive treasures in return. But, God tells Moses that if the people of Israel fail to keep the covenant, they will perish and face the wrath of God. Exodus 19:21 says And the LORD said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the LORD to gaze, and many of them perish. With these commandments, God is attempting to instruct strict order so that the Israelites may be reverent towards him so that they may avoid disobedience.

These commandments sent from God instilled godly fear, obedience, and order upon the Israelites. The promise of blessings and fear of perishing (Exodus 19:5, Exodus 19:21) is what drove the Israelites to be obedient to God, and to ultimately be obedient to their leader, Moses. Exodus 19 shows us that obedience before a leader is significant to God, creating stability and order upon communities. Communities can create harsh boundaries and conditions like these to hold their people together with obedience and veneration not only before God, but also before their government/leader so that social harmony may be created.

Example 2 staff

The text Sikh The Truth comes from the Sikh religious tradition and shows how shared beliefs and caring actions help hold a community together. The big problem the text talks about is how people can live peacefully when communities grow and life gets harder. When people become selfish and only think about themself, it can break a community apart and make others feel small or unseen. The Sikh text teaches that there is one God in everyone, which means every person shares one thing in common and deserves respect. This idea helps shape behavior by reminding people to act with honesty and respect for everybody, and not just during prayer. One powerful idea in the text is seva, which means helping others without wanting praise or rewards. This teaches people to give from the heart and think about the needs of others, and not expect anything in return. Another emotional example is langar, the free community meal where everyone sits together and eats the same food. Rich or poor, young or old, everyone is equal at the table, which can make people feel accepted and loved. The social order this text promotes is one built on fairness, sharing, and responsibility instead of money or power. It teaches that real strength comes from lifting others up, not standing above them. Most people are included because the Sikh community welcomes anyone who believes in equality and truth, but those who refuse to live honestly or who treat others unfairly may feel pushed away because the community expects respect and good character. This text connects strongly to the guiding question, How do communities hold themselves together? because it shows that rules alone are not enough. Communities stay strong when people care for each other, serve one another, and live with truth. By choosing love, service, and equality, the Sikh tradition shows how a community can stay united, even during hard times, and remind people that they are never alone.

1. Definition of Simile

• A simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things using connecting words such as like or as.
• It makes the comparison explicit.
• Example: Her smile is like sunshine.
  • Here, the smile is directly compared to sunshine using the word like.

2. Definition of Metaphor

• A metaphor is also a comparison, but it does not use like or as.
• Instead, it states that one thing is another, implying similarity.
• Example: Her smile is sunshine.
  • Here, the smile is equated with sunshine, suggesting brightness and warmth.

3. Key Differences

Aspect	Simile	Metaphor
Connector Words	Uses like or as	Does not use like or as
Comparison Style	Explicit	Implicit
Example	Life is like a journey.	Life is a journey.

4. Why It Matters in English

• Both similes and metaphors enrich language, making writing more vivid and imaginative.
• They are commonly used in poetry, literature, and everyday speech.
• Understanding them helps improve both comprehension and creative writing skills.

So, when the question asks you to Explain the difference, you should:

• Define both terms.
• Show examples.
• Highlight the difference in usage.
• Conclude with why they are important in English.

Ive attached the instructions and the article this should not be a long reflection please answer all questions.

some notes:

Personal concerns to include:

• Youre not 100% sure what career you want
• You want work-life balance, not just success
• Fear of burnout in high-demand careers (like consulting)
• Pressure to constantly improve

Connect to IO psych:

• Workplace stress
• Employee well-being
• Balance between productivity and mental health