March 28th

Students had to write about their role model, which we then used to discuss why these people are their role models and what they did to influence them. We read a story titled "A Coach I Can't Forget" and answered questions about the story, after we discussed them.

March 27th

Students had a lesson on decisions and consequences, as well as responsibility. Students will have a journal entry, answer a questionaire entitled "Best Interest Test," finished the video and paper on decisions and consequences, responsibility and critical thinking and how they all relate to each other.

March 26th

Students finished watching "No Big Deal." They were then asked to write about an experience they had that peer pressure was used to pressure someone into doing something they didn't want to do and what the consequences were. This had to be descriptive and at least half a page long. This was due into the basket by the end of class.

March 25th

Students are watching an educational movie titled "No Big Deal" on teens, relationships, decisions and consequences, critical thinking skills and peer pressure. They will finish this on Wednesday (tomorrow).

March 19th

Today was the last day students could turn in any extra credit, including hall passes and late passes, plus any late assignments from the past two weeks. They were due at the end of the class period. Students learned about and discussed phobias. They were also given a list of phobias to identify along with famous individuals and their fears. The students were given the answers at the end of the period.

March 18th

Students had a journal entry today and a lesson on attitudes. We dicussed what influences their attitudes, what we can do to change our attitudes for the better and read some quotes relating to attitudes. Students also learned about the term "Ethnocentrism" and its' effects on the way we live and interact with others. We also discussed different cultures and customs and how they have formed the United States. There was no homework today.

March 17th

There was a sub today. Students discussed the importance of critical thinking and discovered ways to build and use critical thinking skills. Students learned about current research being done on dementia and Alzheimer's and what they can start doing now to help prevent the disease later on in life. Students were shown 3-D images and were also given brainteasers to work on over the weekend. Answers will be provided to the students tomorrow. There is a prize for the student who has the most correct.

March 14th

Students partnered up and were given a scenerio about hot air ballooning over the Rockies. They had to decide what pieces of equipment they would throw out 1st, 2nd, ect. to use their critical thinking and communication skills. They were then put into groups and had to do the same thing, but this time they had to take into account the opinions of everyone in the group. We then compared this to the workplace and working with others to solve problems. Students were then provided with the opinion of experts and what they would do in a similar situation.

March 13th

Students had a journal entry, followed by a scenerio about survivors from an ocean liner sinking. They are in a life boat and have to make a choice who they would get rid of first and second if they had to to survive. We then discussed their choices and reasons why, what communication and critical thinking skills they used and if they would have made different choices. We discussed stereotypes, diversity and workplace skills as well.

March 12th

Reminders to students: All extra credit and missing/late assignments are due a week from today on Wednesday, March 19th. Students learned the steps to the critical thinking process and discovered how they learned to form opinions, as well as how they have formed their opinions thus far. They read one of two stories about Julio and Silvia and had to answer a set of questions based on the story they read.

March 11th

The students watched a video titled "Relationships... When they help, When they hurt." The video was about using communication to build relationships and gave examples about when people use communication to tear down a relationship. They also had a journal entry at the beginning of class. They were also reminded that the last day to turn in extra credit or late work is Wednesday March 19th.

March 10th

The students had a sub today and had a lesson on Peer pressure. Nothing was due or was assigned today.

March 7th

Students discussed the dangers of spreading gossip about others and it's affect on themselves and on others. Students turned in their journal entries from this week and questions about the story "Confessions of a teenage gossip."

March 6th

Students were reminded about the upcoming deadline for extra credit and late work for the next two weeks is all due to me by March 19th to be put on their grade. Students learned about inter and intra-personal communication and ANTs (automatic negative thoughts) and how they relate to how we communicate with others. Students took a few notes, but nothing was due.

March 5th

Students discussed listening skills and participated in a couple of listening activities, including reading the book "Listen Buddy" and listening to common sounds and telling me what they are. Students also had to state how certain things people do when they should be listening make them feel and how they react.

March 4th

Students answered a journal entry question, then worked on a questionnaire and an activity dealing with their love language (how the tell show or do something for someone they love). Class was pretty flexible today because of the DWA testing for the ninth grade.

March 3rd

Students learned about the differences between verbal, non-verbal and written forms of communication. We then focused on non-verbal communication cues that people use to send off messages to others. We also watched a couple of video clips on verbal, non-verbal and written forms of communication at the end of class.