February 28th

We put together our class sample for our portfolios for student-led conferences. Students then discussed and read about the dangers of gossip and it's effects on people. We read the story "Confessions of a Teenage Gossip" and answered questions based on the research and information in the article.

February 25th

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 and watched an educational video about nonverbal communication.

February 24th

Students continued with the communication unit. Today, they learned about and compared a hammer to destructive and constructive communication techniques. A class note page was provided to the students to write notes on.

February 23rd

We started on the Communication unit today and started with learning the differences between child-like, parent-like and adult-like communication styles. They also watched three clips from "The Emperor's New Groove" and had to identify the three types of communication shown in the movie clips.

February 22nd

Students had a mid-term test today on the Independent Living Skills unit. We discussed this test yesterday and what they would be tested on and needed to study. We will start the communication unit tomorrow.

February 21st

We talked about three communication styles: aggressive, passive and assertive. Students identified the styles by statements made by or descriptions about the three styles. Then in groups, they role-played one of the three styles to understand what they look like. We also reviewed for the mid-term test tomorrow.

February 18th

Today, students learned about stress reducers. I provided a number of different stress reducers and the class shared ways they prefer to reduce their stress. We also discussed their upcoming mid-term test on Tuesday.

February 17th

Students discussed poor ways people use to numb stress and we focused on depression and suicide. The students watched an educational video on the effects of suicide and how people can identify warning signs from friends and family.

February 16th

Students had a sub, so they played the "Game of Life," the board game, seeing some of the things that may happen in real life. They answered questions on a sheet about some of the things that happened to them during the game and turned it in at the end of class for points.

February 15th

Students learned about stress, what it is, common teen stressors and how teens can cope with stress. They had 10 questions to answer about how personally deal with stress they had to turn in by the end of class.

February 14th

We first discussed different colors and what the meanings and feelings of different colors are. Students were then given a choice of activities. One was called "Written all over your face" to help them distinguish between emotions and facial expressions. They had the rest of class to work on it and the answers and prizes were given at the end of class for those who had the most correct. The other was charades and the students had to act out and guess different descriptive words of emotions.

February 11th

We read the book "What are you so grumpy about" and discussed the seven basic emotions. Then we discussed and wrote about how these emotions are portrayed in the books they are reading and the TV and Movies they watch and how the colors we see effect out emotions.

February 10th

Today we discussed emotions, feelings and the affects these feelings have on us and others around us. We studied how our surroundings, especially the music we listen to, can effect our moods. Students listened to clips from different types of music and had to explain how each made them feel.

February 9th

Students finished watching "Rudy" about a college student trying to reach his goal of becoming a football player. They had an assignment to go with this which will be due tomorrow at the start of class.

February 8th

Students continued to watch "Rudy" about a college student trying to reach his goal of becoming a football player. They had an assignment to go with this which will be due tomorrow.

February 7th

Students had a sub today, so they were allowed to watch part of the movie "Rudy" which discusses hopes and dreams and working to achieve a goal. They also had some questions to answer about Rudy's goals, as well as their own, while they watched.