January 4 and 7, 2013

Students watched a video on the importance of abstinence before marriage and monogamy after marriage titled "Sex still has a price tag." They will finish the second part on Monday. Any parent who is worried about the content of this or any other video or lesson is free to come in to ask questions. Feel free to contact me if you would like to view anything. The video is district approved and meets state and district guidelines.

January 3, 2013

Students watched a video on dating/domestic violence, which gave tips on preventing violence, as well as warning signs and legal information pertaining to domestic violence.

January 2, 2013

Students discussed the warning signs of abusive relationships and how to prevent dating violence from occurring. Students were given ideas of ways to date more safely and people to contact if something does occur. Also, students were notified that the last day to turn in late or missing assignments and extra credit is January 11th DURING class. No assignments or extra credit will be accepted after this day.

December 21, 2012

Students discussed how and why people break-up and how students can handle break-ups better. We also discussed how relationships leave their mark on our personalities and will affect our future relationships.

December 20, 2012

Students learned about what rights they have as they date and what responsibilities they have when dating.

December 19, 2012

Today, we discussed and learned about the differences between love and infatuation. We watched a short video clip from called "Fanny's Dream" and used questions and role plays as examples for the students to decide if it is love or infatuation.

December 18, 2012

Students wrote about what qualities they are looking for in the people they date. We also watched "CinderEdna" which is a book about two princesses who made different choices about the people they married based on how well they knew the other person and what kind of life they wanted to live.

December 17, 2012

We finished the stages of adolescent attractions and read an example called "The class ring" about someone who was dating for the wrong reasons.

December 14, 2012

Students learned about what rights they have as they date and what responsibilities they have when dating. They also watched a video called "Stop the Violence" on dating violence, which we will discuss next week.

December 13, 2012

Students learned about the stages of adolescent attraction by discussing each stage and by using examples. They took notes while we discussed and video clips were used to identify the different stages. We will finish these on Monday.

December 12, 2012

Students had a mid-term test today on the Relationships unit. We discussed and reviewed for this test yesterday and what they would be tested on and needed to study. We will start the Responsible Dating unit tomorrow.

December 11, 2012

Students spent class playing a review game for their Teen Living Mid-term test, which will be tomorrow!

December 10, 2012

Students finished watching "The teachings of Jon and we discussed why students tend to steer away from others who are different, especially in Middle school.

December 7, 2012

Students discussed their experiences with their electronic babies. We then watched "The teaching of Jon" about a boy with Down Syndrome and the lessons he is teaching his family.

December 6, 2012

Students learned about the difference between feeling lonely and being alone. We also discussed reasons why friends and peers reject others and how peer pressure is involved.

December 5, 2012

Students learned about refusal skills and how to use them to get out of different situations, as well as how to use peer pressure for good.

December 3-4, 2012

The students learned about peer pressure, what it is, why it occurs and what they can do to combat negative types of peer pressure. We also had a couple of activities related to peer pressure.

November 30, 2012

Students were taught the "Keys to friendship," which are the basic qualities people are looking for in good friendships. We then discussed what other qualities the students are looking for in their best friends.

November 29, 2012

We identified the differences between peers and friends and discussed qualities of a good friend and good friendship. We also discussed the changing types of friendships throughout our lives.

November 28, 2012

Students learned about the six different types of people in their support systems. They were then given different case studies to use to identify these types of support and they had to identify who and why different people in their personal lives are in their personal support systems.

November 20, 26-27, 2012

Students are learning about the elderly, especially what myths are out there and how they can help the elderly in their lives.

November 19, 2012

The students learned about how the elderly are often taken advantage of and some of the programs available to the elderly for extra help and support. We also discussed the increase in elder abuse and watched a video made by the state of Utah about what elder abuse is and who to report abuse to if we suspect abuse occurring to an elderly person we know.

November 16, 2012

Students discussed aging and what they consider "Elderly." Students learned about the Stages of the Life Span, reasons for the growing elderly population and how they feel about being "Old" longer than they were considered "Young." We discussed activities, such as service and employment the elderly participate in to keep them active.

November 15, 2012

Students will be learning about and discussing siblings, the effect of birth order, and sibling rivalry. Today is all discussion, so nothing was due, but a few notes were written down.

November 14, 2012

Students discussed how they "cope" with their parents and how much they know about their parents. Students read a story about Becky and turned it in. They were also assigned a questionnaire about how much they know about their parents and how much do their parents know about their student. This is worth 50 points and is due on Tuesday of next week.

November 13, 2012

Students learned about and discussed Maslow's Hierarchy of Human Needs. We discussed each level in detail and gave examples of all. We also related these needs to their needs, as well as the needs of their parents.

November 12, 2012

Students discussed ideas/ways to get along better with their family members, as well as ways they can add to the harmony in their own families.

November 9, 2012

Today was the first day the infant simulators were checked out. During class we discussed their experiences so far and problem solved any issues they may have had so far.

Noevmber 8, 2012

Students learned about how families are changing and the outside influences which are causing a lot of the changes we are seeing. We also started discussing our family relationships.

November 7, 2012

Today was the first day students could sign up for weekend with the infant simulators. We also took a quiz on how the infants work and finished learning about role models.

November 6, 2012

Students were shown how the electronic babies function and what each cry means and how to care for the baby simulator. We also discussed what the alternate assignment for the project was and how they will be graded.

November 5, 2012

Students were introduced to the electronic baby simulation project, how to sign-up, how to check them in and out and what is expected over the weekend while the student has their baby. We also discussed how they would be graded.

November 1, 2012

We discussed what sexual harassment is, why people harass others and what to do if it happens to them or if others complain about it occurring. We then watched a video on Sexual harassment.

October 31, 2012

Students continued discussing and learning about common gender issues. Today we played "Gender wars." Students were separated into male and females and each team was asked different questions about the opposite sex. The team with the most answers correct won treats/prizes.

October 30, 2012

Students discussed the way gender effects education, career choice and salary. We also compared gender equity in the United States to other countries. Participation points were given for participating in the discussion and answering questions.

October 29, 2012

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, which the students turned in after we discussed them.

October 26, 2012

Students discussed responsibility and how it relates to the risks we take and the consequences which may occur because of our choices.

October 25, 2012

Students learned about and discussed risk today. We covered the seven categories of risk, why we take risks and what consequences could result. They read stories about risks taken and what happened to each person involved in the stories.

October 24, 2012

Students had a lesson on decisions and consequences, as well as responsibility. Students had a journal entry, answered a questionnaire entitled "Best Interest Test," and discussed decisions and consequences, responsibility and critical thinking and how they all relate to each other.

October 23, 2012

Students who are going on the La Caille field trip need to meet Tuesday (today) after school at 3:25 by the office. If students are driving with their parents or parents are meeting us there, you need to be there around 4:30 and we will be seated at 5:00.

October 22, 2012

We discussed the appropriate do's and don'ts when dining. We also watched a short video about good restaurant etiquette and also discussed appropriate bus etiquette, not only for La Caille but for any time you ride a bus.

October 17, 2012

Students started their etiquette unit today by learning about proper etiquette when using technology. The also had an assignment called "The Netiquette Advantage" due today.

October 16, 2012

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 tonight. Answers will be provided to the students tomorrow. There is a prize for the student who has the most correct.

October 15, 2012

We discussed critical thinking. Students learned the process of critical thinking and why it's important. Using situations two teens found themselves in, we used the steps to come up with possible solutions and consequences.

October 12, 2012

Students learned about inter and intra-personal communication and ANTs (automatic negative thoughts) and how they relate to how we communicate with others. We also had a visual demonstration using Mr. Box to show students what kinds of things get in the way of good communication.

October 11, 2012

We learned about the 5 love languages: giving gifts, giving service, physical touch, quality time, and verbal affirmation. Students identified their love language by taking a questionnaire which then helped identify what type they are. They then drew pictures of different types of love languages their family or friends tend to show.

October 10, 2012

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.

October 9, 2012

Students not only discussed listening skills, but how to actively listen and why it is important. Listening activities were also done in class to learn about listening to directions the first time, the importance of asking questions when something is not understood, and listening to what is going on around them.

October 8, 2012

Students learned about Non-verbal body language today. We focused on being attentive and observant while communicating with others and looking for hidden communication cues.

October 4, 2012

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.

October 3, 2012

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.

October 2, 2012

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

October 1, 2012

Students spent class playing Plinko and reviewing for their Teen Living Mid-term test, which will be tomorrow!

September 28, 2012

Students learned about positive ways to cope with/deal with stress.

September 27, 2012

We discussed poor coping mechanisms people use to try and deal with or runaway from the stress in their life. We will continue with positive stress reducers on Friday.

September 26, 2012

Students learned about stress, distress, eustress and stress reducers. They took a questionnaire to rate how much stress they have and we discussed how everyone handles stress differently. We also discussed biofeedback and handed out biodots to use to see how they are reacting to the daily stress they have in their lives.

September 25, 2012

Students started learning about stress, stressors, and stress reducers today. We shared examples of stressors. They also learned about distress, eustress and stress reducers. They took a questionnaire to rate how much stress they have and we discussed how everyone handles stress differently. We also discussed biofeedback and handed out biodots to use to see how they are reacting to the daily stress they have in their lives.

Sepetember 24, 2012

Students watched a presentation from our guest speaker from La Caille today. She discussed and demonstrated proper etiquette procedures students would use on dates and when dining out.

September 21, 2012

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.

September 20, 2012

Students discussed what makes them angry and learned the differences between hot, cold and warm anger and compared these emotions to balloons. They also read the book "When Sophie gets angry" and talked about what they can do to control their anger. There was a paper that went with this, but the students didn't turn this in.

September 19, 2012

Students learned how different colors can effect people's moods and emotions. They were then given an activity 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.

September 10-11, 2012

I was out with the flu, so students had subs for both of these days. As long as they turned in their assignment the subs gave them, they will get participation points. Students who were absent do not need to make up the assignment.

September 18, 2012

We discussed positive and negative ways teens show their emotions, both verbally and non-verbally. Their journal entries were also due today.

September 17, 2012

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.

September 14, 2012

Students finished discussing personalities by completing another couple of activities that help describe their personalities.

September 13, 2012

Students discussed what different factors have made up/influenced their personality. They were then shown common personality tests people have created. Today, students learned about astrology signs, the Chinese zodiac and A/B type personalities.

September 12, 2012

Students finished watching select clips from "Charlie and the Chocolate factory" to identify each of the values each golden ticket winner had. We continued and discussed common values each member of society has and talked about setting priorities. The students then answered a series of questions to rank their values in order of priority from the most important to the least. We also discussed how our values and priorities effect the goals we set and if we will be able to reach those goals or not. We are more likely to achieve goals that we value or that we see as a high priority.

September 7, 2012

Students started discussing values and focused on the differences between intrinsic and extrinsic values. They had to know and recognize the difference between the two types and they practiced by watching a few movie clips about children and their different types of values.

September 6, 2012

We continued the activities dealing with self-concept, self-esteem and self-confidence. Today, they watched a video on self-concept and the importance of not labeling other people.

September 5, 2012

Students learned about the differences in self-concept, self-esteem, self-image, as well as how they affect all areas of our life. They were read the story "You are special" and wrote down the definitions of the terms, but the rest of class was a discussion.

September 4, 2012

We finished discussing the five types of adolescent development, which we related to the acronym of Pepsi. We then moved on to discussing common roadblocks to development that teens may face and the challenges associated with each one.

August 31, 2012

Students started learning about the eight stages of development that teenagers pass through. They watched short clips from various movies to see examples of each stage in action and had to write down each stage in their notes.

August 30, 2012

Students were reminded about the three things due tomorrow (Class fee, Human Sexuality Instruction permission form, PG movie permission form). We started our discussion on the eight types of developmental stages during adolescences.

August 28, 2012

Today, students got to know each other and completed an activity that will allow me to get to know them better as well. Students completed the "Coat of Arms" and the "personlized license plate".

Welcome!

Welcome to Teen Living at Fort Herriman Middle School. I hope that you have an enjoyable experience this semester in class. In order for you to have a good time and learn, you must participate! This means that you need to participate in class discussions, activities and out of class acitivities which will include La Caille, blogs, interviews, and a little bit of homework. Remember that this class does count as high school credit to graduate, so don't blow it off!