March 6, 2014

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.

March 5, 2014

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.

March 4, 2014

Students continued with the communication unit. We continued learning about destructive types of communication and focused on gossip and swearing.

March 3, 2014

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 28, 2014

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 27, 2014

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 26, 2014

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

February 25, 2014

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.

February 24, 2014

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.

February 21, 2014

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 20, 2014

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. We also started a video on Teen Anger and will finish it tomorrow.

February 19, 2014

We first discussed different colors and what the meanings and feelings of different colors are. We also discussed how music can affect how we feel and what we do.

February 18, 2014

We read the book "What are you so grumpy about" and discussed the six 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 14, 2104

Students finished discussing personalities by completing another couple of activities that help describe their personalities. They also had to compare a car to their personality and had to turn it in.

February 13, 2014

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.