October 10, 2014

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 9, 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.

October 8, 2014

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. Students are also taking an optional field trip on October 29th after school to La Caille. Parents are also invited to attend. The dinner is $34.00 per person and must be paid to the office by the end of school on October 15th. Students will then take their receipt and permission form to class and turn it into the basket by 3:00 p.m. on October 15th to be added to the list and the count. Reservations will be made that day at 3:00 and no additions or subtractions can be made after that time.

October 6-7, 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.

October 2, 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.

October 1, 2014

Students had a mid-term test today on the Independent Living Skills unit. We discussed this test last week and what they would be tested on and needed to study.

September 30, 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.

September 29, 2014

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

September 26, 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.

September 25, 2014

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 Wednesday.

September 23-24, 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.

September 22, 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.

September 19, 2014

Students finished the video on Teen Anger and turned in the questions from the video. We then learned about the consequences of uncontrolled emotions and behavior.

September 18, 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.

September 16-17 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.

September 15, 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.

September 12, 2014

Students learned about goals, long-term and short-term and why goals are important. 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. They watched a video clip and answered a series of questions about their future goals.

September 11, 2014

We continued on values today 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 10, 2014

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 8-9, 2014

At the beginning of class, we read the story "You are special" and answered a journal entry question having to do with the book. Students learned about the differences in the terms self-concept, self-esteem, and self-image, as well as how they affect all areas of our life. We were in the middle of taking a questionnaire entitled "How strong is your self-concept" so we will finish it and discuss it on Monday.