Communication

Today, we began a new chapter.  The lessons for the next fiew weeks will focus on learning to express our feelings/needs/wants and emotions with words.  We are aware that our students let us know how they feel on a regular basis.  Many times they have not developed the skills to express themselves with words.  We tend to see the outbusrs, the tantrums, and other behaviors.  These are usually syptomatic of a deeper emotion.  It is the only way the may feel they can express themselves.  We have been utilzing the color code system.  The students switch a card from green to yellow to red according to their level of frustration.  We understand that in mainistream courses and/or life no such system exists.  Therefore, we will be expanding it to include a set of expressions so that they can internalize them and communicate more effectively.  We also began a new P.E. program, soccer.  The student were extatic.  Our motto is  "sometimes we win, some times we don't, some times we tie, but it is ok". 
Greeeeaaat Day!!!!

P.S., Mrs. Winkler and her staff Rock!!!!!

Ingredients for friendships

Last week, we discussed the ingredients that are required make and maintain relationships.  We compared it to baking a cake.  First we discussed all of the ingredients to bake a cake.  I must say, I think we have some great pastry chefs in the making.  We then utilized the same idea to discuss the ingredients for friendships and other relationships.  We discussed that aside from the ingredients to baking a cake, we need one very important element: heat.  The heat is the element that binds all of the ingredients together.  In relationships the heat is our attitude.  Yes we may be able to recognize all of the ingredients for positive relationships.  What determines the level of success is the attitude that we take towards it.  Our attitude jells all of the ingredients togheter and creates something unique: a beautiful and positive relationship.  We are more than the sum of the parts.  Our attitude binds the parts and trully creates something special.  Relationships are organic and metamorphic.  It is hard to explan, but we can all identify a neat relationship when we see it.  In middle school, we extended it further to generalizing such behavoirs.  At the high school level, we duscussed the concept of the emotional bank account.  We discussed that as adults, we get out of relationships what we invest in them.  We also discussed that we are the "best and "worst with the those we love most".  Subconciously, we feel that they are always going to be there no matter what.  But will they?  How far will they bend before they break?  How about not push so hard so that we never have to find out! 
Reflection:  Students have to know and feel that we genuinely love them; that we want for them what we want for our chidren.  We are all interconnected in this world.  If they are trully happy, we will inturn be happy.    We get the students that we get.  It is our reponsibilty to ensure that we help them all find their genuine happiness.  When we point at the student, family, poverty and say that is why...  Look, there are four fningers pointing back at you. 
Talk soon...

9-13-2011

Today we discussed the topic of mainstreaming.  We discussed the fact that what ever choices we make in our mainstream classes affects all aspects of our lives.  What we do there, good or bad affects our consequences in the classroom, at school, ED, home and beyond.  The students got to review a few of the incidents that they have been dealing with in their mainstream classes.  The students had a difficult time relating to the events.  Even though the events were actual events they had dealt with, they could not make the connections.  During follow up sessions the students will fill in the boxes with events they are dealing with.  See chart below.

True colors, CWHS

What is outside the box?  Equally as important, what is inside the box?

During the last two weeks, we have been learning about what makes us tick.  At our inner core of what drives us are our personalties.    We have been discovering how it affects us and those around us.  In order to accomplish this task, we are utizing the True Colors personality Questionnaire.  The students got an opportunity to complete their personality questinnaires last week. They gathered according to color  and discussed each category further.  Today, we began with a brief presentation about the purpose of education as it relates to all of us.  Education is twofold.  In one aspect, it provides us with the tools to succeed in life.  On the other hand, it  works to bring out the special gifts we have within us.  The latter, is information we all have in our person, yet in many cases are unaware of such.  We discussed the fact that additional layers such as the stressors of our lives make discovery of these gifts even more challenging to discover.  The students then began to draft out a visual representation of thier personality trait based on their color.  Most of the students appeared to be eager to begin the task.  Their work will be posted periodically.  The next task is for the students to complete their wholistic visual rerpresentation, present it to the class and post it on the classroom wall.  Thus far, the students are begining  to be comfortable discovering and sharing their speical characteristics.  I think that providing them with an example, and making the environment a positive and respecful one has helped in allowing them to share.  Our students dream of becoming pilots, police officers, video game developers, music moguls and movie producers.  Wow, it is beautiful to hear their dreams.  Below is a sample of a visual representation of my personality.  Judge for your self! 

Importance of play

On Tuesday, we discussed the importanceo f play in our lives.  The students got to see a video and discuss it afterwards.  We discussed the importance of body language.  The way a conversation begins is the way it begins.  Two of the stasff members dod some role-playing.  One plot was about a student who had very negative communication skills such as a mean look, arms out-side, and distant.  The other was about a student approaching a different student with a smile, asking questions and being polite.  The students responded appropritely and seem to enjoy the role-playing.  Next session will focus on the development of their expectations for the year. 

Central West HS

Last week we began our social skills conversations.  We provided an introduction to what is to come for the year.  The first session provided an introduction to a variety of topics such as emotions, verbal and nonverbal language and the importance of play among other areas.  The powerpoint presentation went very well.  The students got an opportunity to learn about the importance of play.  They also saw a video on the topics.  The video emphasized the importance of the language we send without saying a word.  The lesson was best taught by the polar bear and the dogs.  Click here to view video...  The staff and the teacher joined in.  We had a wonderful conversation.  I look forward to the many lessons learned...

Great job CWHS.  

Sequoia MS

We are in the mid of the second week at Sequoia MS.  The staff working hard and aclamating to new staff and a new location.  We are jelling like peanut butter and jelly.  The students are adjusting as well.  We have been working arduously to develop relationships with the students and ensuring they gel with one-another.  In an effort to live up to my view of being a life-long learner, I am open to new ideas and practices.  The teacher gave my some advice. Her advice, I will take me.  Her words of wisdom are as follow "younger children learn best when they do, not when they are talked to".  You will agree that that is the best for all ages, but most true for the little ones.  So I will learn and swirm and learn...  The first day, we did a student scavenger hunt to get the students to learn more about each other.  The students needed some help and the task with very smoothly.  This week, we are working on identifying the different types of emotions.  So, we utilized emotional charades.  The kids were hilarious.  You should have seen them!  Lots of laughter... Next week we will continue, but it will be students vs staff.  Get your face muscles ready staff.  The overarching theme for the year is to learn to develop relationships with peers.  The first lesson was to go fishing.  Instead of throwing many of these: !!!!; they need to throw more of these: ????.
We will keep you posted!