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!  

2011-2012 Expectations

The students continued to set their social and emotional expectations for the 2011-2012 school year.  They got an opportunity to re-write them and re-think them.  Most of the students kept their original goals and they expanded on them.  They had an opportunity to operationally define their concepts.  If they indicated "get along with friends" they were to elaborate on them with such information as when, where, how...

The next step is for the students to generate symbolic images for their goals.  Today, they got a brief introduction to symbols.  They also began the first part of the audio story "The Little Prince".  The book emphasized the use of symbols with such characters as the Prince's Flower, The Business Man, The Lamp Lighter and the King. 

 Their next task is to generate symbols for the expectations they have for the year.  

STUDENT EXPECTATIONS

Welcome back Warriors at WAMS Middle School.  The purpose of today's lesson was to set expectations for the year.  We will focus on the development of social and emotional expectations.  The students set 3-5 areas that they want to work on.  These will be the foundation for presentations throughout the year.  The social domain will focus on such things as friendships, relationships with teachers, parents and peers, family, caring, sports and respect.  The emotional domain will address anger, sadness, control of words, and identifying, respecting others feelings.  The students generated a list of issues they want to develop throughout the year.  The image below addresses today's lesson.  

New year... Best wishes from Central West High School

Hello all.  New year, new assignments, new students new...  new experiences, new opportunities... for growth.  Wishing all of our ED family a great year....

Cheers from Central West HS.

Go Grizzlies!!!!!