YEAR 2010 IS HERE! What’s your New Year resolutions?
Wow, we are already strolling into the end of 3rd quarter! Have any one of you made a resolution about budgeting? Any one out there wanting to do better financially or with money management? Well, I think this resolution is for us because we started into budgeting for this class! Oh yes– good way of starting January and ending the quarter! The goal for this week is to students have at least an understanding about budgeting and have discussed it before they get into high school and into work. Money managing and budgeting is the most important life skill that many people find to be very difficult. It is a very important skill to maintain in order to succeed in life . The budget is a good starting point from which a young student can manage their money successfully in his/her lifetime. The goal for this topic to be covered in class is for the students to identify family financial goals and develop basic budget strategies.
Parents– here is the powerpoint that I have used to cover the discussion: budget.ppt. Please feel free to review it with you child.
Thank you and enjoy your long weekend! Happy Martin Luther King Jr Day!!
December 4, 2009 This week, we are talking about bullying and what it means and how it influences us as a member of the whole school. Ashley, the youth coordinator from DOVE, Advocacy Services for Abused Deaf Women and Children came to speak with us and the rest of the middle school students about bullying. The following topics that we have and will cover are:
- Identify bullying
- Avoid being a part of bullying situations
- Bullies, bystanders, and their roles
- How to find empowering ways to respond to bullying
- How to identify their support system
- Focus on expression of feelings and respect for other students
- Build and strengthen self-esteem
We have learned that bullying can be pushing, shoving, hitting, and spitting, as well as name calling, picking on, making fun of, laughing at, and excluding someone. Bullying causes pain and stress to victims and is never justified or excusable as “kids being kids,” “just teasing” or any other rationalization. The victim is never responsible for being a target of bullying. Ashley has asked us if we believe that everybody should enjoy our school equally, and feel safe, secure and accepted regardless of color, race, gender, popularity, athletic ability, intelligence, religion and nationality. We said YES!!!! We have agreed o join together to stamp out bullying at our school so Ashley will come back on Tuesday, December 8th to help us develop our anti-bullying pledge. It may be in making a poster or a video; we will brainstorm ideas for our next class on Tuesday.
Parents, there are numerous websites about bullying. I’ve listed a few so please feel free to check them out and talk with your child about what he/she may have learned about bullying and victimization:
http://stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/kids/ http://kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/bullies.html http://www.jaredstory.com/bullying_whattodo.html http://www.education.com/topic/school-bullying-teasing/
“Courage is fire, and bullying is smoke” — Benjamin Disraeli
Week of 11/9 - 11/13
The 2nd quarter has begun and I am with the new group of students! We kicked off with the class syllabus and we started the topic of adult responsibility and working. We discussed the difference between “jobs” and “careers” then further the discussion by writing down what they are dreaming to become in the future. The students have the opportunity to relax and dream and to think about where they want to be in 5 years from now. We are completing the worksheet to explore career options and each one of the student will explain to the class about what they are hoping to become. It is due next week on Tuesday (November 17th).
worksheet of the week: exploring_careers.pdf
The powerpoint that we used to cover the discussion: careers.pdf
“When we are dreaming alone it is only a dream. When we are dreaming with others, it is the beginning of reality.” — Dom Helder Camara
Week of 10/19- 10/23
It’s Red Ribbon Week! In class, we increased our knowledge about drugs so we could smart ourselves as a goal to protect ourselves and our future from the harm of drugs. We discussed several categories, such as alcohol, club drugs, and street drugs. Specific drugs were identified (i.e., marijuana, methamphetamine, cocaine) and how they affect our brains, bodies, and our self- control, in addition to information about long- and short-term effects, physical and psychological risks, and legal issues.
For assignment, students were to browse internet during their free time (at home, during lunch break, or recess) and print off information/ pictures of drugs they have found and bring to class to share with others.
The objectives of this class is to increase their knowledge about drugs, both legal and illegal, and to communicate their knowledge to others through class presentations. The key website link that was used to cover drugs this week: http://family.samhsa.gov/main/facts.aspx. The series is written for teens but they are also great resources for adults and parents to share with their children!
“I’m too busy to do drugs!”
“2 smart 2 do drugs!”
Week of 10/12- 10/16
Continuation of discussion about stress this week. We distinguished between good and bad stresses and identified which stressful life experience is good or bad. Students shared their own experience and identified the symptoms that they have experienced during the stress. Students had a quiz on Thursday. Results will come on Tuesday of next week.
“It is impossible for a man to learn what he thinks he already knows.”–Epictetus
Week of 10/5-10/9
We continued the discussion about stress this week. We covered important keys about stress using PowerPoint in the class: stress.ppt
Please feel free to review the PowerPoint with your child and share your experience of dealing with stress in your life. The more we share, the better they learn!
“Life itself is your teacher and you are in a constant state of learning”– Bruce Lee
Week of 9/28-10/2
This week, students recognize symptoms and causes of stress and how to manage. We identified causes of stress, defined symptoms of stress, and examined positive forms of stress management stress. We did informal exercise in class: I would give them the fake assignment which is a term paper for them to write 5 pages; they are to type it out and make it double spaced. After the students have become stressed over this assignment, they identified the reactions of their bodies to this type of exercise: Are they nervous? How do they breathe, rapidly? What do their muscles feel like? Is their stomach tense?
We also discussed that stress can be positive or negative and what are the differences. The worksheet, called “Stress Tally” was completed this week in class. Please click below to view the worksheet: stress_tally.pdf
Week of 9/21-9/25
This week, students identified characteristics of a quality caregiver. They practiced positive guidance techniques in class. I shared with them experiences that relate to positive guidance techniques and then we did worksheet: confusedcathy (in pdf). The story was passed out to students to take home to read for next class where I read the story aloud to them. We filled out worksheets together. We learned to differentiate between negative and positive methods of guidance for children which would benefit them someday when they are ready to care for small children (babysitting, etc).
Week of 9/14-9/20
The class had an opportunity to visit the Learning Center at RMDS to interact with children of 2-4 years old. The students gained child care experience and we started the discussion with listing the difference of responsibilities of babysitters and parents. We discussed points and issues to be considered on the topic of teen parenthood and teen childbearing. We went into depth by defining and discussing the concept of quality of life then listing the things they think contribute to a quality lifestyle. They compared and contrast this list with the lifestyle of a teen parent. The conflict between a typical teen lifestyle and the potential lifestyle of a teen parent should be self-evident. Teens tend to be unrealistic about the demands of parents so it was a good opportunity to see the big picture of teen parenthood. Teen parenthood reference sheet will be handed out for this week. Parents, here are some websites suggested for you to review with your child regarding teen parenthood:
- Parent Guide: Parental Responsiblities Ideas and suggestions that may be used in a home discussion about the responsibilities associated with parenthood.
- Parent Guide: Being a Parent Ideas and suggestions that may be used in a home discussion about the commitments involved with being a parent.
- Parent Guide: The Challenges of Parenthood Ideas and suggestions that may be used in a home discussion on the challenges of being a parent.
CLICK THE LINK BELOW FOR CLASS INFORMATION! (updated 9/16/2009– please review!)
Teen Living letter for students and parents (in pdf)
