A day filled with meetings……

4th Grade Girls Group I

A small group today…..we colored pictures and shared a ton of Happy Happenings!

3rd-4th Grade Social Thinking Group

Today we completed our Distractor Shields and answered getting to know you questions…the boys were fabulous!

A very fast day!

Happy Moan-day!

5/6 Anxious Girls Group

What a happy and giggly bunch today! Lots of stories….talked about dreams…and filled out our anxious thermometers…..the girls all left with smiles on their faces, ready to start the day!

5/6 Social Thinking Group 1

I’ve been promising the boys gym time….so today we played! We worked on defeating the Destroyer of Fun and did an OUTSTANDING job!

7th Grade Girls

Today we combined our Typical Peer Group with our 7th Grade Girls Group!  It was awesome! Never a dull moment.

8th Grade Girls

No group today.

Pfish Class

Today we finished our  topic =   EMPATHY!

EMPATHY AND ACCEPTING DIVERSITY

People come in all shapes, sizes and colors. This is what we call diversity. Some of the ways that people are different are in the areas of race, religion, language, culture, lifestyle, neighborhood, family, talent and abilities.

Sometimes when we don’t understand one of these differences we say that we don’t like it or them. But we can learn so much from one another. And, even though we are all different, there are many ways that we are alike

Differences between you and your friends????? – gender, religion, culture, disability; Do friends have to be exactly the same???  Why or Why not?

Respecting and Blending Differences and Putting Your Feelings Aside to Help Others

Put Yourself in Someone Else’s Shoes

EMPATHY AND DEVELOPING SELF-RESPECT

We have learned a lot about empathy the past few weeks. One of the things that I hope you have realized along the way is that it feels good to be empathetic. Not only does it help you to feel closer to other people, it makes you feel good about yourself as well.

This is called self-esteem or self-respect. But self-respect only comes after you have felt, thought, and done things that are worthy of respect. Helping your empathy grow will help you grow your self-respect.

What does the word respect mean and what does it mean to have it for yourself?

How does doing good things make you feel better about yourself? And how does feeling better about yourself make you want to do good things?

Can you think of a time when you showed empathy and liked yourself more because you did? Can you think of a time when you didn’t show empathy and liked yourself less because you didn’t?

Finally we read: HOW DO I STAND IN YOUR SHOES?

The kids were awesome!

A marvelous start to the week!

A Very Fast Friday!

4th Grade Girls 2

What a wonderful group today……we played a nice game of Monopoly and everyone was kind and thoughtful!

4th Grade Girls 3

Well, this group was a little more rowdy….at least some of the members were.  We tried to play a nice game of UNO…but some members were not being too kind at all….looking at re-arranging the membership of this group.

Mrs. Trahan’s Class

Mr. Andruchuve is working on Bullying with this class. Today he had a great lesson!

Mrs. Noyes Class

JUDGMENT MACHINE and FACE THE FACTS

 Objectives: To learn to differentiate between judgmental and non-judgmental attitudes toward others and To distinguish between facts and assumptions about others’ behavior.
 
Activity: Today I played the part of a judgement machine:
 The judgment machine functions by distributing the Judgment Statements to students and asking them to read them aloud one at a time – after the student reads the statement the Judgment Machine makes a response
Each response is then categorized as:
Judgment about someone’s Actions
Judgment about someone’s Feelings
Judgment about someone’s Appearance

Discussion Questions
What did you think about the judgments?
What was wrong with the judgment machine’s responses?
Were the judgment made by the machine fair? Why or Why Not?

What are some other ways that people are judged?

Has anyone every judged you?
How did you feel when someone did that?

Have you ever judged someone else?
What could you have done or said instead?

FACE THE FACTS
 
Activity:

First we discussed opinions we form of other people based on facts versus assumptions about their behavior
We used Statement Cards to have students sort statements into categories: Fact or Assumption.
 
Example: Have the students share positive examples of facts and assumptions about another person’s behavior: “Andrew got glasses – now he will always be able to see well”; “Kara got an A – she’ll probably always get A’s”
 Discussion Questions
How do facts differ from assumptions?
How can you determine whether a statement is a fact or an assumption?
How are assumptions about either a product or a person inferior to facts?
Has anyone made assumptions about you?
How did you feel?
How can we avoid making assumptions?

The kids were great as usual!!

Happy Weekend Everyone! Enjoy the snow!

Wow! What a fast day!

Special Education Parent Advisory Council

It was great to see some friendly faces today! Wonderful work was accomplished!  Looking forward to participating in the community building.

5th Grade Girls and 6th Grade Girls

Today we had special guests join us!  Three of my former lunch group students who are now in 9th grade! Great role models for the younger girls! Lots of conversation and giggles today!

7th Grade Social Thinking

A very small group today – good time to address grades and how each of the boys are doing in their classes.

Once Upon A Mattress

Fabulous rehearsal today!!!!!  First day of choreography went very well!

Bravo Cast!

What a WONDERFUL Wednesday!

Mrs. Pescatello and Mrs. Temel’s (Mrs. Cravinho) Classes

It was brain surgery day!

Today I helped the class with their brain unit – we talked about our brains, read a book about  our incredible stretchable brain and I brought in two jello brains that had lots of different hidden strips of paper containing all the brain parts. The kids had to put on rubber gloves and use a hemostat to extricate the pieces of paper.  The kids really know a lot about the brain! It was a ton of fun!

5th Grade Girls Social Thinking

It was a bunch of chattering today…..often all at the same time!  Working on conversational skills……..it is a long road ahead!

Otters Class

We have started our read a-loud!!!  Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper

Eleven-year-old Melody has a photographic memory. Her head is like a video camera that is always recording. Always. And there’s no delete button. She’s the smartest kid in her whole school—but no one knows it. Most people–her teachers and doctors included–don’t think she’s capable of learning, and up until recently her school days consisted of listening to the same preschool-level alphabet lessons again and again and again. If only she could speak up, if only she could tell people what she thinks and knows . . . but she can’t, because Melody can’t talk. She can’t walk. She can’t write.

Being stuck inside her head is making Melody go out of her mind–that is, until she discovers something that will allow her to speak for the first time ever. At last Melody has a voice . . . but not everyone around her is ready to hear it.

She is smarter than most of the adults who try to diagnose her and smarter than her classmates in her integrated classroom—the very same classmates who dismiss her as mentally challenged, because she cannot tell them otherwise. But Melody refuses to be defined by cerebral palsy. And she’s determined to let everyone know it…somehow.

Readers will come to know a brilliant mind and a brave spirit who will change forever how they look at anyone with a disability. From multiple Coretta Scott King Award winner Sharon M. Draper comes a story full of heartache and hope. Get ready to meet a girl whose voice you’ll never, ever forget.

The kids are already mesmerized!!!!!

A Wonderful Wednesday, indeed!

Tuesday Again!

Miss Lubs’ Class

Today we continued with empathy

Stereotypes

• Opening: Have you ever heard people say “All boys are…or do” or “All girls are (or do)…..” “All older people are (or do).”

• Today we looked at some of the things people say about other groups, and begin to look at the concept of stereotyping

• List of statements:
• Are all of these statements true?
• Do you know of girls, boys or older people who are different from these statements?
• Where do you think these ideas come from?
• How do you think they might affect all people?

Activity:

• Stereotype: A stereotype is an idea that all people who have some characteristics in common are the same in some other way.

• It is one basis for prejudice

• Stereotypes are generalizations sometimes become strong opinions that we hold that can be either favorable or unfavorable to another group

DRAW A STEREOTYPE

• Are there things you would like to do but don’t because boys/girls are not expected to do them?

• How do you feel about different expectations for boys and girls?

Wrap Up:

 What do you think it would be like for a girl who was different from people’s stereotypes? A boy? How do you think they might feel?

Do you think these ideas ever influence the way you feel about or act toward older people?

What kind of stereotypes do you think adults have about kids? “All kids…..”

Does it matter if we stereotype?

In what ways can people be hurt by stereotyping?

 The kids were great as usual!!

4th Grade Girls’ Group 1

Today the girls wanted to sit, talk and color!  What a great conversation!

3rd/4th Grade Social Thinking

Today we finished the new book: Superflex Takes on Brain Eater. We came up with lots of superflexible strategies to defeat Brain Eater and started work on our Brain Eater Defender Shields!

The rest of the day was spent in meetings!!!

Well…I must say, it is finally Friday!

Miss Ryder’s Class

JUDGMENT MACHINE and FACE THE FACTS

 Objectives: To learn to differentiate between judgmental and non-judgmental attitudes toward others and To distinguish between facts and assumptions about others’ behavior.
 
Activity: Today I played the part of a judgement machine:
 The judgment machine functions by distributing the Judgment Statements to students and asking them to read them aloud one at a time – after the student reads the statement the Judgment Machine makes a response
Each response is then categorized as:
Judgment about someone’s Actions
Judgment about someone’s Feelings
Judgment about someone’s Appearance

Discussion Questions
What did you think about the judgments?
What was wrong with the judgment machine’s responses?
Were the judgment made by the machine fair? Why or Why Not?

What are some other ways that people are judged?

Has anyone every judged you?
How did you feel when someone did that?

Have you ever judged someone else?
What could you have done or said instead?

FACE THE FACTS
 
Activity:

First we discussed opinions we form of other people based on facts versus assumptions about their behavior
We used Statement Cards to have students sort statements into categories: Fact or Assumption.
 
Example: Have the students share positive examples of facts and assumptions about another person’s behavior: “Andrew got glasses – now he will always be able to see well”; “Kara got an A – she’ll probably always get A’s”
 Discussion Questions
How do facts differ from assumptions?
How can you determine whether a statement is a fact or an assumption?
How are assumptions about either a product or a person inferior to facts?
Has anyone made assumptions about you?
How did you feel?
How can we avoid making assumptions?

The kids were great as usual!!

Miss Hebert’s Class

We continued our discussion on Empathy: Respecting Differences

Opening Activity: Students shared and discussed one way in which they are the same and one way in which they are different

Sometimes we have similarities and sometimes we have differences. Sometimes it is hard to understand why people don’t feel the same way we do, and that can lead to disagreements

Today we looked at how our opinions might be different and talked about how we can work on respecting those differences.

Activity: Opinion Continuum

We taped three signs around the room – Strongly Agree; Strongly Disagree; Not Sure

We discussed: What is an opinion? Strong beliefs that people have, sometimes based on fact and sometimes not

I then read statements and asked students to decide how they felt about each one by going to the part of the room – Asking the kids why they chose where to stand. Direction: I want each person to decide how you feel about a statement; there are no right or wrong answers; sometimes we are tempted to go along with what our friends think – but if we do this, we won’t be able to see the differences in the room; be courageous and make a personal decision

Discussion Questions

Were there any times when it was hard for you to decide where to stand?

Was there a time when you were standing in a different place from a friend of yours?

When you want to tell someone that you don’t share his or her opinion, what is a respectful way to say that? – Without attacking anyone’s opinion; e.g. “I disagree with…”

The class was great!

Third Grade Boys’ Group

Mr. A. took the boys outside again today to work on team building! A fun time was had by all!

Fourth Grade Girls Groups

It was the “Talking, Feeling, Doing Game” today…and everyone was fabulous!

Enjoy the long weekend everyone!

Another Thrilling Thursday!

5th/6th Social Thinking Group II

Today we finally were able to start the new Superflex book!  “Superflex Takes on Brain Eater”!!  The boys were so quiet listening to the book and then really had a great time participating!  We’ll finish the book next week!

8th Grade Boys

For a while, today, we had some very nice and intelligent conversations…….I’m still waiting for some of these boys to mature a little more …..but we are getting there!

5th Grade Girls

Full of fun as always…….just a lot of conversation and story telling!

6th Grade Girls

Today one of our members brought in a game called “Would You Rather”…..It was awesome and the girls absolutely loved it! This game asked questions such as: Would you rather….have an extra eye in the middle of your forehead or an extra arm?  be stuck in a warm dark place or a cold light place?  be a magician or a hypnotist?  What a blast!!!! We can’t wait to play again.

Panther Pause

Today we made links signifying all the acts of kindness we have done…and then we started on our door bear…this year’s theme: The Chinese New Year: Year of the Dragon! We still have some work to do….but all the kids were great!

I just love Thrilling Thursdays!

Happy Wednesday!

Mrs. Cravinho, Mrs. Pescatello’s Classes and Otters

Today we finished our  topic =   EMPATHY!

Another Terrific Tuesday!

Miss Lubs’ Class

JUDGMENT MACHINE and FACE THE FACTS

 Objectives: To learn to differentiate between judgmental and non-judgmental attitudes toward others and To distinguish between facts and assumptions about others’ behavior.
 
Activity: Today I played the part of a judgement machine:
 The judgment machine functions by distributing the Judgment Statements to students and asking them to read them aloud one at a time – after the student reads the statement the Judgment Machine makes a response
Each response is then categorized as:
Judgment about someone’s Actions
Judgment about someone’s Feelings
Judgment about someone’s Appearance

Discussion Questions
What did you think about the judgments?
What was wrong with the judgment machine’s responses?
Were the judgment made by the machine fair? Why or Why Not?

What are some other ways that people are judged?

Has anyone every judged you?
How did you feel when someone did that?

Have you ever judged someone else?
What could you have done or said instead?

FACE THE FACTS
 
Activity:

First we discussed opinions we form of other people based on facts versus assumptions about their behavior
We used Statement Cards to have students sort statements into categories: Fact or Assumption.
 
Example: Have the students share positive examples of facts and assumptions about another person’s behavior: “Andrew got glasses – now he will always be able to see well”; “Kara got an A – she’ll probably always get A’s”
 Discussion Questions
How do facts differ from assumptions?
How can you determine whether a statement is a fact or an assumption?
How are assumptions about either a product or a person inferior to facts?
Has anyone made assumptions about you?
How did you feel?
How can we avoid making assumptions?

The kids were great as usual!!

4th Grade Girls’ Group 1

Today we started an activity designed to spotlight our interests and strengths. The girls made stars and drew a picture of themselves in the middle and then used the points of the starts to highlight their personal strengths and interests.  We also answered some questions from the “Talking, Feeling, Doing Game”!!

3rd/4th Grade Social Thinking

Today we started the new book: Superflex Takes on Brain Eater. We came up with lots of superflexible strategies to defeat Brain Eater!

Mrs. Dudda and Mrs. Enoch’s Classes

Point of View

Today we learned about seeing other people’s points of view

Point of view = the way a person sees things or understands something.

STORIES: The Maligned Wolf: A twist on “Little Red Riding Hood”. “The Real Story of the 3 Little Pigs”

Discussion:

What fairy tale does this remind you of?

What makes it different from the version of “Little Red Riding Hood” that you are familiar with?

Think about the original story. What do we think of Little Red Riding Hood I that story?

What do we think about the wolf?

How is our opinion of the wolf in “Little Red Riding Hood” different from our opinion of the wolf in this story?

Point of View:

According to Little Red Riding Hood, the bad wolf was trying to eat her; According to the wolf in this story, he was trying to teach Little Red Riding Hood a lesson

The way we see things is our point of view; Sometimes it is hard to see how other people think and feel about things if their point of view is different from ours; This can lead to misunderstandings and upset feelings.

Trying to think about another’s point of view can actually help us understand why someone takes certain actions or says certain things.

Has there ever been a time when you changed your point of view? When you changed the way you thought about something?

In the classroom, what are some times when we could listen to hear their point of view?

The kids LOVE to listen to stories!