Today we decided to work as a group to defeat Brain Eater and the Destroyer of Fun!  We played a rousing game of Sorry..the boys were AWESOME!!!!

8th Grade Boys

They’re baaaaaaaaaaack!  A very nice group today – the boys had a great conversation during lunch and then talked Mr. A into playing some football outside!

5th Grade Girls

Oh the excitement of this group! I cannot get a word in edgewise! Lots of stories and Happy Happenings to share!

6th Grade Girls

Chatter, chatter and more chatter today!!!!  Another group of gabby girls!

7th Grade Social Thinking

We started out with reviewing current grades and then continued with Temple Grandin’s “Unwritten Rules of Social Relationships”

Rule #2 Not Everything is Equally Important In the Grand Scheme of Things

Are your reactions an absolute – either no reaction at all or a full-blown rant and rave? Do you make mountains out of molehills?

It is possible that no “ifs” and “buts” color your perception and experiences

Do your emotions swing wildly in an all or nothing manner; they are either off or on and nothing in between?

Thoughts like “that’s okay” or “it’s no biggie” are ever considered

You might have faulty self-talk thoughts you use to gauge the relative importance of life events

We then had a great discussion about being able to assign level of importance to different events.  How big of a problem is it on a scale of 1-5.

The boys did a very nice job!

A great day was had by all!

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

Today we continued our read-aloud: Jackson Whole Wyoming by Joan Clark

His classmates have identified him as a friend of Jackson, who has Asperger Syndrome, and now Tyler is tormented by what that means in terms of his own personality. Over the course of this highly readable and swift-moving middle-grade novel (2nd to 6th grade), Tyler resolves this issue and in the process recalls incidents from previous school years, growing in his understanding of this unusual classmate. Written by a speech-language pathologist who works with children with autism spectrum disorders, this novel belongs on the library shelf of any classroom.

The kids were awesome….they love read-alouds and had some great commentary!

5th Grade Girls Social Thinking

Lots of conversation today – and even waiting patiently for a turn!  Also played Hangman!

Otters Class

We continued 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 hooked!

Miss Lubs’ Class

Today we wrapped up our empathy lessons with a book called “How Do I Stand in Your Shoes”.

Miranda Peabody had no patience for the other students in class and just didn’t understand why they couldn’t be as smart and talented as she was. Her teacher, Mrs. Klemp, suggested that she try to understand other people by “standing in their shoes.” After much searching, she learns the true meaning of “standing in someone else’s shoes” and having empathy for others.

The class was awesome!!!!

4th Grade Girls Group 1

Chatty, chatty, chatty!!!  These girls have so many Happy Happenings there is little time for anything else…..well, maybe a little coloring!

3rd-4th Grade Social Thinking Group

Ooops….had some Brain Eaters today – needed to go and find the boys to come to group because they forgot – once there…we needed to remind everyone of the rules for our group.  Hopefully, we will start our Superflex Academy next week!

Mrs. Enoch’s Class

We continued with our topic of Empathy

What is Prejudice?

Opening: A Food I Like Now – the kids shared a food that they like now but didn’t like when they were younger.

Some of the foods we talked about may be foods that not everyone likes immediately. These foods may have unusual tastes for some of us, or be unfamiliar to our cultures. Trying something new when it seems strange can be like looking at our prejudices. We may think, “Oh, I’ll never like spinach. Everyone says it is icky.” Then we try it, and find we like it

Dr. Seuss wrote a book about this experience called “Green Eggs and Ham” – does anyone remember this book?

We then read: The Sneetches by Dr. Seuss

Discussion Questions:

• At the beginning of the story, what did the Star-Belly Sneetches think about the other Sneetches? Why?
• The attitude expressed by the Star-Belly Sneetches is called prejudice – prejudging others before knowing them individually
• The Star-Belly Sneetches were not born thinking this way –so how did they learn to think this way?

• How did prejudice hurt the Plain-Belly Sneetches? How did it hurt the Star-Belly Sneetches?

• In what way are Sneetches like people? Have you ever heard someone say “Oh, I don’t those so-and-sos, they are all __________.”  Then the person goes on to make a statement about a whole group of people being a certain way?

• Are there groups of people that other people are prejudiced against?

• If people are not born with prejudices, how do they get them?

Wrap Up:

What can we do if we thinkg we do not want to play wit someone at school? For example: Because we have a feeling of judgment about them?

Could we try inviting them to play?

What else could we do?

What about if we see someone being bullied or teased about being a member of a particular group?

What actions could we take?

The class was fabulous as always!!!  So insightful!!!

It was a terrific Tuesday!

Anxious Girls’ Group

These girls are amazing!  What a great group today. We used “Thought Changing Cards for People Who Are Anxious”.  The Thought Changing Cards are designed to help identify automatic thoughts that trigger and reinforce their anxiety; develop rational responses to rebut these irrational thoughts and develop behaviors that disprove their belief in and reliance on dysfunctional automatic thoughts. After going through some of the cards, the girls were able to identify a personal irrational belief and come up with a thought changing response.

5th – 6th Grade Social Thinking Group

Today Mr. A. led the group and we continued with the Diary of a Social Detective – tales of mystery, intrigue and interpersonal adventure.  Today’s story: “Gimme Back My Banana!: The Case of the Bothersome Bully.”

7th Grade Girls’ Group and 8th Grade Girls’ Group

Today’s topic…the Semi-Formal Dance!!!  Sounds like the ladies had fun!!!!!

Pfish Class

Finally!!!  We started our read aloud!  Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine

Caitlin has Asperger’s. The world according to her is black and white; anything in between is confusing. Before, when things got confusing, Caitlin went to her older brother, Devon, for help. But Devon has died, and Caitlin’s dad is so distraught that he is just not helpful. Caitlin wants everything to go back to the way things were, but she doesn’t know how to do that. Then she comes across the word closure- and she realizes this is what she needs. And in her search for it, Caitlin discovers that the world may not be black and white after all. From inside Caitlin’s head, readers see the very personal aftermath of a middle school shooting that took the life of the older brother she adored. Caitlin is a bright fifth grader and a gifted artist. She also has Asperger’s syndrome, and her brother, Devon, was the one who helped her interpret the world. Now she has only her father, a widower who is grieving anew and whose ability to relate to his daughter is limited. A compassionate school counselor works with her, trying to teach her the social skills that are so difficult for her. Through her own efforts and her therapy sessions, she begins to come to terms with her loss and makes her first, tentative steps toward friendship. Caitlin’s thought processes, including her own brand of logic, are made remarkably clear. The longer readers spend in the child’s world, the more understandable her entirely literal and dispassionate interpretations are.

The kids already love the book!

Good work today, Cast of Once Upon a Mattress!

Mrs. Noyes’ Class

Today we wrapped up our empathy lessons with a book called “How Do I Stand in Your Shoes”.

Miranda Peabody had no patience for the other students in class and just didn’t understand why they couldn’t be as smart and talented as she was. Her teacher, Mrs. Klemp, suggested that she try to understand other people by “standing in their shoes.” After much searching, she learns the true meaning of “standing in someone else’s shoes” and having empathy for others.

The class was awesome!!!!

3rd Grade Boys

Mr. A and the boys played a rousing game of “UNO” today – it was a ton of fun!!!!

Happy Friday Everyone!

5th-6th Grade Social Thinking

We continued to work on Expected and Unexpected behaviors using “We Can Make It Better” stories. The boys love this activity and do a fabulous job!  Today’s story was “Bob and Maria Go Skating”.

5th Grade Girls

Oh the excitement of this group! Chatter, chatter and more chatter and then a shatter as one of my more enthusiastic girls opened the door and hit a glass framed picture……oooooops! 

6th Grade Girls

This group loves to problem solve friendship difficulties and talk about mean girls and drama…..all in an effort to stay above the fray! Nice job ladies!

7th Grade Social Thinking

We started out with reviewing current grades and then finally started Temple Grandin’s “Unwritten Rules of Social Relationships”

Rule #1

Rules are not absolute. They are situation-based and people-based

We followed up with a very nice discussion.

Once Upon a Mattress Rehearsal

Another great rehearsal cast!!!!!

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

Today we started our read-aloud: Jackson Whole Wyoming by Joan Clark

His classmates have identified him as a friend of Jackson, who has Asperger Syndrome, and now Tyler is tormented by what that means in terms of his own personality. Over the course of this highly readable and swift-moving middle-grade novel (2nd to 6th grade), Tyler resolves this issue and in the process recalls incidents from previous school years, growing in his understanding of this unusual classmate. Written by a speech-language pathologist who works with children with autism spectrum disorders, this novel belongs on the library shelf of any classroom.

The kids were awesome….they love read-alouds and had some great commentary!

5th Grade Girls Social Thinking

Talkative, silly and fun…..wouldn’t want them any other way!

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 loving it!

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!

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!

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!