November 26th

Students learned the parts of the sewing machine and what they are used for. They have to study these parts over the weekend in preparation for a quiz on Monday where they will need to be able to identify 8 out of 12 parts of the machine to pass. If they don't pass, they can come after school Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday to retake the quiz. These points will count as points on their sewing permit.

November 25th

Students collected their sewing supplies for the upcoming sewing unit and learned about the rules and expectations of their behavior in the sewing lab.

November 24th

Students watched a video on how to care for fabrics and fibers titled "Gone with the wash." They were also given an extra credit assignment on how to iron a camp or dress shirt. Parents get to award the amount of points out of 15 that they feel their student earned. These are due back by the last week of the term.

November 21st

Students were given a second day in the computer lab to finish their "Fabric Online" web quest paper. These are due at the beginning of class on Monday. Anyone who didn't finish today was told that this is now homework for the weekend.

November 20th

Students researched different fabrics and textiles using a website from ThinkQuest.org titled "Fabric Online". Students were given specific questions to research and find. This assignment is due tomorrow (Friday) at the end of their class period.

November 19th

The students took their vocabulary test for the family and independent living skills unit. It was 21 terms and definitions to match up and were worth 2 points a piece. There is no redo tests offered on this since we had discussed it so much and told them exactly what would be on the test. We then finished the child care safety video from yesterday and the rest of the safety starters from yesterday were due in to the basket by the end of class.

November 18th

While watching a video on child care safety and childproofing a home, students had to identify at least 5 safety precautions or safety items they currently have at home. Afterwards, students had to analyze 5 ways they can eliminate safety hazards at home. It was worth 10 points and is due tomorrow at the end of class. They also have their unit vocabulary test tomorrow during class. We will take and grade this in class and their scores should be posted to Skyward by the end of the day.

November 17th

Students learned about the "Keys to caregiving" which included physical, emotional and guidance needs. We also discussed child abuse and some off the signs caregivers need to look for. We also discussed their unit vocabulary test, which included specific terms, on Wednesday which students need to study for.

November 14th

We went through the 5 steps of problem solving, which the students had to write down. We then gave some examples of how the problem solving process could be used. We also discussed family traditions, why we have them and what they are, shared some examples of our own family traditions and watched a clip from "Fiddler on the Roof."

November 13th

Students discussed what a family is, family types and how to set up a family council.

November 12th

The classes learned the definition of the term self-concept and we discussed ways that we can raise others self-concept as well as our own. Students then discussed how advertisers come up with packaging for products and how the way we present ourselves to others is like packaging ourselves to others. Students then created a package from a lunch sack that represents themselves and uses positive labels instead of negative. These are due at the start of class tomorrow (Thursday).

November 11th

Students learned about and defined social skills, acceptable and unacceptable behavior and manners. They discussed what each one meant and gave examples of each. We then moved on to how this relates to friendships and finding good friends.

November 10th

Today, students learned about stress reducers. I provided a number of different stress reducers and the class shared ways they prefer to reduce their stress. The class also practiced relaxation techniques during the last few minutes of class using a prerecorded relaxation tape.

November 7th

Today, students learned about stress, stressors, distress and eustress. All of the terms were defined, explained and discussed as a group. The notes/definitions will be used on the families and independent living skills unit test.

November 6th

Students discussed attentive listening, as well as what attentive listening looks, feels and sounds like as well as what it doesn't look, feel and sound like. They also had an activity on attentive listening to figure out what sounds they were hearing.

November 5th

Students learned about six different poor communication techniques and six good communication techniques to help create effective communication with others. The students need to keep these notes with them for the end of unit test.

November 4th

Students had a sub today. The watched "Cypher in the Snow" and wrote about someone they know who has been left out and forgotten. They also had to share something about themselves that no own else knows.

November 3rd

Students learned about the three types of communication; written, verbal and non-verbal. They also watched a video clip of each type of communication to help them remember the three types. We also discussed the importance of listening to others and watching their body language. They were also given their new hall passes and late passes today for this new term.