"I'm Bored!"

How many times have you heard that...over summer break, when it's raining and the kids can't go outside to recess, or when they can't use their iPod/iPad!

Brooklyn gets bored and tends to bring me a ball or toy with her sad "play, play" eyes. She's great about entertaining herself, but my students not so much.

I'm Bored Lesson In A Nutshell

Body Language Video

As you have probably read I think the dog safety lesson is truly one of the most important of the year. So many of my kids have dogs in their homes and so I think it's important to discuss how we treat them respect. Many of my kids struggle with social skills, including reading body language and tone. I love this video because it combines two important lessons: the importance/message of body language and safety.

What I took away from this video: I often see pictures my friends post (and probably I even have a few) where I thought the dogs looked ok, but really they look tense. I didn't notice it until I watched this video, but now I see the subtle hints.

Please share with anyone you know that has a doggie!

You have 45 seconds to judge me....

Not really, but that's what today's lesson is about. Making snap judgements based on things we have read or have seen on the internet and using our eyes to judge people, instead of getting to know them.

This lesson has several activities and stopping points for discussion and I have done it with 3rd- 6th grade, but you could easily do it with middle school and yes I would do it with high school.

First, I like the students to have an open discussion so I remind them of our socratic seminar rules.

Then using the smart board I showed them this pup and asked:

I let the students openly share their judgements about the dog and have discussion about what they would do and think if they saw him at the park, etc.

Then I let them meet Jack Frost, the after of the dog above!

Read more about this sweet boy and his journey here: http://pittiesincity.blogspot.com/2012/12/meet-our-new-foster-jack-frost.html

After we discussed first impressions I let the students play the shoe detective game. I do this game almost every year so you can read about it more here: http://sassyschoolcounselor.blogspot.com/2012/07/dont-judge-book-by-its-cover.html

The game is very easy and fun, but best of all your teachers will love you because it ties in critical reading and thinking skills such as using schema and evidence to create an inference.

More behavior charts, contracts, and reward systems than you will ever know what to do with!

I just started working with Nashville Pittie, an amazing organization I am so proud to become a part of. They really put my technology skills to work when they asked me to update several of their forms. As I started working on the forms I realized that there where lots of contacts/agreements for adults to sign, but nothing for the kids! As a counselor I have a stash of behavior contracts and reward charts in my office and have found them very useful in behavior management, so I decided to find a pet care contract that we could use for families that are wanting to adopt or foster a pet.

This led me to www.kidpointz.com where I found this colorful Pet Care Contract.

Sign up for free at Kid Pointz and you can download and print behavior charts, daily routine charts, goal charts, homework charts, reward charts, reading charts, behavior contracts, behavior bucks, certificates and soooo much more.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Weekly Behavior Charts - It goes perfect with my brand.

 

Weekly Schedule- A great way for students to practice organization skills.

 

Homework Chart - Perfect for my study skills small groups.

 

Make New Friends - A perfect chart for my students as they develop social skills.

 Chart To Get Ready For School- also in my theme. I hope this will help with some of my families that have tardy issues because of the "morning get ready battle."

 Reward Certificate- I like this one for when I do my Personal Space Camp.

 

I hope you enjoy this site as much as I did and please consider adopting or becoming a foster family