Need help getting their attention?

This is a fun, quick activity that might help get a distracted student to focus and/or join a group.  Play follow the leader (stationary...more like Simon Says, but without saying Simon Says) for about 2 minutes and then let the students have a turn being the leader.  You can then quickly discuss how it felt to be the follower and how it felt to be the leader...consensus when I did this activity was that it was "cool" to have everyone looking at you (the leader) and copying what you do. Another student said he felt like he was "in charge" when students copied what he did.  Students also offered words such as "fun", "feels like respect" and "easy" when they were followers.  This activity can help students re-focus and is also an easy way to "make" kids be involved in a group activity! 

Polka Dots

Didn't your mother ever tell you NOT to wear colorful polka dot underwear with white pants!?!  Didn't she also tell you NOT to comment out loud if you saw someone wearing colorful polka dot underwear under white pants!?!  Of course she did!  Most of us have the ability to refrain from speaking about our thoughts on something like that, but not all of us!  Some kids need specific instruction on how to handle an exact situation...whether it be polka dots or a bad hairdo they need to be taught what is acceptable and not acceptable as far as comments go.  So, have patience with the kids who comment on polka dots...they are doing the best they can, one step at a time!

Weeds

Well it's been a long week....and it's not even over yet.   I have always taught my students to speak from the heart and be honest.  I have also taught them that when anger gets in the way, take a deep breath and apologize.   Happy to report that with a lot of reminders, they are getting it!  Unfortunately, it's hard to teach a student how to deal with a rejected apology.  A wise friend told me that sometimes we just need to "do some weeding" in our lives.  Someday they will get this too.

How to keep going.....