Weekly Blog for 10/8
THRIVE Director Notes
Posts on this Blog will be directed to help families see what is going on in our THRIVE Program. Items
discussed on the Blog have already occurred. To keep updated on what’s coming up please refer to
the THRIVE activity calendar or UCM activity calendar.
discussed on the Blog have already occurred. To keep updated on what’s coming up please refer to
the THRIVE activity calendar or UCM activity calendar.
First-Year Students:
University Foundations:
Monday everyone participated in the Open house. This week we traded books from “Your College
experience” to “Skills for Success”. We have primarily focused this week on picking some possible
classes for next semester. Students have learned how to look up classes for the next semester on
the university website. We have discussed several possibilities for each student. Students made appoin-
tments with Dr. Manning to narrow down their choices. Also a topic this week was getting in the habit to
use spell check when writing a professional email to an instructor. Discussed this week was the student’s
definition of success and what that looked like to each of them.
experience” to “Skills for Success”. We have primarily focused this week on picking some possible
classes for next semester. Students have learned how to look up classes for the next semester on
the university website. We have discussed several possibilities for each student. Students made appoin-
tments with Dr. Manning to narrow down their choices. Also a topic this week was getting in the habit to
use spell check when writing a professional email to an instructor. Discussed this week was the student’s
definition of success and what that looked like to each of them.
Daily & Independent Living Skills:
The students worked on finishing up their resume and we discussed boundaries and respect for other
people’s space. On Monday they also had a Fire Extinguisher Demo that Mrs. Stewart worked out. The
Warrensburg Fire Department discussed the proper use of fire extinguishers and then the students were
able to go outside and practice. You’ll see pictures on last week’s Facebook page. All first-year students
along with a couple of Mentors were able to put the fires out. Good job!
people’s space. On Monday they also had a Fire Extinguisher Demo that Mrs. Stewart worked out. The
Warrensburg Fire Department discussed the proper use of fire extinguishers and then the students were
able to go outside and practice. You’ll see pictures on last week’s Facebook page. All first-year students
along with a couple of Mentors were able to put the fires out. Good job!
Technology Literacy:
In Technology the students worked on comparison shopping and what was involved. They had to choose a
technology device that they would like to research and then fill out a comparison pricing sheet to see what
was the best buy.
technology device that they would like to research and then fill out a comparison pricing sheet to see what
was the best buy.
Relationships 101:
This week’s topic was serious but sensitive discuss on teen pregnancy and the problems that teen parents
can face. We discussed the medical bills that could be involved with such a situation. Other topics included:
who is financially responsible for meeting a newborn needs, what is likely to happen to teens that married
early, as well as the possible future of the mother, father, and baby.
can face. We discussed the medical bills that could be involved with such a situation. Other topics included:
who is financially responsible for meeting a newborn needs, what is likely to happen to teens that married
early, as well as the possible future of the mother, father, and baby.
Second-Year Students:
Transition Planning I:
The students are reading Habit 3 - "Put First Things First" in the 7 Habits book. After the students read about
Habit 3, they will need to write a one-page reflection/summary about the habit. On Tuesday we will discuss
the habit and how we can utilize that habit in our daily lives. In class on Thursday, Ms. Sushma and Mrs.
Southard joined our class and participating in the class activity. We are discussing interview skills and what
a good interview may look like. We also discussed what a bad interview may look like. Ms. Sushma interviewed
Dr. Manning on two different interviews. The students then discussed what was positive about the interview
skills and what needed to be improved on the interview skills. Mrs. Southard and Ms. Sushma helped facilitate
that discussion in class. The picture is from that activity in class.
Habit 3, they will need to write a one-page reflection/summary about the habit. On Tuesday we will discuss
the habit and how we can utilize that habit in our daily lives. In class on Thursday, Ms. Sushma and Mrs.
Southard joined our class and participating in the class activity. We are discussing interview skills and what
a good interview may look like. We also discussed what a bad interview may look like. Ms. Sushma interviewed
Dr. Manning on two different interviews. The students then discussed what was positive about the interview
skills and what needed to be improved on the interview skills. Mrs. Southard and Ms. Sushma helped facilitate
that discussion in class. The picture is from that activity in class.
Internship I:
The students have reached their 8th week in the internships. The students had to write a 2-4 page
critical analysis paper on their internship. The students wrote about what they have learned, observed,
the organization/place of work, co-workers, supervisors and just overall what the students' have ex-
perienced. The students' had the opportunity for help on this paper to utilize the resources on campus,
especially the writing lab in the library. The writing lab is an excellent resource to utilize for papers,
power points, speeches, internship logs and anything that deals with writing. The tutors in the writing
lab help the students with spelling, grammar, sentence/paragraph structure and expanding their thoughts
to writing/details.
critical analysis paper on their internship. The students wrote about what they have learned, observed,
the organization/place of work, co-workers, supervisors and just overall what the students' have ex-
perienced. The students' had the opportunity for help on this paper to utilize the resources on campus,
especially the writing lab in the library. The writing lab is an excellent resource to utilize for papers,
power points, speeches, internship logs and anything that deals with writing. The tutors in the writing
lab help the students with spelling, grammar, sentence/paragraph structure and expanding their thoughts
to writing/details.
PLATO:
WOW, students really stepped up this week on working on Plato. All of the first years did a great job. A
few of the students worked several hours passed the required two hours on each topic. I sure hope they
keep up the good work. First-year students took new assessments for OCT. The only concern I have
with some students is the time it took them to complete the assessments. When a student takes less
than 10 minutes to complete an assessment the prescription (work) is created for the month of OCT
from that less than 10-minute assessment which I do not feel will be an accurate picture of a student’s
ability.
few of the students worked several hours passed the required two hours on each topic. I sure hope they
keep up the good work. First-year students took new assessments for OCT. The only concern I have
with some students is the time it took them to complete the assessments. When a student takes less
than 10 minutes to complete an assessment the prescription (work) is created for the month of OCT
from that less than 10-minute assessment which I do not feel will be an accurate picture of a student’s
ability.
THRIVE Activities:
Spring Semester Classes:
All THRIVE students' have been meeting with the THRIVE staff on courses for the Spring semester.
The students' have selected 3-5 classes they may like to take in Spring 2019. The students' selected
classes that they may have an interest in or what the students' hope will help them as they pursue their
academic/career goals. We’ve suggested that students talk to parents about these choices so that the
family can discuss the students class choice. If parents have a concern they should first discuss with
the student and then with Debra Southard (First-Year) or Gary Manning (Second-Year).
The students' have selected 3-5 classes they may like to take in Spring 2019. The students' selected
classes that they may have an interest in or what the students' hope will help them as they pursue their
academic/career goals. We’ve suggested that students talk to parents about these choices so that the
family can discuss the students class choice. If parents have a concern they should first discuss with
the student and then with Debra Southard (First-Year) or Gary Manning (Second-Year).
Cooking this weekend:
This weekend the students did cooking with Leigha. I hope to have some pictures by Monday. Here are
some pictures of Bowling from last weekend. Great job, Everyone!! Go to our Facebook page for more
images.
some pictures of Bowling from last weekend. Great job, Everyone!! Go to our Facebook page for more
images.
This weekend the students did another cooking activity. Leigha had the students make spaghetti. Here
are some pictures of the event.
are some pictures of the event.
We also had some students attend the football game and posted some pictures of their fun. To bad the
Mules lost this game.
Mules lost this game.
We also had a student that was featured on the KMBC Channel 9 news, Elijah Greenlaw was on the
news along with his mother about the program. Great job, Elijah! I couldn’t find it on the Website, but
Leigha was able to share it on our THRIVE Facebook page.
news along with his mother about the program. Great job, Elijah! I couldn’t find it on the Website, but
Leigha was able to share it on our THRIVE Facebook page.
Important upcoming dates:
Special Olympics Bowling-Our ladies are still doing some bowling.
Slow-Pitch Softball our last softball game was canceled due to poor field conditions. We’ll look for the
next intramural that students want to participate in. I do believe that the students had fun during the
season.
next intramural that students want to participate in. I do believe that the students had fun during the
season.
This year THRIVE is a sponsor for the Down Syndrome Guild of Greater Kansas City’s Step up
for Down Syndrome. We will be putting together a team of 10 students that will go to Arrowhead Stadium
to walk for this event, held on October 20th from 10 am to 2 pm. We are excited that we are able to do
this and see our students show support. This event is getting closer, only about a week away.
for Down Syndrome. We will be putting together a team of 10 students that will go to Arrowhead Stadium
to walk for this event, held on October 20th from 10 am to 2 pm. We are excited that we are able to do
this and see our students show support. This event is getting closer, only about a week away.
Homecoming Weekend is October 27th. Put it on your calendars. The students have been gearing up
for this week. We have several students signed up for different events. The students have been working
on the weekends to get items ready for the float.
for this week. We have several students signed up for different events. The students have been working
on the weekends to get items ready for the float.
Athletics to watch: Women's Volleyball, Cross-Country, and Mules Football start up later this month.
"This blog is a programming blog written by the director and staff of the THRIVE Program
on the University of Central Missouri campus. This blog doesn't accept any form of cash
advertising, sponsorship, or paid topic insertions.
on the University of Central Missouri campus. This blog doesn't accept any form of cash
advertising, sponsorship, or paid topic insertions.
The views and ideas expressed on this blog are purely the blog owners. This blog does
not contain any content which might present a conflict of interest. We are simply telling
you what we plan to do in our program and using the blog to help spread what we are
doing on a weekly basis."
not contain any content which might present a conflict of interest. We are simply telling
you what we plan to do in our program and using the blog to help spread what we are
doing on a weekly basis."
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