Combined posting of Week's 2/4 and 2/11... Enjoy.

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.

There was ice and then more ice and snow…

Over the last 2 weeks we’ve had some snow/ice days that limited our time with students, however, they still had homework and activities to do over that time.  Here is a combination of the last two weeks...

First-Year Students:

Workplace & Community Skills:

Workplace topic this week was a discussion on job shadowing experience from the week before. Examples were viewed.  Students were asked to write thank you letters to their supervisor. Wednesday in class we critiqued the student’s letters one on one and worked on improvements.

Learning Strategies:

The topic this week was goal setting. Monday we tossed a ball around the room to each other and told a goal that each student had. We also stated something each student was proud of since they have come to THRIVE. We worked on their to-do lists and watched a short video on YouTube called 212. Students were assigned this week to read chapter 2 in the textbook. Another topic included was being a self-advocate and privacy of each of their IEP’s.

Personal Math:

Personal Math just completed their Ch. 1 test. For Ch. 2 the learning objectives are the following:

Prepare a budget

Find ways to make income meet their needs

Determine steps one can take to balance a budget

Decide how to budget and spend extra money.

Math skills:

Estimate costs to the nearest dollar

Find an average

Add, subtract, multiply, and divide with money

Second-Year Students:

Transition Planning II:

We have been discussing the transition from being a first-year student to a student who is graduating in May.  What are the students' goals in that transition from graduating to a career and independent living? The students are having good conversations on what they perceive their goals are and how that may look with what their parents' goals are for them.

Internship II:

Some of the students attending the UCM Career Expo fair that is hosted by the UCM Career Service Office.  There were over 200 businesses on campus to meet with UCM students that may be graduating in May. The students interacted with the representatives of businesses that are in the career goal path.  

                - Students have been finishing their resumes, cover letters and professional development plans this week.  Further, the students are starting to fill out job applications within their career area.

PLATO:

Due to the weather, last week and three days in the dorms without classes’ students were able to complete all of their Plato. Students took February assessments and many students again raised their grade level.

Study Time:

We are still very excited that our students are taking time between classes to come to the THRIVE Classroom to work.  This is without us asking, in most cases. Your students are doing a great job of studying.

Here are some pictures from Adapted PE:

THRIVE Activities:

I’m a couple of weeks behind.  Here are the students making cookies.

This past weekend they had a dance on Friday night, here are some of the pictures.

Important upcoming dates:

Athletics to watch:  Men’s and Women’s Basketball games are almost completed.  This Thursday and Saturday are the last home games. UCM Mules Wrestling also has some matches in the coming weeks.  Towards the middle of March, the Baseball team will also start their games.

In addition, the students can participate in Intramural Athletics:

• We had enough students to have a Spring Softball team.  I’ll keep you updated on the dates of the games.
• The students can also look to their Spring Student Activities calendar that was left for them the first week.  We also have copies in the THRIVE Classroom.

"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.

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."