THRIVE Week of 9/2.
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.
First-Year Students:
University Foundations :
This week in University Foundations we finished up discussing Chapter one. Goal setting, advantages of going to college and how to send a proper email to instructors was discussed. Students got into study groups and it was recommended that they meet with their groups and study for the Chapter 1 test. Mrs. Southard requested students plan a place and time they are going to meet and study. Reading the text to each other, taking notes on the information and writing practice test questions was suggested. Also, review the powerpoint would be helpful. Friday covered was the difference between college and high school tests. Students are learning how to maneuver Blackboard for assignments and have signed up for edmodo.com for reminders. They learned this week how to submit assignments using a word document on Blackboard. We usually start class with students opening their emails. Students are asked to check their emails at least three times a day. A few students have missing assignments. Students are being encouraged to become more of a self-advocate and ask for help with assignments.
Daily & Independent Living Skills:
DILS spent the week going over areas students indicated they wanted to know more about on the skills assessments. Assessments include Health Care, Social Skills, Personal Care and Safety. The kids asked really good questions and were excited to learn new skills and to recognize the skills they already have.
Technology Literacy:
In Tech, we reviewed how to upload assignments in Blackboard, and worked on their first real homework assignment. They are charged with creating a word document with a list of 5 things they want to learn in Tech class this semester. We talked about examples and they had some great ideas of things they want to learn, and I'm looking forward to seeing what their final lists look like.
Relationships 101:
Today's topic was gossip. We discussed the definition of gossip, different things a person may say that can lead to gossip. We also discussed the importance of not listening to gossip and how to stop gossip. The statement” Great forest fires start from one spark.” Made the students think about how gossip can spread quickly and be damaging. Also mentioned was when a student has a problem with someone how important it is to speak to that person sometimes it’s just a misunderstanding. But never text or email when you are unhappy with someone.
Second-Year Students:
Transition Planning I:
We have finished our third week and the students are doing well. Within this class, we have a lot of curriculum/materials to cover. When we did our exit interviews last year with the graduating students and the first-year students, one of the questions we asked, was how can we improve our classes. Most students mentioned working on money/budget skills. Therefore, this week we have started discussing/working on these skills. We talked about a regular workweek is 40 hours per week and anything over that is overtime. We discussed how this impacts your hourly wage and budget. The students had to calculate math problems to figure gross pay for regular hours and for overtime hours. During the semester we will continue to add on to money/budget skills.
Internship I:
The internships are going well. With this being the end of the third week some students have noticed some adjustments in their work hours. The students need to be working 15 - 20 hours a week by next week. We realize it may vary from week to week on their hours but on an average, the students need to be working 15 - 20 hours per week. The students are also realizing that working may interfere with their social life because the students are working evenings/weekends. However, this is part of working an internship/job and part of real-life experience.
One of our students "running the show today", great job!
Plato:
Most students have completed their weekly 6 hours. If a student does not complete the required time student are sent to mandatory study hall. Study hall is 6 to 8 Monday through Thursday and Sunday afternoon. All students attend two study halls a week but Plato and other missing assignments can cause a student to have to attend more. It is important students work on Plato daily. Some students have worked beyond the required two hours per subject and that is always great! Please encourage your student to work independently on Plato. We canceled study hall Thursday night so students could attend Get the Red Out downtown and the football game that followed. The students that were on mandatory was assigned to study hall on Sunday. Students are free to attend extra study halls when they feel they need to get some extra work done.
Here are some pictures from some of them working out on Friday. Some looked a bit tired after watching our Mules come back in the last minute of their first game last night. What a win against the #11 ranked team.
THRIVE Activities:
Mentor Activities: It’s Activities/Games with Jesse
This weekend Jesse reserved a section in the gym to have some activities. I’ll add pictures on Monday morning to this site.
Important upcoming dates:
Down Syndrome Guild Walk: For the 2nd 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 26th from 10 am to 2 pm. We are excited that we are able to do this and see our students show support. We have 13 signed up. I’ll be contacting the students to confirm this today, so I can get them registered..
Softball Team is formed:
We had enough players to sign up for a softball team for the fall semester.Ok. We received word on Thursday that we have been switched to Monday night games. Our games are either 7 pm or 8 pm. The students that have signed up and passed the softball quiz can play, as long as they don’t have mandatory study hall.... All games are are the South Complex off of Highway DD. If you need directions please email me and I’ll send the address to you.
Here are the game times. The students will be driven to the field by THRIVE Staff about 30 minutes before game time.
9/9 at 7 pm
9/16 at 8 pm
9/23 at 7 pm
9/30 at 7 pm
Special Olympics group to be on UCM Campus:
We have a group from Special Olympics attending UCM in late October. We will have a couple of students help with giving tours of campus and will also have a group of students help with an activity in the evening. We’ll be talking more to the students as we get more information.
Family Day: Family Day is September 28th. We will have a THRIVE activity that weekend along with activities across campus. I’ll be updating as we know more. Unfortunately, I have a nephew getting married in Colorado so you will have to enjoy your time on campus without me.
The students can also try out for the Talent show a few weeks prior for a chance to be in the Talent show. Here is a link to the events that they had last year. They are in the process of getting this year’s events scheduled but should give you an idea.
Homecoming Weekend is October 12th Put it on your calendars. The students will be able to participate in several activities. We normally have a float that the students help with and the students walk in the parade.
"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."
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