Busy Days

What busy weeks I have had! With school and product making for my store as well as keeping up at home, I have not connected here on my blog very often.
I must say that I am really enjoying the students in our class this year. I am proud of each one of them and what they are learning and accomplishing every day.  One of the favorites in our room is our task time.  I have had fun creating new tasks to meet the needs in our room and hope that you will enjoy them as well.
This is a fun task that helps students with tool recognition, assembly, and matching:
Vocational Task Fill the Toolbox

The toolbox task compliments my Construction Tasks and Worksheets/Lifeskills

 Another fun new task that is a hit is my Fast Food Employee Vocational Task

I posted this one earlier but wanted to provide a visual of how it works in the classroom to teach customer service skills.
I am sure you all have had a busy Fall as well. Thank you for taking time out to read my post. I wish you all a wonderful day and upcoming week ahead!

Importance of Character Education

Each year as I see students rotate in and out of the school system, I see more of an importance to incorporate character education along side assigned curriculum.

I work at the high school level with life skill students and I must say that I am so proud of how each of our students are respectful of their teachers, show manners, and have a true joy of learning.  I am sad to say I do not see a lot of these good character traits with several of the other students within the school system. I am not saying this for all students...just that I am seeing more and more of them as the years pass.

It is so important at an early age and all through the school years to teach character education simply because some students may not be taught this within the home and it is so important for educators to teach them before they transition from school to college as well as entering the workforce.

I came across a well written blog post by Laura Gurley that shares why it is important to teach this valuable concept.  Here is the post: http://www.the-teachers-lounge.com/blog/2011/11/why-character-education/  I encourage you to take the time to read this.  If you are not already teaching this to your students, I would encourage you to do so.

"Character is the firm foundation stone upon which one must build to win respect.  Just as no worthy building can be erected on a weak foundation, so no lasting reputation worthy of respect can be built on a weak character."   --R. C. Samse