February 23rd - 27th

This week, the students explored the wild world of emotions and how our Limbic System can take over our ability to think rationally, which is controlled by the Cerebral Cortex. To do that, I set up a multi-day lesson that demonstrated our brain biology and how our bodies react to what we're thinking and feeling. On the first day, we identified the seven primary emotions: joy, fear, sadness, disgust, anger, shame, and compassion. We also practiced distinguishing the difference between thoughts and feelings, as well as the difference between thoughts that are facts and thoughts that are opinions. You can test your skills by following the links here and here.

The second day, we began watching a short horror movie called "The Quiet." Students were instructed to monitor their emotions as they viewed the film and we stopped periodically to discuss the feelings the characters were displaying, as well as the students' emotions and the biases they were observing. If you'd like to see the twenty-minute film, click here. It was great to see the kids so engaged with the plot. At the end, we mapped out the level of fear being experienced by the main character and pondered how the movie would have been different if her Limbic System hadn't taken over her rational Cerebral Cortex.

Today, the final day of the lesson, we continued our conversation around the film and how the characters' emotions affected their behaviors. We also began discussing how we can control our emotions by thinking a certain way and staying logical in the face of adversity. This series of lessons is meant to supply background knowledge for the rest of the YESS curriculum, since I noticed many of the kids were unable to identify emotions.

February 18th - 20th

Even though the week was only three days long, the scholars at Scott Carpenter Middle School worked hard. On Wednesday, the students began taking a personality quiz that would allow them to explore how their personality traits worked to help or hinder their relationship with their mentor or mentee. In order to facilitate an in-depth exploration, we took two days to complete the activity. By the end, students were able to discuss their personality types, as well as effective means of communication with their partners.The remaining day was spent working on tutoring and homework help. Take a look at some of the worksheets and handouts the students used!

February 9th - 13th

So far, nothing spooky is happening at SCMS on this Friday, the 13th. The staff and students are looking forward to a long weekend after a great week filled with fun activities and parent/teacher conferences.

The YESS Institute students completed two projects, in addition to their small-group session on Monday and their homework help day on Thursday. The first activity they completed was the Life Map, which they had started last week. For this project, each student was asked to create a timeline of their life and write a paragraph to explain the events they chose to include. The goal was to allow them to explore their history and how past experiences may affect their current lives. As usual, I was impressed with the kids' creativity and thoughtfulness!

All the YESS Institute participants created Hand Contracts this week, as well. For this activity, we discussed how to set good goals and how to use objectives as "mini-goals," which are intended to help achieve the broader aim. Once the criteria for goals and objectives were set, the mentors assisted their mentees in setting goals for their time in YESS. 

Next week, time is short, but we'll be making the most of it by exploring thought patterns and the differences between thoughts and emotions.

January 26th - February 6th

As the students at Scott Carpenter Middle School switch their mindset from an introductory one to a more comfortable, trusting one, real mentoring relationships are beginning to emerge. The last two weeks have laid a strong foundation for the friendships that are blossoming and the mentors are pleased that their mentees are opening up about their issues.

I've worked hard to provide time for the students to talk with each other and to coach the mentors through the first few weeks of their difficult role by assigning creative projects and allowing the mentors to work with their mentees. Last week, they wrote "I Am Poems," which allowed each student to write about their past, as well as their hopes for the future.

In addition to the traditional YESS Institute activities, all students have been logging into Educate to check their progress one time each week. The mentors are doing a stellar job of keeping up with their own classwork while helping their mentees strive for proficiency in their learning targets.

This week, the students have been creating Life Maps (timelines of the important events that have occurred in their lives). They're really taking their time and doing a great job. Check in next week for photos of completed projects!