Camilla's Family Group

Family Group Project Brainstorm and Ideas

2011-04-11T15:03:00.002-04:00

Today we discussed possible Family Group projects for the cycle. Here are some of the ideas classmembers had:

Easter decorations

Outdoor projects

Do GPS – Geo-Mapping

Work on/Create a section of the Yearbook

Food/Health projects – making food

Making the cakes for the Friday event

Video project

The Family Group decided they would like to make a PSA (Public Service Announcement) about a challenge that teenagers face today. We have the equipment to make a professional-style PSA. We will need to do the following:

1) Decide on the topic

2) Write the PSA. This may include writing a rap or song. The class decided that if we write a rap, each student would come up with a two-line rhyme to go in the rap. Camilla pointed out that we may have to "go around" twice to make sure our rap is long enough.

3) Shoot the video

4) Use garage band for the music

5) Edit the video

6) Show the video to the school and/or put it up on the school web site.

Students suggested the following topics:

1) An anti-drug PSA, for example:
"Crack is wack"
The dangers of certain drugs

2) Safer sex PSA:
The dangers of unprotected sex

We need to decide on the topic.

Specs for Family Group PowerPoint Presentations

2011-02-16T15:48:00.001-05:00

This is a five slide presentation.

Slide 1: Your name, illustrated

Slide 2: First slide with picture representing some aspect of yourself, with text (short paragraph) describing why that picture is appropriate

Slide 3: Second slide with picture representing some aspect of yourself, with text (short paragraph) describing why that picture is appropriate

Slide 4: Third slide with picture representing some aspect of yourself, with text (short paragraph) describing why that picture is appropriate

Slide 5: Your vision for the future: How do you see yourself five years from now? Illustrate it with pictures and describe your vision.

Today's Assignment

2011-02-09T10:51:00.001-05:00

Find 5 pictures on the internet, using GOOGLE IMAGE SEARCH. Find three that represent you. These cannot be things you like, they must be things you are. For instance, you may have the personality of a lion. You may have the personality of a kitten. You may be a beautiful rose. You might be a hard rock. Think about who you are, and express it in pictures. This is going to lead to a PowerPoint presentation about yourself. You may paste the pictures into PowerPoint, if you know how to use it, or you can simply save the pictures to your desktop. Make sure you LOG IN AS YOURSELF, not under the generic "student" login.

Welcome to Spring 2011, Cycle 4!

2011-02-07T20:37:00.000-05:00

In this Family Group we have a lot of fun, we enjoy hanging out together, and we also have to accomplish certain tasks in order to get credit and have the Family Group work the way we want it to. A schedule of our week will be posted here within the next few days. Each Family Group member will also get a journal to keep a record of their experiences, joys and frustrations while at West Side.

Assignment #1: In your journal, write a page expressing your feelings about West Side, and about going to school in general.
1. What do you like best about West Side? Describe some things that you like.
2. What frustrates you about being in high school? What things annoy you, and how would you make them better?

Filling out the Credit Sheet

2010-09-28T10:26:00.003-04:00

In each of your folders you need to have a credit sheet. This document helps you determine how much credit you have in each subject, how much you need to take each cycle, and what exams you've already passed. It also helps you plan for the whole semester, and track how closely you are keeping to your goals.

Welcome Back for Fall, 2010, Cycle 1!

2010-09-13T10:36:00.000-04:00

Our first assignment is for each one of you to set up your own online diary/blog. A requirement for passing this class will be for you to write a diary entry each day and post it on your blog. You may include links and video, if you like, but KEEP IT PG.

It's great to see you all again!

- Camilla

Preparing for the Health Fair

2010-04-21T18:31:00.000-04:00

The EAR West Side Annual Health Fair is coming up next week, on Friday, April 30th. Today we will be working on the KWL chart for our second workshop at the Health Fair, called "HEALTHY DATING RELATIONSHIPS". What to we KNOW, and WANT to know about healthy dating relationships? Fill out the handout to the best of your ability. Each student will explain their K and W statements as we do our Family Group Go-Round. We will fill out the final "What did we LEARN" section of the KWL chart during the Health Fair.

Our first workshop for the Health Fair is "WHAT COLOR IS YOUR ANGER?" Yesterday, we started on the KWL chart for our FG. Each member of the class contributed to the "What Do You Know" About Anger section of the chart. Then each student came up with three items to add to the "What Do You Want to Know" section of the chart. Here are the results:

What do you KNOW?

People self-medicate with drugs
Sometimes anger is uncontrollable
Sometimes you speak without thinking
Sometimes you regret what you have said, later
Some people punch walls
People isolate themselves
People keep it to themselves which can cause stress

What do you WANT to know?

Is anger hereditary?
Is it better to seek help for your anger?
Is anger good for you?
How do you prevent anger?
How do you stop from getting mad?
What should you do when you get mad?
Who can you talk to when you’re mad?
Why can’t people control their anger?
Do drugs affect people’s anger?
Can an inability to control anger keep you from getting a job?
Can your own anger harm you physically?
Can anger be gotten rid of forever?
Who are the people most likely to get uncontrollably angry?
What’s the main reason people act angry?
How do you control your anger?
What’s the best way to control anger?
Does medication help to control anger?
Why do people say what they say when you’re angry? Because they’re depressed? Because they feel ashamed?
How do you keep stress down?
How do you get around acting angry?
Are there some exercises to help control anger?

The final category is: What did you LEARN? We will fill out this section of the KWL chart during the Health Fair.

Categories and Topics for Discussion

2010-03-05T11:02:00.000-05:00

Look at the categories we've created for discussion:
College and Careers
Jobs
Problems Teenagers Have
Politics
Things to Do in the City
School Topics

Think about those categories and add topics!

College and Career Readiness

2010-02-08T10:45:00.000-05:00

What is college and career readiness? It is the ability to perform the tasks required of you in college, and in your future career.

In preparation for college or career, go to: New York Careerzone and assess your skills. What areas are you best at? What jobs or training may suit you best? Do your assessment. In your homework journal, list the college or training opportunities available to prepare for your career choice. If you have more than one career choice, list that career and those training and college opportunities as well.

PSA Story Boarding

2009-12-04T18:14:00.002-05:00

Students met in their Blue, Pink and Purple groups. Each group decided on their PSA topic and had to storyboard it. Groups will present their storyboards on Monday.

REBT Presentation

2009-11-24T12:54:00.002-05:00

Paulette came into the Family Group and gave us a presentation on REBT: Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy. She explained that people respond to stressful situations in different ways. They are being "Demanding," "Awful-izing" (thinking about how awful things are), "Self Doubting" or "Disputing or Debating." She provided scenarios and asked the class to consider what REBT responses the people in the scenarios would have. Here are some of the scenarios she gave to us:

1) X is a 19 year old first term student at school. The new term started two weeks ago. However, X was absent for the first two weeks. Before class he yelled to the teacher, "Hey! I want to make up work because I want an 85!" X gave in one of 10 makeup assignments he was given and was absent for the midterm.

Then Paulette asked us: "How would you categorize this person's behavior? Was he "Demanding," "Awful-izing," "Self-Doubting" or "Disputing and Debating"?

Based on our answer to that question, a counselor would develop a rational strategy for responding differently. For instance, if the student was "Demanding," a counselor would help the student figure out how to rationally get the work done, rather than find themselves in that frustrating situation.

Another tool Paulette gave us was the following list of questions. These are questions that the person with the problem would need to ask themselves:

1) What were you most disturbed about (what feelings did you have in that situation)?
2) What type of REBT response are you having?
3) What rational belief do you need to have, instead?
4) What actions can you perform that would have different results?
5) What feelings would you (or do you) get from those different actions?

Here are some other scenarios:

2) X has two brothers, one is an honor pre-law student and the other is an honor pre-med student. X appears to be very artistic. For example, he can play any song without any musical training, and his portraits of people are very realistic. X drops out of school in the last term of his senior year, turns to drug use and sleeps all day.

3) X has lost a lot of weight. She was 50 lbs overweight. She would like to lose another 20 lbs by the end of the month. Therefore she is now on a "Vitamin Water" diet. During lunch she tells her friend, "Lately, I'm having faint feelings and cold sweats. I just have to lose the last 20 lbs. You know, both my sisters are very slim, and I am fat, like my mother."

4) X is an 18 year old transfer student. She meets someone who is outside the school each morning. Instead of going to school they go to a friend's house. X has plans of graduating in February, and then going on to college. She has not applied to college, nor taken the SAT.

5) X has worked at Best Department Store for five months. She works very hard and is willing to work overtime. She is no longer attending high school daily. She overhears that the manager is leaving. Therefore, X tells the attendance teacher who calls her home that she will not be returning to school, because she believes that she will be made the new manager.

6) X likes basketball, and one can find him, every day, on the basketball court. Each morning he will play with anyone who comes to the court. He has been to school four times. He says, "I want to go to college and play basketball for the University of North Carolina. My uncle works at the college."

7) X is 19 years old and is dating a married man who has three children. She has made no career plans. She states that after graduation she will marry this man and move to Alaska because he is transferring to a new Army post.

Preparation for your Thanksgiving quilt square

2009-11-17T12:20:00.001-05:00

Be prepared for Friday's creative project by planning what you are going to put on your quilt square.
1.What are you thankful for?
2.Who are you thankful to?
3.What visual symbols, pictures or colors can you use to express those feelings of thankfulness on your quilt square?

Coming Up With Our PSA Topic

2009-11-10T18:40:00.000-05:00

On Monday Sarah re-introduced the discussion about PSA topics. Each student was required to write in their journal about a possible topic for our PSA. Today we had a discussion about those topics. We have consolidated our responses, and have created a list of possible topics for our PSA:

Verbal/mental abuse (target audience: 13-30 year olds)
Obesity (target audience: Americans, possible solution: eat organics, eat healthy food)
Dental hygiene
Hygiene in general
How to prevent STD's (condoms, female condom, abstinence)
Signs of STD's
Teen pregnancy - teen moms say what it's like to be a teen mom
Boys having a say in a girl's choice to have a baby
Boys being involved in decisions about childbirth
Boys supporting their girlfriends in their choices about childbirth
Gay marriage
Tolerance for gay, lesbian and bisexual people
Drug use: drugs being illegal
Prescription drugs can be addictive

Topics for Our PSA

2009-10-19T11:40:00.000-04:00

Topics for PSA Brainstorm

Obesity
Ideas for Healthy Snacks
Teen Pregnancy
Age of Consent
Drugs
Alcohol Use
Drinking and Driving
Domestic Violence
Testing for STI's (Sexually Transmitted Infections)
Gun Violence
Smoking more dangerous than Marijuana

What is Mental Health?

2009-10-06T11:34:00.000-04:00

Be optimistic
Don't stress yourself out
Stay focused
Stay positive
Be happy
Be in a good mood all the time
Don't talk to yourself outside (don't be crazy)
Don't get stressed out about every little thing
Maintain stability
Be aware of your inner and outer emotions
Have control of yourself and the things you do
Ignore negativity
Keep a positive attitude
Smile
Be stress-free
Don't lose your mind
Be mentally present, don't have memory blackouts due to drugs or alcohol
(Memory loss can be caused by trauma, as well.)
Don't "down yourself" 24-7.
Challenge yourself. When you reach one plateau, challenge yourself to reach the next one.

Journal Writing

2009-10-06T10:42:00.000-04:00

Respond to the following question:
What is Mental Health? What behaviors does a person have to practice to be mentally healthy? What behaviors does a person have to avoid?

Wellness Brainstorm with Sarah

2009-10-06T10:40:00.000-04:00

We discussed Wellness with Sarah. Here are our notes:

Wellness is an active process of becoming aware of, and making choices toward, a more successful existence.

What is Mental Health?

What is Physical Health?

What is Sexual Health?
safe sex, abstinence, monogamy, checking HIV and STD papers, birth control, condoms, sex ed: you should know about it, be mature about it, educate yourself, Google things to learn about them, have a positive attitude, don’t have an apathetic, careless attitude, don’t be silent, talk to your partner, communicate, don’t be emotionally abusive.

The Writing Assignments Thus Far

2009-09-23T11:15:00.002-04:00

1) React to the Obama speech
2) College: Why or Why Not?
3) The perfect high school would be...

All essays should be two pages in your notebooks.

Birthdays and How to Have a Discussion

2009-09-17T14:23:00.000-04:00

Today we sat in a circle and ate cookies during Family Group. The topics were chosen by the students. Some students are more likely to dominate the conversation than others. How do we have a civil discussion, where people don't interrupt one-another? Do we need a "talking stick"? Can people be quiet and hear each other? Family Group members may feel reluctant to talk if they think others will shout over them, even if those others don't intend rudeness. How can we be respectful of one-another, while allowing people to be themselves and express their personalities? We need to talk more about this.

We briefly discussed the "cook-off" idea. Alicia suggested that we do it for Thanksgiving, and that way there will be a way to keep things hot.

Someone should be a note-taker for each class session, so we keep the blog updated.

Camilla brought the Family Group pizza for lunch in celebration of the September-October birthdays.

Topics for Family Group

2009-09-16T11:50:00.001-04:00

Philosophy of life: Where are you headed? What do you want to do with your life?

College Now: If you're interested, see Jose. If you got a 75 or above on the ELA
Regents you are eligible for the College Now program. That means you take college courses at John Jay, and they are FREE!

Jose is having a trip to the SUNY College Fair at the Javits Center on Thursday, Sept 24. If you are interested, see him. We will leave the school at 3:15 that day, and I plan on being a chaperone. Join us!

NOW is the time for you to begin planning for college. Start your research! What are the entrance requirements to your schools of choice? Do you have to write an essay as part of your application? (If you do, see me.) When are applications due? We will be using the computers to research colleges and courses of study.

Name Game, Sarah from Dr. Oz's Health Initiative, Cooking, Birthday Pizza

2009-09-15T15:17:00.002-04:00

1. We played the name game and learned each others' names.

2. Sarah, from Dr. Oz's Health Initiative, visited the Family Group. She said that she is available in her office, which is on the first floor in the same suite of offices as Global Kids. If you have any questions about health, or wish to make a suggestion about health programs you'd like to see here, see Sarah.

3. We discussed cooking. Andre discussed his prowess with spaghetti sauce and baked ziti; Camilla, Matthew and Jose talked about cooking ribs; and Joseph also spoke about making spaghetti. Should we have a Family Group cook-off? How would we keep everything hot? This needs to be explored further.

4. Isamar wants pepperoni pizza in celebration of her birthday this Thursday. If we are going to do that, it would have to be at lunch, so the pizza can be gotten beforehand. I am willing to consider it. It would be in celebration of the September and October birthdays.

Welcome to Family Group, Fall 2009, Cycle 1

2009-09-14T11:13:00.005-04:00

Hi, Family Group members. Welcome to Fall 2009 at West Side High School.

This year, each member of our Family Group will be required to keep a journal. Your first assignment is to listen to President Obama's speech welcoming students back to school. You can view the speech here.

Write a two-page written response to his words in your journal.

Assignment, Week Two:
In your journal, respond to the writing prompt: College: Why, or Why Not?

What do you plan to do in your future? Do you plan to go to college? Why or why not? What do you plan to do in your future? Write a two-page response in your journal.

Cycle 5 - Project 2

2009-04-22T11:12:00.006-04:00

1. Go to the following websites:

www.whitehouse.gov
www.cspan.org
www.bbc.com
www.cnn.com

2. Find a CURRENT EVENTS story with global or national implications. This cannot be a purely local story, and it has to be about politics or social issues, (not art, music, sports or fashion).

3. Print out and read materials on your chosen issue. You may also watch videos that appear on any of the above three websites to add to your knowledge of the subject.

4. Write a description of your issue. You may add your opinion at the end of your write-up.

5. Use your notes and materials to create a presentation on your issue, using PowerPoint. The presentations should have at least ten slides and should include pictures.

In order to attain credit, you must meet the following deadlines:
Write-ups must be completed by Thursday, April 30th.
PowerPoint presentations must be completed by Tuesday, May 5th.

Jose - modern-day pirates
Matthew - modern-day pirates
LaShaya - voting in South Africa
Hazel - Miss California and gay marriage
Andre -
Devani - Environmental jobs, green roofs
Isamar -

Where I’m From Made Me Shaya

2009-04-08T11:31:00.001-04:00

Where I’m From Made Me Shaya

I am from my private space in my tub.
I am from my first heartbreak, hating love.
I am from the late night manhunt and slapbox.
I am from the stereo blasting with 112 & The Lox.
I am from the morena that speaks good Spanish.
I am from where around Lita & Buela my color vanishes.
I am from North Carolina & Dominican Republic.
I am from where both sides of my family can never get along in public.
I am from my first heartbreak being my father.
I am from because of this trusting guys is harder and harder.
I am from losing a grant man from an overreaction.
I am from losing out on my heart’s passion.
I am from grandma dying on my birthday.
I am from finding out about best friends the worst way.
I am from addiction to Saks 5th and Bloomingdales.
I am from a house where everyone yells.
I am from being born grown.
I am from losing my virginity alone.
I am from break it up, clean it up, collect the shells if you blast it.
I am from chipping in, don’t steam, just pass it.
I am from being a live wire, mean broad.
I am from where accepting my mother’s side of the family is hard.
I am from having my stomach cut open at 17.
I am from never living out my little girl dream.
I am from doing a bid because of a snitch.
I am from a motivation of society’s poor, but living rich.
I am from rubber grips, Smith and Wessons, and dirt bikes
I am from Range Rovers, fly guys, Polo v-necks and put in work right.
I am from slicing, stabbing, shooting, shocker and he still won’t die.
I am from losing my baby and I still haven’t broken down to cry.
I am from my daughter, basketball and rapping is my life.
I am from denying Curtis’ proposal to be his wife, twice.
I am from a heartbeat in my brain that’s constantly
beating, breaking,
breathing, bleeding,
hard, harder,
fast, faster,
loud, loud, louder.
Then it stops, just when I think it’s the end,
It replays in my mind where I’m from all over again.

- Shaya

Cycle 5 - Project 1: The School Newspaper

2009-03-29T11:51:00.000-04:00

Alias proposed that the Family Group create a school newspaper. The group named it "The Word - West Side's What's Up."

Assignments selected by students:
Andre on Peer Pressure
Devani on College Admission Requirements/Procedures
Janay on Teen Pregnancy
Hazel on Fashion
Benito on The Obama Presidency
Jose’s Puzzle Page
Melinda’s Poetic Minds poetry page
Matthew on Global Warming
Alias with his Spotlight on Staff
Isamar on Celebrity Gossip
Alicia on Suicide Prevention
Jean on The Legalization of Marijuana

Task: Write an article about the issue that you have chosen, or create a page for the game or artwork that you are providing to the newspaper.

In order to attain credit for this cycle, this and all required projects must be completed.

Family Group Trip to the Polar Rink, and American Museum of Natural History

2008-12-23T09:12:00.005-05:00

Family Group Trip Goals: Team-building, enhanced inter-communication, exploration of New York City, academic inquiry.

Activities:
1) Students with varied abilities in ice skating will help each other skate.

2) Students will complete work sheet on one aspect of the Museum of Natural History/ Rose Center for Earth and Space.

Follow-up Activity: Each attending student will contribute their notes to a blog entry about our trip to the Polar Rink and American Museum of Natural History/Rose Center for Earth and Space.

Use this Family Group Trip Worksheet.

Debate Project

2008-12-05T16:48:00.006-05:00

Step One: Download this document. Read all the arguments and choose three that you agree with.

Step Two: Fill out thisworksheet. Then post what you've written on your worksheet to this blog. Make sure to put your name on your post.

Your Blog Page

2008-11-17T11:45:00.004-05:00

Each Family Group member will have their own page connected to this blog. In order to prepare material for that page, answer the following questions, in paragraph form. (Write at least one paragraph for each question. You may write more, if you like.)

Educational Experiences:
What have you gone through academically to get where you are today?
How are you different today, than you were when you started High School?
How were you different in your other schools?

Academic Goals:
How to you plan to go on in life academically?
What are your favorite subjects in school?
What do you plan on studying after high school?

College Plans:
Where to you want to continue your education?
To what colleges have you chosen to apply?

Future Plans:
If you’re not planning on going to college right away,
what do you plan to do instead?
How are you preparing for that future?

Work Ambitions:
What do you want your career to be?
What steps are you taking to reach your goals?

Skills and Talents:
What skills and talents do you already have?
How do you plan to improve your skills and talents?

Who Are You?

2008-11-06T14:34:00.000-05:00

Complete the Family Group Questionnaire.

President-Elect Barack Obama

2008-11-06T12:59:00.001-05:00

Today we watched Barack Obama's acceptance speech in Chicago.

Question: How is today different than the day before the election? What feels different? How does it affect how you feel about the future?

Information On The Election

2008-10-30T15:18:00.000-04:00

To see some campaign ads, go to The Living Room.

2008-10-30T15:13:00.000-04:00

You, too, could be President one day, if you study hard!!!

Welcome

2008-10-30T15:06:00.000-04:00

This blog is exclusively for Camilla and Elizabeth's Family Group at West Side High School in New York City. Welcome!

Students: DON'T FORGET TO VOTE!