Summer Slice Vol. V
LA Staff News
Executive Functioning Skills
Two types: Thinking and Doing
Thinking skills are designed to select and achieve goals or to develop solutions to problems. These are important for teenagers because they help them create a picture of a goal and a path to that goal, and they give them the resources they will need to access along the way to achieve that goal. They also help the teenager remember the picture, even though the goal may be far away, when other events come to occupy his attention and take up space in his memory. But to reach the goal, the teenager needs to use the DOING skills to enable him to do what he needs to do to accomplish the tasks he sets for himself. The DOING skills incorporates behaviors that guide the teenager's actions as he moves along the path.
Thinking (cognition) skills:
Working memory
Planning/prioritization
Organization
Time Management
Metacognition
Doing (behavior) skills:
Response inhibition
Emotional control
Sustained attention
Task initiation
Goal-directed persistence
Flexibility
The nature of our programming allows us to tackle Executive Functioning skills in a very organic manner. Primarily, the thinking skills will be naturally addressed in the academic scaffolding of our school. A few tweaks and focused intention on building these skills will go a long way! The "doing" skills will be most naturally addressed when behaviors are noticed, addressed, charted, and/or restored.
Paul Lives it UP this Summer!
As some of you are in the same boat, Paul is working the graduate school grind but can see the finish line of July 15th! I wonder how much procrastination will be chomping at him in the next few days because by the pictures it looks like he has had a lot of fun!
While Paul is an English teacher, don't underestimate his math calc and goal setting capabilities. At the time of email, Paul's summer break was 50% over. However, he had completed 27% of his goal of running 180 miles in the summer. I'm going to have Mark give him a call and put him on a plan to at least get to 60% before we see him again. However, this may come at the expense of some pool time at Uncle Jonny's which may be part of the problem. :)
Of course Charlie has been in the middle of it all this summer. I don't think he has a single to release yet, but he is closer to becoming a Master Angler. Maybe a song about fish is in the future?!
Just like his talents in the shop, Paul has been sharing them with others to the tune of $40/hour if you're in the market for some help. His afraid-of-heights-self will even get on a 40' ladder for a guy who's afraid of heights! (Hmmm....want to paint the entryway of my house? Maybe KS can come boss you!)
Last but not least, Paul got a new car. I think this was hard for him because he didn't know if he and Nick's relationship would have other things to talk about in the absence of the pastel green meeeep meeeep in Paul's parking spot.
That's a wrap on PRICH, folks!! Tell. Me. What. You're. Doing!! :)
Upcoming Dates to Note
July 29th: zSpace training at Liberty North 8-11 (Paul and Nick....and one more if interested)
August 5th-7th: New teachers to Liberty report (none from LA)
August 6th: Registration (optional if you want to meet kids) 4:00-6:00
August 7th: Registration (optional if you want to meet kids) 8:00-1:00
August 8th: All teachers return.
August 14th: First day of school.
August 19th: Back to School Night 6:00-7:00
August 30th: All School Speaker 1:00 at LPAT: Rick Ross
Liberty Academy Staff 2019-2020
Debi Straws, Secretary
Lori Streu, Counselor
Andrea Johnson, Social Worker
Mark Krause, Interventionist
Eddie Richey, ISS Instructor
Justin Fetters, Security
Ted Maxwell, Safety
Christine Patterson, Long Term Suspension
Lisa Augustine, Missouri Option Program
Judy Smith, Alt. Ed. Teacher
Art Smith, Teacher
Chad Brinkmeyer, Teacher
Summer Kelley, Teacher
Nick Schwieder, Teacher
Paul Richardson, Teacher
Jared Haferbier, Special Education Teacher
Jodi Williams-Sipes, .75 Teacher
Zach Osborne, Teacher
Janet Knoke-LA Cafeteria
Stacey-LA Custodian
Kathy Wright-LMS Nurse
Ed Leal-Technology
Clayton Smith-LMS Head Custodian
Kim Sadler-LMS Cafeteria Manager