Please use the webpage to check in with topics, assignments and projects. Use the email link if you have any questions or to communicate with me about your student or an assignment. February National Challenge for FuelUpToPlay60 is to create a physical activity skit with you and your friends showing how you started a walking club at your school or showing you completing a physical activity play.  Go to www.fueluptoplay60.com for challenge details and deadline for video entry submission.

Grade 6 is learning about mental health.  We will be having a stress reduction day where students get to try out different methods of stress reduction such as yoga, stress balls, breathing techniques, journalling, and yoga.  We will also be discussing self-esteem.  Students will be learning about the mind/body connection and the importance of reducing stress for disease prevention.

Grade 5 students are learning about body systems.  We just finished learning about the cardiovascular system and will be learning about bones for the next few classes. Students will be completing a skeleton project in class which we be counted as a quiz grade.  Students who are absent for this project should stay after with Miss Callahan to complete the project. 

Students are learning about mental health.  Topics covered include feelings, emotions, learning to manage emotions, and refusal strategies for peer pressure.  Students should be discussing a homework assignment with parents/guardians related to learning to manage hard to manage emotions like anger.  Steps for staying in control include noticing the signs (feeling hot, fast heart beat, etc), pause and use a word signal  (get a grip), think twice (ask yourself a question to help you remain calm), use a calm-down strategy if needed (positive self-talk, centered breathing), and reflect upon decisions made. Our mental health affects our physical health, so remember to keep a healthy mind by reducing stress, talking things out and exercising. 

Students are finishing up the unit on body systems.  We will be taking an open notebook test worth 40 points.  Students will be allowed use of notebooks and packets as long as they remember to bring them to class.  The next, upcoming unit, is mental health.  Students will be bringing home a parent newsletter discussing some of the topics we are covering in this unit.  Topics will include depression,  signs of suicide, and bullying as it relates to suicide and depression. 

Ford Middle School
Jacqueline Callahan