Today we a continuation of what we worked on last Friday -- conversational skills and social pragmatics. Typically the kids who more closely match our internalizer profile need assistance with the former (conversational turns, facial expressions, voice volume clarity, and intonation), while those with more externalizer characteristics benefit from the latter (behavioral inhibition, controlling reactions to peers' behavior).
One of the group members was selected to run a "vote" to determine what restaurant we would be going to on Wednesday, when we visit Los Encinos again, this time with video taping for their public service announcement for the California State Parks system. Jennifer, who has been our interpretive specialist guide for the past four year, will be conducting it. Your child will be on camera only if you have signed a release for them to participate. This is not included in our standard release that all parents signed as part of registering their child for the group.
The group also decided they wanted to try Maria's Kitchen today for lunch. One of the things I like about this little exercise is that is involves listening, cooperation, accepting a choice that was not one of their first, and just "moving on." We also discussed the upcoming "surprise raffle" for LUNCH Points, which I told them would be for this upcoming Wednesday or Friday. Yes, by telling them when the "surprise" is, I'm sending a mixed message -- on purpose. Those kids who figured it out earned raffle tickets for doing so. We reviewed LUNCH Points again and all of your kids reviewed their original choices for their main target behavior. This is important! Your job is to log in and give them a certificate or two in between groups. If you select their main target behavior, they receive an additional bonus, which shows up on the certificate. It only takes a couple of minutes to complete the LUNCH Point certificate. If your printer is broken, you can request a receipt, which we will accept or you can use the "Vacation" form. If you have questions, email me. I am also reviewing this during each of the Tuesday night Teleconferences. If you did not respond to our original invitation, contact Stacy and she will re-send it to you. We cannot post this because it is confidential and only for families of group members. Telemeetings will continue until the first Tuesday in August.
We had an early snack today.... they just seemed hungry! Also, we brought it back to the office for them to eat, which gives them a different way to practice neatness, manners, and transitioning. We did more interviews, which we will publish at a future date plus we watched a YouTube video called "Unwelcoming Lunch Groups." It's by a female teen who has apparently produced quite a few of these... some more humorous than others, but she tries to tell a story and it helps me highlight certain conversational principles.
We talked some more about conversations and practiced what makes for interesting speaking. I know I haven't been mentioning specific kids as much, and I'm sorry about that. We're doing so many things with them, that it's almost hard to keep track on an individual basis that I can convert to writing.
After lunch, SG and JW finished up their avatar interview. Also, I took 5 group members into my office along with Sophie, who had been present throughout the day to have them practice making her say "yes" and "no" by offering her a treat. We're trying to create a "library" of her responses to use in a different project.
Wednesday, we're spending the morning at the state park, then head off to Octopus. As always, contact me with any questions or comments.
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