Posts under ‘Difficult Issues’

1. Hopelessness

   The person feels that nothing will ever improve. They may feel that they do not have control and that everything is a mess.

2. Confusion

   The person is often confused and irritated. This low frustration tolerance seeps into all areas of life.

3. Breaking relations and associations

   The person disengages from their support system. They may not feel the energy to participate or may believe that anything will make a difference.

4. Low energy level

   The person does little or nothing, spends their time daydreaming, and does not follow through on tasks.

1. Helplessness

   The person focuses on the negative view rather than the positive view of things, which increases feelings of helplessness.

2. Impulsive behaviors

   The person may make rash decisions without thinking through choices and consequences.

3. Isolation

   The person makes up excuses and avoids socializing and utilizing other resources.

4. Physical symptoms

   These include appetite disturbance, sleep disturbance, fatigue, headaches, etc.

5. No routine

   The person does not maintain their daily schedule. They may find it difficult to get everything done as they previously had been able to.

With the recent news of celebrity suicides (death of Andrew Koenig (actor famous for role in Growing Pains, Michael Blosil (son of Marie Osmond), and Alexander McQueen (fashion designer)) once again remind us of the seriousness of the issue. Suicide statistics have reported more than 832,500 suicide attempts per year. Understanding suicide begins with understanding warning signs. Here are 5 signs of someone at risk for suicide.

1. Negativity

   Someone at risk for suicide generally looks towards the negative and feels that things are not going well. They may feel that life is not worth the pain. They have difficulty managing day-to-day activities.

After a relationship is over, one can feel overwhelmed with feelings. One can feel angry, frustrated, sad, and one of the uncomfortable feelings can be a sense of abandonment. Here are tips on ways to cope with feelings of abandonment.

• Know that it is normal to have these feelings as uncomfortable as it may be.

• Talk to someone whether it will be your family, friends, or professional counselor.

• Explore new interests.

• Foster new friendships.

• Avoid using drugs, alcohol and food to cope. Use positive coping strengths such as exercise, art, music.

The birth of a sibling for a young child can be a happy occasion, but it can also be a rude shock and create feelings of jealousy and abandonment. Here are some ways to prevent children from feeling abandoned.

• Let the older child know ahead of time.

  This prevents them from being shocked, especially when the mom begins to show.

• Invite the child to meet their new sibling.

• Read storybooks:

  Baby on the Way (Sears Children Library)
  Another Tree In The Yard
  The New Baby
  The New Baby at Your House
  Tommy’s New Sister Twinnies
  Where Did That Baby Come From?

This is continued from the previous blogs on how to teach a child with Asperger’s syndrome in the classroom. Here are some tips on teaching a child with Asperger’s syndrome to read.

• Set a routine

  Spend time creating and planning active, structured visual and purposeful instruction.

• Be a model to them

  Model what the children with asperger’s need to know and how they need to learn.

• Help them practice

  Provide them with multiple opportunities for practice.

This is continued from the previous blog on how to teach children with asperger’s syndrome in the classroom.

Here are some websites that provide lesson plans for children with autisic spectrum disorders.

• A to Z Teacher Stuff

  Great forum on teaching ideas and the site also includes lesson plans and articles.

• Lesson Tutor

  This site also has lesson plans and tips.

• The Teacher’s Corner

  Another great forum and also includes printable games.

• Positively Autism

  Offers great resources including teaching materials, games, and lesson plans.

Asperger’s syndrome is a type of autism is characterized by rigidity of thought and behavior, limited verbal and non-verbal communication, difficulty with social relationships, motor delays. It requires great effort by parents, teachers, and professionals to help children with Asperger’s grow professional. Here are 10 tips on how to teach children in the classroom setting.

1. Setting a routine

   Students with Asperger’s work best with a particular routine, so it is beneficial for the student to have a clear structure and a set daily routine. When anything happens different from his/her routine he/she may demonstrate stereotype behavior such as rocking, shouting or screaming. When routines need to be changed, provide a written time table showing the daily schedule on their table so that they can be warned of change.