LST Assessment Tools: Keeping Our Smart Students On Track!

The other day I was teaching an 8th grade middle school LST lesson in the Media Influences unit. Boy, oh boy, do we have plenty to discuss lately about this topic! The Media Influences unit throws a spotlight on advertising techniques for products, particularly tobacco, alcohol and e-cigarettes. But I'm noticing more and more that students are savvy enough to realize the wider range of influence that the media has on all consumers, not just teens. Our conversations have really migrated from advertising to social media to election conspiracy theories to fake news and beyond. These students are so inquisitive, and they make great connections all the time!

Working with smart kids is one of the many reasons I love my job. They love to take a lesson off-road, and we have inspiring discussions about a wide range of topics that expand well beyond the ink on my LST teacher's guide. Because of my smart students, I have to work a little harder to be sure they hit the objectives of each lesson and unit. I'm sure I'm not the only teacher whose students want to push the scope of their lessons a bit further than what's on the script.

That's why having the LST Classroom Assessment Tool is so helpful. It keeps me on track, making sure I know whether my students have hit their targets. For example, I gave my students one of the questions on the LST Assessment tool as a lesson activator the other day: "Name any three common advertising techniques that we have studied in class." Most students were able to complete the task, but I realized that not all of them could. So I invested a few minutes of class in reviewing these techniques, connecting them to examples of ads that students had identified in a previous lesson. Objective reached.

Here's the link to the LST Assessment Tools for levels 1, 2 and 3:

http://www.lifeskillstraining.com/lst_classroom.php

Keep doing that AMAZING prevention work!

Kate

Western Massachusetts Lifeskills Network Coordinator

Youth Opioid Prevention Grant Opportunity

Hey, Massachusetts Prevention People...

Youth Opioid Prevention (YOP) Grant Program

 

Utilizing $500,000 from a settlement with CVS Pharmacy, the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office (AGO) is pleased to announce the Youth Opioid Prevention (YOP) grant program.  The YOP grant is designed to support school-based prevention education initiatives to address opioid dependence and addiction in Massachusetts.  The AGO is accepting grant applications from entities that will implement either a sustainable prevention curriculum or prevention programming within a public school or public school district in Massachusetts. 

 

Eligibility: Applicants should focus their proposals on implementing prevention curricula in public schools or school districts in Massachusetts. The AGO is highly interested in proposals focused on elementary and middle schools and those that foster community collaboration. The following types of organizations are eligible to apply:

·        Non-Profit 501(c)(3) organizations

·        Public Schools

·        Public School Districts

·        Community Coalitions & Task Forces

·        Health Providers

·        Youth Development Organizations

·        City/Town Municipalities

Law Enforcement Agencies (including District Attorney's Offices)

More information: www.mass.gov/ago/grant 

Deadline: 12/9/16

Lifeskills Goldmine!

Home Page of the Middle School Teacher's Site

It's Sunday in western Massachusetts, and it is a perfect day to take in the sights of this golden time of year. The foliage is giving us quite a show, with the hills transforming into yellows, oranges, reds and greens. In addition to teaching Health Education, I also teach ESL (English as a Second Language), and my ESL students are in complete and total awe. These are kids who all come from countries in which there is no fall foliage spectacle like we have in western Mass. Truly, they're dazzled.

If you're a teacher, Sundays typically mean preparing for the academic week ahead. For teachers who are preparing their Lifeskills lessons this week, there are a few dazzling resources out there that are worth their weight in gold and will save you lots of planning time. Many of you have already bookmarked this site, but if not, make sure you save this in your favorites. Go to http://www.lifeskillstraining.com/msweb/teacher/index.php to reach the Middle School Teacher's site (see screenshot above), which I've profiled on this blog previously. Yes, it's good enough to mention more than once! Here, you'll be able to access quick formative assessments for each unit in each level of LST. 

The image above shows a student self-check, which students can use to measure their own comprehension of the basic objectives of each unit. My students really like being able to "show what they know" and prepare for quizzes. It also helps to cement the key takeaways that LST really wants kids to absorb. There's also a vocabulary crossword or each unit that can be completed either online or printed out. 

So there it is! A little goldmine for LST teachers. If you use these resources in your class, I'd love to hear about it!

Happy fall,

Kate

New Central / Eastern Mass Lifeskills Training Dates Announced!

Please share with fellow prevention educators! New Lifeskills Training Dates announced!

For School Nurses, Health Educators and Teams:

Effectively Preventing Prescription Drug Misuse and Other Drug Use

Evidence-Based Middle School Prevention Training

Four 1-day Trainings Planned Schedule (only one day required)

8:30 (Registration) 9:00 AM-4:30 PM

CERTIFICATION IS GRANTED AFTER ATTENDING ONE OF THESE DAYS. Registration is separate for each training and space is limited. Although not required, teams from schools/districts are encouraged to attend. Level 1 is for 6th or 7th grade; Level 2 is for 7th or 8th grade. Free curricula will be available. Student materials will be provided.

Locations for free trainings:

November 1, 2016: Boston 1010 Massachusetts Ave Boston 02118

Life Skills Training Level 1

November 2, 2016: Peabody Holiday Inn 1 Newbury Street

Life Skills Training Level 1

November 3, 2016: Mansfield Holiday Inn 31 Hampshire Street

Life Skills Training Level 1

November 4, 2016: Beechwood Hotel Worcester 363 Plantation St.

Life Skills Training Level 2 (Participants should be previously trained in Level 1)

Either Accessible by MBTA, or Parking is free. Lunch is provided.

Registration: Please Visit http://www.cvent.com/d/74q78p/6T for information and to complete the required registration. Thank you for helping to keep Massachusetts youth healthy.

6.0 hours per day of training will be awarded: the CEUs can be used for nurses and for PDPs for other educators; applying for Certified Prevention Specialists (CPS) Credits  

Quick Tip #1 - LST Middle School Teacher's Site!

Although we've mentioned this site in a previous post, it's SO GREAT that it warrants another shoutout! Check out this Quick Tip for implementing Lifeskills in the classroom! Use the ACTIVITIES tab on the LST Middle School Teachers' Site for lesson activators, review, and formative assessments. Use the RESOURCES tab for additional information/background related to substance abuse. Click the link below to access both resources on this site:

http://www.lifeskillstraining.com/msweb/teacher/resources.php

Success!

Wow! What a day! Thank you to all who attended the Advanced Lifeskills Training on Friday! The energy in the room was palpable, and everyone had something valuable to share. Big thanks also to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health for sponsoring this important event; to Amy Lynn Shimko, our incredible trainer; and to Kat, Jeanette, and everyone at the Franklin Regional Council of Governments who have put so much time and effort into making LST a reality in Western Massachusetts and beyond.

Now it's time to take that energy and keep our fires well stoked as we head back into our classrooms, programs and other prevention-based settings to deliver this powerful curriculum. I'll be sending all of you a link to a survey to get an idea of how best to support this group via the power of technology. Look for an email from me in the next day or two. And, if you haven't already, follow our group on Twitter! @WMA_Lifeskills

In the meantime, feel free to shoot me questions that just can't wait for #lifeskillschat, and keep up the amazing work you do! I'm so inspired by the talent and dedication in this network of prevention specialists.

Best,

Kate

Kate Blair
Western Mass Lifeskills Network Coordinator

#Lifeskillschat

Quick post here, as it's getting late and I want to be fresh-faced and well rested for tomorrow's Lifeskills Training! We will certainly put the word out tomorrow, but look for the launch of #lifeskillschat on Twitter soon! What's #lifeskillschat? Well, it's a forum that uses Twitter as the platform for collaboration and discussion on a variety of topics relating to the middle school Lifeskills Training Program. We're trying to promote and support the implementation of LST in middle schools in the Franklin/Quabbin region, and we realize that not every dedicated teacher and champion of LST can attend every meeting in person. We are busy professionals in a spread-out, rural area. Thus, the concept of a technology-supported Lifeskills Network was born. By using Twitter, our Western Mass Lifeskills Network blog, and other tech-savvy initiatives, we aim to make LST implementation awesome as we support the talented educators who deliver this program in classrooms and other settings every day in our area.

If you're going to be at the training tomorrow, great! If not, and you want to stay connected to this group and initiative, bookmark this blog and follow us on Twitter - @WMA_Lifeskills.

Yours in prevention,

Kate

Lifeskills Technical Assistance Training 9/16/16 - Greenfield MA

Quick post here - but just trying to plug and promote the upcoming Lifeskills Technical Assistance Training on 9/16/16 in Greenfield! If you're a middle school teacher in a school in western Massachusetts and you've already been trained in level 1 LST, or if you're looking to support your school in its implementation of LST, then register ASAP! Click the link below to learn more and to register.

http://www.cvent.com/events/life-skills-technical-assistance-training-185-/event-summary-f461775adeb3455d92f04b17e72cb117.aspx

Space is limited and it's filling up fast! Deadline to register is Tuesday 9/13.

See you there!

Kate

Lifeskills Middle School Teachers' Website!

It's here! The start of a new school year, and for those of us working in the field of prevention education, we know that new beginnings are ripe with opportunity. In the Franklin/Quabbin area of western Massachusetts, we have the fantastic opportunity to restart Lifeskills at the middle school level. If you're like me, you're just getting started (actually, the first day of school is tomorrow for us), and if you're looking for guidance or fresh ideas for implementing Lifeskills, you've come to the right place!

Teachers of middle school Lifeskills, click on the link below to access the official Middle School Teachers' site for activities at levels 1, 2 and 3 to measure student comprehension of key concepts:

http://www.lifeskillstraining.com/msweb/teacher/index.php

Click the link below to access the Level 1 LST Assessment Tool. It includes a list of assessment activities for each unit. Printable, easy to use, and provides insight as to how well students are "getting it."

http://www.lifeskillstraining.com/uploads/media/LST%20MS%20Level%201%20Assessment.pdf

These two pages offer a wealth of ideas for getting your middle school Lifeskills program off to a great start!

If you use these resources, I'd love to hear your feedback!

Yours in prevention,

Kate

Free LST Webinars!

Okay, quick post, because I will be joining the Middle School LST webinar shortly! For those in the Western Mass / Franklin / Quabbin area, if you're part of a school that's using Botvin Lifeskills Training, or even if you're just curious about this evidence-based substance abuse prevention program, join us for an hour of easy-access training TODAY at 11am EST! We will engage in one hour of training that is aimed at both newcomers as well as seasoned LST implementers. Click the link below to join!

http://go.shr.lc/2bJnS7d 

For links to additional upcoming LST webinars, check the previous post in this blog.

Yours in prevention,

Kate

Greetings, Lifeskills Supporters! I'm excited to help promote a series of webinars created by Botvin LST that are designed to help the implementation of Lifeskills Training at any level! Content will cover: implementing with fidelity resources for teachers and students raising awareness about your program Q&A Check the image below for information on each webinar. For those in the Franklin/Quabbin area who are implementing middle school Lifeskills, the 8/23 date is for you! Space is limited, so register ASAP. I will certainly be participating in this webinar, and I hope to "see" others in our region there! For those unable to attend, I'll be posting summaries on this blog and tweeting key points in the days shortly afterward. Follow me on Twitter at @WMA_Lifeskills !! Click on the link below to access the link for registration. Any problems with registration, please email me! kate.blair@frsu38.org Yours in prevention, Kate Kate Blair Lifeskills Network Coordinator Elementary School Program - Monday, 8/22 (11am ET - noon) Middle School Program - Tuesday, 8/23 (11am ET - noon) High School Program - Wednesday, 8/24 (11am ET - noon)  Transitions Program - Thursday, 8/25 (11am ET - noon) Parent Program - Friday, 8/26 (11am ET - noon) This is a unique opportunity for those getting ready to start the LifeSkills Training program... Are you ready for the new school year? Join us on a webinar for new and veteran LST teachers... Preparing for Success with LifeSkills Training We're excited to offer a series of webinars designed to help anyone looking to implement the LST program at any level.  Our goal is to help you successfully kick off your implementation of LST!  This informative webinar will discuss and present information related to: Implementing with fidelity Resources for teachers and students Raising awareness about your program Q & A  WEBINAR SCHEDULE Elementary School Program - Monday, 8/22 (11am ET - noon) Middle School Program - Tuesday, 8/23 (11am ET - noon) High School Program - Wednesday, 8/24 (11am ET - noon)  Transitions Program - Thursday, 8/25 (11am ET - noon) Parent Program - Friday, 8/26 (11am ET - noon) No experience required. All are welcome, however space is limited.  STAY CONNECTED