Lesson Plan Ideals for Oh, the Places You’ll Go

Today I was looking at some things from work and was reminded of summer group theme we used. A therapist suggested that we use a book by Dr. Seuss called Oh, the Places You’ll Go. This was the best of summer groups we had done. Group was fours a day and lasted six weeks. Every activity we did revolve around Oh, the Places You’ll Go.

The group was compose of kids from different backgrounds such as, single parent homes to raised by extended family members and, foster care to your average run of mill families.  The one thing all these kids had in common were some sort of emotional disability from autism, ADHD, bipolar and ect.

We gave the kids two maps one for places they and had been and one for places they wanted to go. Each child told about places they had visited and were they wanted to visit. Another activity we did was what they wanted to be.  For an art project we took a close up photo of each child and make a puzzle using them explaining that even know we looked different some smaller than others we could go places and follow our dreams.  

In my opinion you could use this book and incorporate into several subjects for any ages. The book is will inspire readers of all ages to venture out into the world in search of dreams without fear. The book helps reminder to be mindful of roadblocks and stumbles, and to get back up dust themselves off and keep trying whenever setbacks occur.

Don’t see how you could use this book with teens? Think again. Students of all ages even up through teen years can relate to the themes in the book, and still enjoy the whimsical way that Dr. Seuss expresses them. This is one of Dr. Seuss most popular books. I plan on spending two weeks this fall using the book with my teen boys. I googled and fund several lesson plans and activities using this book.

Broken Saturday

Saturday has become known “broken Saturday” around our home. I was walking to my parents and fell. The road and I decided we needed to get closer lol. Landed on my arm again as I did on a Saturday in 2009 going to my parents. First time around I broke my elbow and had to have pins; this time I crack right below it. Wonder how many times you have to break your arm/elbow before getting a new one? ER Doc says stop trying to find out.

I really do need to find a new hobby for broken Saturdays.

What summertime brings...

Summertime

1.    Being lazy on sunny day

2.   Feelin the warm breeze takin your cares away

3.   2 bare feet

4.   Backyard barbecues

5.   Fishin in the dark

6.   Sunday drives

7.   Ice cream

8.   Takin a stroll down a shay lane

9.   Listin to the perfect song

10.                Cheap shades

I am...ect

I am: the queen of procrastinating

I think: outside the box

I know: God’s will is all that matters period.

I love: My boys

I want: for nothing with the Exception a home with little piece of land that’s mine.
I have: walls for a reason

I dislike:  thoughtless words people pour out of their mouths.

I miss: working

I fear: not being in control or I did until I got sick
I feel: I can I shall I will make it
I hear: my boys chatter

I smell: Vick’s sag
I crave: simplicity

I usually: try to help

I search: for a place Well, I did...but I've since figured out that you can’t please everyone now I am learning to be me.

I wonder: if I will ever feel met someone (well some days).
I regret: lots of things

I love: sitting in the swing and listen to music

I care: too much

I am always: on time can’t stand to be late
I worry: about boys

I remember: getting stuck on my horse

I have: dream of writing a book.

I dance: umm...awkward (not very well).

I sing: all the time (by the way my boys say I cant sing)

I don’t always: find the right words to express myself

I argue: fairly...and to win

I write: when I am in the mood.

I lose: where I park all the time
I wish: for my family to have unity. His, Hers, & theirs to be one. 
I listen: more than I used too
I don't understand: why someone thought rap was music

I can usually be found: at home or church

I am scared: falling

I need: to learn to get out of my comfort zone
I forget: a lot since brain surgery

I am happy: that I am learning to look at things different.

Driving Around:

An old farm house

Chicken Hawk in a tree

A building smiling back

Duck Cloud

Tress and Lake

CHIARI?????????

Chiari malformation describes a condition in which a portion of the brain herniates, pushing through the opening at the base of the skull. As the herniated tissue pushes through this opening, it presses against the brainstem, blocking the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Chiari malformations may be present at birth (congenital). In some patients, the symptoms may not appear until adulthood. Depending on the extent of herniation, these malformations cause a complex of symptoms that vary from mild to severe.
Of the several types of Chiari malformations, Chiari I is the most common. Although it is the mildest form, symptoms can progress, causing severe pain and debilitating deficits. Chiari I malformation may remain undiagnosed until adulthood because symptoms are either absent, delayed, or misdiagnosed.

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms of Chiari I malformation relate to the extent and the area affected by the herniation. Some patients with Chiari I malformation have no symptoms. Other patients are typically affected by pressure-like headaches or pain at the base of the skull or neck. Typical to a headache caused by Chiari I, these symptoms can worsen with physical strain, coughing, or change in position.

Severe head and neck pain

Headaches brought on by coughing, sneezing or straining

Difficulty swallowing

Frequent gagging and choking

Dizziness and vertigo

Balance problems

Muscle weakness

Loss of fine motor skills

Poor hand coordination

Blurred or double vision

Hypersensitivity to bright lights

Nystagmus (involuntary eye movements)

Difficulty in tracking objects

Tinnitus (buzzing or ringing in the ear)

Hearing loss

Vocal cord paralysis

Sleep apnea

The symptoms are complex, progressing over time. Because of this complexity, the condition is often misdiagnosed. At times, Chiari I malformation is mistaken for fibromyalgia, migraine headaches, sinus disease, multiple sclerosis, and other complex disorders of the nervous system. Some patients have waited for years before an accurate diagnosis is made. Accurate diagnosis and plan of treatment is important before the patient’s nervous system suffers permanent injury.

Life Changing

Valentine’s Day 2009 started the canoe trip of life time. Actually it was like being on a 15 mile rough water ride. That y day everything started changing everything. Stepped out that morning to sneak up my parents in my pj’s which should have been a red flag…lol I fell off the steps and landed on a brick. Let me add the steps were dry and there was no snow. Finally, I got up and drove myself up to my parents. Came in the door  and my dad says you look rough (you think) my reply was I think I broke my arm. Dad says let me fix you some breakfast (I am thinking breakfast; I am in pain or not listing) you just have to know my family. Here comes mom; she says what’s wrong with you my reply was I think I broke my arm oh well get dressed. Ok at this point no one is hearing me of course.

 I get dressed and go the hospital. Now the doctor says you have a clean break and let me add this is Saturday. Doc says call Dr. on Monday and get a appt. to get your arm set.  Monday rolls around and they cant get me into until Tues. Ok I am thinking what is another day.  I finally get the Dr and he says I can’t fix your arm. It’s a rare break & you need surgery. So the nurse comes in and says here your get appt with specialist in 7 days.

Finally I see the surgeon and have surgery. He asks how did you fall? Long story made short my feet were numb and I couldn’t feel the steps. Does that happen often? Sometimes I reply.

At this point I don’t have a family doctor. So I see a doctor I worked with years before. By now it’s April and I see the Doc and he says not to worry you or scare you but I am sure you have MS. We need to do an MRI. Now it’s two MRI later plus few other tests and it is May. Doc calls and says I need to see you tomorrow. My reply cant do tomorrow what about next week. See I like to avoid things.

Sitting at doc office I finally get called back. Doc comes in and says we found what is wrong with you. It’s called Chiari.  Ok this I knew nothing about and I couldn’t even pronounce it. I was told it was rare and that I had it all my life. Chiari (pronounced kee-AR-ee) I malformation as you can see it isn’t like it sounds. Research it and found a doctor that specializes in it.

Chiari changed my life…In retrospect, I had symptoms most of my life and didn’t realize it. Headaches are the longest symptom I have had. Doctors told my parents, when I was a teenager stress is what caused my headaches.  In my early 30’s I began having weird symptoms: my hands & feet would go numb for no reason, headaches everyday and extreme pain when I strained or laugh, and my right eye would blur at times. Doctor told me there wasn’t anything wrong with.

In September of 2009 I had decompression surgery (brain surgery). If you had told me a year before I was going to have brain surgery (I would have laugh). Surgery didn’t go as planned but I came through it. In April of 2010 I had a wreck and hit my head.  Things were changing by December of 2010 I had to leave work. Now I am disable (well retire).  

Now I am learning to do things different…needless to say the canoe trip has hit calm water but hasn’t stop lol.