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Program Title: PAA B18 (Life Skills 18)
Course Description:
Target Audience: This course is recommended to students only after a professional judgement has
been made that the needs of these students cannot be accommodated through the application of the
Adaptive Dimension within the provincially developed course or locally developed modified course.
An Alternative Education Program may be considered for a student who:
 Is at least 14 years, 8 months old (age of a typical grade ten student)
 Has below average cognitive functioning
 Is four or more grade levels behind peers academically
 Has not experienced success in a Regular Education Program
 Has significant problems with attendance/motivation and work habits
 Is at risk of dropping out of school
 Requires life skills and vocational training.
Students who possess one or more of these characteristics do not necessarily require an Alternative
Education Program.
The selection process for admittance into an Alternative Education Program is outlined on page 42 of the
Policy, Guidelines, and Procedures for Alternative Education Programs, September 2006 located at
http://www.sasked.gov.sk.ca/branches/curr/pdf/AltEdPolicy_Procedures.pdf
Within the context of this course, the Adaptive Dimension may be engaged to meet the needs of
individual students. Figure 5 from The Adaptive Dimension in Core Curriculum (1992) identifies the
variables of the Adaptive Dimension.
Common Essential Learnings:
The common essential learnings are embedded in the alternative education program and are
addressed in the following ways:
Communication:
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utilizing vocabulary associated with making decisions, etc.
discussions ( class, teacher, guests)
use of the media
follow instructions correctly
approach others for information
clarify ideas and information
creating and interpreting graphs, charts, etc.
organizes information in various ways
talks to community resource people
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understanding value
interpreting statistics
time frames
creates budget for real world incomes and expenses
Numeracy:
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Critical and Creative Thinking:
 applying skills learned to daily life
 using study skills in other classes
 evaluating information
 openness to suggestion
 identifying key issues
 considering alternatives
 demonstrating flexible thinking
 developing creativity
 following safety procedures
 recognizes contradictions
 compares and contrasts ideas
 combines ideas from a variety of sources
 distinguishes between fact and opinion
 identifies assumptions and biases
 classifies information
 analyzes information or situations
 judges the relevance of ideas to a topic or issue
 generates alternative solutions to problems
 considers alternatives
 makes decisions systematically
 supplies evidence for a specific result or conclusion
 explores implications
 evaluates credibility of the plan
Independent Learning:
 working alone
 generating self motivation
 establishing priorities and selects tasks to be completed
 relating outcomes to future needs
 locating and accessing various resources
 selects area(s) of study
 collects information from a variety of sources
 sets and meets personal learning goals
 establishes learning priorities and selects tasks to be undertaken
 organizes time and work
 works with confidence alone and/or with a selected support structure
 relates learning to prior and future needs
 evaluates personal progress and achievement
 applies independent learning skills to real-life situations
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Personal and Social Development:
 evaluates skill level
 develops understanding and tolerance of others
 develops positive self-esteem
 respects differences of opinions and values
 communicates clearly with others
 respects others and the school environment
 shares personal perspective
 works cooperatively in small and large group
 maintains a safe, cohesive work environment
 discovers more about self
 compares personal opinion to opinion of others
 examines own beliefs, values and attitudes
 recognizes and accepts strengths and differences of self and others
 works co-operatively as a team member.
 considers and evaluates personal options
 makes and justifies judgments about the options
 remains open to challenges and opportunities
Technological Literacy:
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understands how to access information from the internet
uses the computer to complete class work
operates equipment effectively
awareness and usage of technology
accesses resources
evaluate validity of sources or information on websites
Student Learning Outcomes:
Students completing this course will be able to demonstrate in a variety of ways that they have learned to:
• Develop a positive self-concept and the skills necessary to maintain it.
• Develop the attitude and skills to grow with change.
• Acquire and practice the skills needed to progress from dependence to independence.
• Apply knowledge and skills to take charge of their lives in achieving and maintaining a positive
lifestyle.
• Examine, reflect and act upon their personal goals and level of well-being in managing their lives as
purposeful, contributing members of society.
•At the end of the Family Skills courses, the students will be able to locate and access updates, make
an informed decision, and take appropriate action in relation to their personal health, family,
community, and career:
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Course Outline:
Year and Unit Plan (Themes):
Unit 1 Independent Living
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Residential Options and Processes
Financial Resources & Supports
Employment Supports & Processes
Available Community Resources
Safety in the home: locking doors, appliances, mail, etc.
Safety in the community: protect self and personal info in various situations
Unit 2 Awareness of Self in Relation to Independent Living
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Identify abilities and areas needing support
Identify appropriate options :residential/financial/employment
Create support network appropriate for self
Using phone or internet to locate & access resources
Unit 3 Health Self-care
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Grooming and hygiene needs
Dental: daily, annually, immediately
Optical: daily, annually
Medical: self, doctor’s office, emergency
Unit 4 Time Management
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Prediction for leaving, start times, preparation, etc.
Forecasting end times
Daily schedule: grooming, meals, school/work, appointments, laundry, etc.
Weekly Schedule: Activities each day, social events, shopping needs, cleaning, etc.
Monthly Schedule: pay bills,
Reading schedules: work, movie, bus, television, etc.
Unit 5 Money Management
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Interpretation of pay cheque: hours, overtime, deductions, fees, etc.
Banking: select bank, open account(s), fees,
Budget: monthly & weekly, fixed & disposable expenses, emergencies, utilities, etc.
Unit 6 Community Issues and Ethics
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Public behavioral expectations
Awareness of community activities
Respecting cultural differences
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Key Resources:
A suggested list of learning resources which are available in the school/ classroom follows: (This list
should include all print materials, software, manipulatives, visual aids, and auditory listening materials
used to aid learning and instruction.) List includes but not limited to:
1. Relationships and Communication Activities, Patricia Rizzo Toner, The Center for
Applied Research in Education, West Nyack, New York, 1993
2. Everyday Life Skills Surviving On Your Own, Student Workbook, AGS, American
Guidance Service, Inc. Circle Pines, MN, USA, 2001
3. Everyday Life Skills, AGS, American Guidance Service, Inc., Circle Pines, MN, USA,
2001
4. Life Skills Practice, Ellen McPeek Gisan, PCI, Educational Publishing, San Antonio,
Texas, 1999
5. Developing Healthy Self Esteem in Adolescents, Mary Karsten, Good Apple, a division
of Frank Schaffer Publications, Inc., USA, 1995
6. Hard Choices: Ethics, Dilemmas, and Points of View, Greta Barclay Lipson, Frank
Schaffer Publications, Inc., USA, 1995
7. Room 28m A Social Language Program, Carolyn LoGiudice & Nancy McConnell,
LinguiSystems Inc., USA, 2004
8. Stress Management and Self-Esteem Activities, Patricia Rizzo Toner,1993, The Center
for Applied Research in Education
9. Everyday Life Skills, Surviving On Your Own, Video Series, American Guidance
Service, Inc., Circle Pines, MN, USA, 2001. Videos include: Health and Nutrition,
Looking, Feeling and Acting Your Best, You and Your Money, Household Smarts,
Getting and Keeping a Job, Expanding Your World.
10. Following list noted from: http://www.sasked.gov.sk.ca/curr_inst/iru/healthres.shtml
Media Index
CD-ROM
Canadian Consumer Handbook
Essential Skills/Compétences Essentielles: Skills for Life, Learning and Work
Moving Online…More Ready for Work Resources
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Game
Mutual Mania: The Mutual Fund Investment Game
Kit
The Be Real Game Facilitator's Kit - High School Edition Grades 9/10
The Get Real Game: Facilitator's Kit
Ready for Work
Real Times, Real Life: Facilitator's Kit. Adult ed.
Skills for Healthy Relationships: A Program About Sexuality, AIDS and Other STD
Workplace Ready: Job Skills for the 21st Century, Pt. 2 - Foundation Skills
Periodical
Canada Prospects
Print-Fiction
Double or Nothing
Print-Non-Fiction
Addiction
Adolescent Portraits: Identity, Relationships, and Challenges. 4th ed.
Advertising: Information or Manipulation?
AIDS and Society
Alcoholism
Anorexia
At Issue Series
Being a Man: A Guide to the New Masculinity
Blueprint for Life/Work Designs. Rev. ed.
Boys Will Be Men: Raising Our Sons for Courage, Caring and Community
Breaking Free From Partner Abuse: Voices of Battered Women Caught in the Cycle of Domestic
Violence
Can You Relate?: Real-World Advice for Teens on Guys, Girls, Growing Up, and Getting Along
Canada's Teens: Today, Yesterday, and Tomorrow (Out of Print Section)
Canadian Consumer Alert: 101 Ways to Protect Yourself and Your Money
Canadian Families: Diversity, Conflict, and Change. 2nd ed.
The Canadian Family in Crisis. 4th ed.(Out of Print Section)
Canadian Profile: Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs = Profil Canadien: L'alcool, le Tabac et les
Autres Drogues
Career and Personal Planning Resource Book: A Handbook of Career Education Lessons and
Resources
Career Directions: Occupations: University Not Required
Career Opportunities: A Saskatchewan Occupational Outlook to 2005 (Out of Print Section)
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The Career Planner: Choosing an Occupation
Career Studies 10
Careers
Careers 10
Chasing Lightning: Gambling in Canada
Chasing the Dream: A Player's Guide
Child Abuse
Child Development
The Complete Job-Search Handbook: Everything You Need to Know to Get the Job You Really
Want. 3rd ed.
Consumer Manual and Handbook: A Literacy Manual
Coping: A Young Woman's Guide to Breast Cancer Prevention. 1st ed.
Coping in a Dysfunctional Family. Rev. ed.
Coping With Stress. Rev. ed.
Core Concepts in Health. Brief 9th ed.
Decisions for Health (Out of Print Section)
Domestic Violence
Drawing the Line: A Resource for the Prevention of Problem Gambling: Volume II, Senior High
Drugs and AIDS. Rev. ed.
Drugs and Sports. Rev. ed.
Employability Skills: Creating My Future
Employability Skills Toolkit for the Self-Managing Learner
Euthanasia
Expanding Your Horizons: Career Development Guide. 2nd ed. (Out of Print Section)
Families in Canadian Society: An Introduction. 2nd ed.
Families Today. 3rd ed.
Family Violence
50 Ways to a Safer World: Everyday Actions You Can Take to Prevent Violence in
Neighborhoods, Schools, and Communities
Fighting Invisible Tigers: A Stress Management Guide for Teens. Rev. & updated ed.
Fitness and Wellness Strategies. 2nd ed.
Gay & Lesbian Youth
Girls Are Equal Too: How to Survive: For Teenage Girls. 2nd ed.
Glencoe Health: A Guide to Wellness. 6th ed.
Guide for New Workers
Guide for New Workers: Counsellor/ Classroom Edition
Health: The Basics. 2nd Canadian ed.
Healthwise 2
Healthy and Well
Hear These Voices: Youth at the Edge of the Millennium
Helping Solve the Employment Puzzle: A Toolbox for Middle & Secondary Levels (Out of
Print Section)
High School to Apprenticeship: A Link to the Future 2003: Handbook for High School
Administrators and Guidance Counsellors
Highs!: Over 150 Ways to Feel Really, Really Good…Without Alcohol or Other Drugs
Holt Health
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Homebuying Step-by-Step: A Consumer Guide and Workbook
Horizons 2000+: Career Studies
In Love and in Danger: A Teen's Guide to Breaking Free of Abusive Relationships
Investing in Your Future
Looking Out/Looking In: Interpersonal Communication. 1st Canadian ed.
Male/Female Roles
Married & Single Life. 6th ed.
Me & Jobs
Money Smarts Learning Resource
Obesity
Pathways Complete Program
Personal Time Management. 3rd ed.
Playing With Fire: Creative Conflict Resolution for Young Adults
The Power to Prevent Suicide: A Guide for Teens Helping Teens
Rebel, Rogue, Mischievous Babe: Stories About Being a Powerful Girl
Relationships
The Relaxation & Stress Reduction Workbook. 5th ed.
Self-Discipline: Using Portfolios to Help Students Develop Self-Awareness, Manage Emotions
and Build Relationships
Sexual Harassment
Sexual Harassment: A Question of Power
Sexual Values
Sexual Violence
Simply Essential Personal Budgeting Kit. 1st ed.
Skills for Living
Step Into the World of Workplace Learning: A Collection of Authentic Workplace Materials
The Struggle to Be Strong: True Stories by Teens About Overcoming Tough Times
A Student's Survival Guide to University & College: All You Ever Needed to Know About How
to Be Successful at University or College. Rev. ed.
Succeeding in the World of Work. 6th ed.
Taking Charge of My Mind & Body: A Girls' Guide to Outsmarting Alcohol, Drug, Smoking,
and Eating Problems
Talk With Teens About Self and Stress: 50 Guided Discussions for School and Counseling
Groups
Teen Alcoholism
A Teen Eating Disorder Prevention Book Series
Teen Eating Disorders
Teen Suicide
Teens and Gambling: Who Wins?
Today's Teen. 6th ed.
Understanding Your Health. 7th ed.
Venturing Out
Violence Against Women (Out of Print Section)
Violence in Sports
Violence in the Media
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What Color Is Your Parachute?: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters & Career-Changers. 2003
ed.
What Do You Stand for?: A Kid's Guide to Building Character
Where's Your Head?: Psychology for Teenagers. 2nd ed.
The World of Business: A Canadian Profile. 4th ed.
You: Living, Learning, and Caring
The Youngest Minds: Parenting and Genes in the Development of Intellect and Emotion
Your Attitude Is Showing: A Primer of Human Relations. 10th ed.
Your First Interview
Your First Resume: For Students and Anyone Preparing to Enter Today's Job Market. 5th ed.
Youth Violence (Out of Print Section)
Video
Against the Odds
Anorexia
Beauty and the Beach
Beyond the Looking Glass: Self-Esteem and Body Image
Binge Drinking: The Facts
Bridging Racial Divisions
Can't Slow Down
Career Options for Women Series
Career Options for Women II Series
Career Options for Women III Series
Career S.E.L.F. Assessment
Caught in the Net
The Complete Job Search System Series
Cool Jobs Series
Date Rape: Behind Closed Doors
Dealing With Bullies, Troublemakers, and Dangerous Situations
Discovering Our Potential: Women in Engineering: An Inspiring Look at Non-Traditional
Careers for Women
Donna's Story
Drugs, Alcohol and Guns: Triggers to Violence
Exploring Careers: What's Right for You?
The Famine Within
The First Years Last Forever
The Glass Ceiling
Handling Dating Pressures and Harassment
Handling Peer Pressure and Gangs
Hills and Valleys: Teen Depression
In Love and in Danger: Dating Violence
Job Search Strategies. Rev. ed.
Killing Us Softly 3: Advertising's Image of Women
The Long Walk
Managing Your Anger
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Manon Rhéaume: Woman Behind the Mask
Marketplace: Teen Driver
The Myth of the Perfect Body: Accepting Your Physical Self
One Survivor's Message: Don't Kill Yourself
Playing the Game: How to Find Work Without Losing Your Mind
Preventing Violence
Real People: Violence in the Family
Real People: Violence Prevention: Don't Be a Victim
Real People: What Is Hate All About?
Real People: When I Say Stop, I Mean Stop!
Resolving Conflicts
Respecting Yourself and Others
Rewarding Employment: How to Get a Really Good Job
The Road You Take Is Yours
Schizophrenia: Reaching Out
School to Work: Essential Skills
School to Work: Workplace Basics
Sexual Harassment and How to Stop It
Slim Hopes: Advertising & the Obsession With Thinness
Spare Time, Spare Cash: Teens Talking About Gambling
Stepping Up to Peace
Stop It! Students Speak Out About Sexual Harassment
Student Workshop: Anger-Management Skills
Suicide: A Guide to Prevention
Take the Red Road
Ten Easy Ways to Keep Your Job
10 Golden Rules for the Workplace
Thinking Positive
Through a Blue Lens
Tough Guise: Violence, Media and the Crisis in Masculinity
Trouble at Work
Twice a Victim
Unsuitable Actions
User Friendly Budgeting
Values and the Traditional Family
A Web Not a Ladder
When Dating Turns Dangerous
Workstyle Alternatives: Youth in the New Economy
Encouragement to use updated web sites, local resources and agencies, and other current
materials that are appropriate for each group.
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Media House provides videos at a nominal cost of one dollar per program and a blank
tape (you can provide the tape or purchase it from them).
People are a resource we can be using for resource-based learning. Often there is
someone knowledgeable on a certain subject right in your own community who may be
willing to speak to the students. Guest speakers can also be located by using the blue
pages of the telephone directory.
Free or inexpensive items can sometimes be obtained from departments listed in the "blue
pages" of the telephone book.
Some schools ship equipment to other schools where teachers want to do the same
module. Reciprocal agreements can be made involving equipment and A/V materials.
Networking can be useful in sharing ideas, within a school or between schools. Cooperative planning with a teacher-librarian or fellow teacher helps by giving you ideas for
using resources already available.
Electronic information systems and databases are available through SchoolNet and
Internet. Extensive browsing in distant library collections is possible. Access to many
resources is available through World Wide Web sites.
Instructional Strategies:
It is recognized that the students in this course have exceptional needs and therefore will benefit
greatly from a variety of instructional strategies. These will include but not be limited to the following:
Instructional Approaches
 Direct/Indirect Instruction
 Using explicit teaching
 Videos/other media
 Use of resources (computer, books, people, etc.)
Interactive Instruction
 group work
 hands on activities
 peer tutoring
Experiential Learning
 using decision making/problem solving techniques and apply them to their own situations
Independent Study
 working on assignments/ projects from class
 research
Assessment and Evaluation Strategies:
Students in this course will be given opportunities to demonstrate in a variety of ways
that they have achieved the stated learning outcomes as described in the following:
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Methods of Data Recording
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Anecdotal Records
Observation Checklists
Rating Scales
Homework
Ongoing Student Activities
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Written Reports
Presentations
Performance
Homework
Quizzes and Tests
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Oral Assessments
Performance Assessments
Extended Open Response Items
Short-Answer Items
Matching Items
Multiple-Choice Items
True/False Items