As the summer rolls on and we're nearing August, our thoughts are already turning towards the classroom. You just can't help it. Everywhere store you visit, the Back-To-School march is on! I have been busy all summer preparing new activities for my students and paraprofessionals, too. It will make the first week run that much smoother. For The Paraprofessional In An Autism Classroom (Visit our website AutismEducators.com) or visit our TeachersPayTeachers store at For The Paraprofessional In An Autism Classroom.
With a bit of humor, your paraprofessional will appreciate this handy booklet. I gave this to my assistant in a binder for her to keep and write notes when she felt that she wanted to jot something noteworthy in the binder. She loves it! I'll be sharing pages from this binder with my newsletter subscribers. To become a subscriber, visit http://www.AutismEducators.com and sign up for free. Enjoy!
Wow! Can you believe it is March already? With some of you experiencing ice, snow, and freezing temperatures, I'm sure you can't wait for spring to arrive! Here are a few activities to help "warm" your classroom up a bit, while keeping with the holiday theme.
First up, let's keep writing! Our monthly No Prep Fine Motor Packets allow your students to practice writing skills and have fun. With 32 pages (yes, extras for homework, too) of March theme fine motor practice filled with leprechauns and rainbows, and spring flowers and kites. Tons of fun for the kiddos!
Fine Motor Skills NO PREP Packet for MARCH
Build A Sentence Interactive Activity Book - LEPRECHAUN
Visit our website for more creative activities to help your students master their IEP goals.
Remember, in like a lion, out like a lamb. Spring will be here soon!
First up, let's keep writing! Our monthly No Prep Fine Motor Packets allow your students to practice writing skills and have fun. With 32 pages (yes, extras for homework, too) of March theme fine motor practice filled with leprechauns and rainbows, and spring flowers and kites. Tons of fun for the kiddos!
Fine Motor Skills NO PREP Packet for MARCH
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| Monthly Fine Motor Skills Practice |
Build A Sentence Interactive Activity Book - LEPRECHAUN
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| Where is the Lucky Leprechaun? Find the positional words! |
Remember, in like a lion, out like a lamb. Spring will be here soon!
In honor of President's Day, here's a FREEBIE for a FEW, minutes that is! Now, through February 17, 2015, catch this Touch Math Interchangeable activity for your classroom. Please let me how you are using this in your classroom. I'd love to see it in action - send pictures, too! Enjoy!
Here's the link: http://autismeducators.com/touch-and-count-interchangeable-number-cards-special-education?search=touch%20and%20count&description=true&page=2
Debbie
Here's the link: http://autismeducators.com/touch-and-count-interchangeable-number-cards-special-education?search=touch%20and%20count&description=true&page=2
Debbie
What To Expect, When The Unexpected Arrives - The Transfer Student
It happens to all of us at one time or another. You get that call from the office telling you that your new student has arrived. "What new student?", you ask. You check your calendar thinking like you may have forgotten something. No, you have not.
You greet your new guy (or girl) with a warm smile. He seems a bit apprehensive, but he smiles back at you. You think, "This will be okay. He looks darling." So, you grab the stack of paperwork that was dropped off - his IEP, psychological report, assessments, and behavior plan. BEHAVIOR PLAN?
Many times when our new students come to us from other schools, the reports can be downright intimidating. It can be difficult to wade through the information and attach it to your new student. I have received reports of chair throwers, biters, runners, and oodles of non-compliance issues. It was hard not to form a negative first impression, but when those behaviors never surfaced (and I mean after the honeymoon period), I realized there may have been causes or triggers to those behaviors in his old environment. Hear me clearly, I am not blaming any other teacher or assistant, but whatever it was, that
behavior seemed to have disappear.
My point to this is, please don't believe everything you read. Yes, sometimes even IEP's and written reports can be a bit tainted by opinion, or the way that person is viewing the incident or behavior. It shouldn't be like this, but in reality it does happen. Welcome the new child, just as if he was entering your classroom on the first day of school. Introduce him to your students and familiarize him with your classroom routines and expectations. Make his first day, your first day. Play some of the same games you did with your class. Take your class on another tour of the school and have them tell him something about the class, Specials class, or even the cafeteria. Review class trips, homework policy, and anything and everything that you did for your other kids. The more comfortable the new child feels, the better chance he has of forging successful relationships with both you and his classmates. Kids with autism may need visuals and prompting to engage in any of the above activities, so be prepared at all times with visual cards for behavior, social skills, and to inspire responses. With all of this in place, the chances of a productive learning year are on your side!
How have you handled the arrival of a new student? Did you receive notice that he/she would be arriving? Did you have a chance to speak with the parents? Please share your experiences and suggestions, for this is a situation you may surely find yourself in during your career.
Here are a few freebies to help you along the way!
Autism Calm Body Cards
First/Then Board with Visuals
Thank you!
Debbie Singer
Autism Educators, Inc.
http://www.AutismEducators.com
 |
It happens to all of us at one time or another. You get that call from the office telling you that your new student has arrived. "What new student?", you ask. You check your calendar thinking like you may have forgotten something. No, you have not.
You greet your new guy (or girl) with a warm smile. He seems a bit apprehensive, but he smiles back at you. You think, "This will be okay. He looks darling." So, you grab the stack of paperwork that was dropped off - his IEP, psychological report, assessments, and behavior plan. BEHAVIOR PLAN?
Many times when our new students come to us from other schools, the reports can be downright intimidating. It can be difficult to wade through the information and attach it to your new student. I have received reports of chair throwers, biters, runners, and oodles of non-compliance issues. It was hard not to form a negative first impression, but when those behaviors never surfaced (and I mean after the honeymoon period), I realized there may have been causes or triggers to those behaviors in his old environment. Hear me clearly, I am not blaming any other teacher or assistant, but whatever it was, that
behavior seemed to have disappear.
My point to this is, please don't believe everything you read. Yes, sometimes even IEP's and written reports can be a bit tainted by opinion, or the way that person is viewing the incident or behavior. It shouldn't be like this, but in reality it does happen. Welcome the new child, just as if he was entering your classroom on the first day of school. Introduce him to your students and familiarize him with your classroom routines and expectations. Make his first day, your first day. Play some of the same games you did with your class. Take your class on another tour of the school and have them tell him something about the class, Specials class, or even the cafeteria. Review class trips, homework policy, and anything and everything that you did for your other kids. The more comfortable the new child feels, the better chance he has of forging successful relationships with both you and his classmates. Kids with autism may need visuals and prompting to engage in any of the above activities, so be prepared at all times with visual cards for behavior, social skills, and to inspire responses. With all of this in place, the chances of a productive learning year are on your side!
How have you handled the arrival of a new student? Did you receive notice that he/she would be arriving? Did you have a chance to speak with the parents? Please share your experiences and suggestions, for this is a situation you may surely find yourself in during your career.
Here are a few freebies to help you along the way!
Autism Calm Body Cards
First/Then Board with Visuals
Thank you!
Debbie Singer
Autism Educators, Inc.
http://www.AutismEducators.com
It's time to return to the classroom! Brighten up your classroom with these free No Homework Coupon Posters. Your kids will feel special and just love having that no homework day!
FREE Student Birthday No Homework Coupon Posters!
FREE Student Birthday No Homework Coupon Posters!
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