Pyramid game

http://www.mypyramid.gov/KIDS/kids_game.html  Game for nutrition!

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

This is a good group of questions on the book.  Look at pages 4 and 6  Event kit

Online quiz Really hard.  Should use the book and see how many he can get.

Father's day

father's day card  I know I need to find a lesson for nutrition but this is the best father's day card!  We will do it the last week of school!
Dad's day gift  I have always wanted to do this project.  I have some frames I will leave some.  First step is to paint it.  We can get started on this as soon as you need a mindless filler.

Book report

What are the three most memorable parts of the book? (If he doesn't say anything about the moldy cheese, we have a problem).
I want him to write down the names of at least three characters.
Have him tell you what he thought about the illustrations.
If he was going to draw a cartoon for school, what would it look like?
Guess what, he is going to draw a cartoon!
He should have at least two characters, a setting, and a plot.  He does not have to be a great artist and it doesn't even have to be funny.  In the book, the drawings are very simple.

Kite directions  check this out!  I think someone was asking about making a kite!  Have him make a list of what we need.  Let him know that I have a kite that I will bring in for a reward.  It is going to cost him 10 sticker days.  Also, he needs to finish the Diary book. 

22 days to go!

• CAPA - Check
• Mother's day - Check
• Serve Safe - Check
• Chico Finals - Check

New plan:

• Camp
• Concert
• Field trips
• Track and Field day
• Every 15 minutes
• Assembly
• Meals
• Laundry
• Build a kite

The rest of the school is testing...

The rest of the school is testing and our kids are not invited to join their general education classes.  Wow what a challenge these next few weeks could be.  We have worked so hard to get our kids included.  Now that routine is so valuable the rug has been pulled out!  Here are a few things to remember:

• This doesn't make sense!  Even with months of preparing, not going to the right classes doesn't jive.  Show a little compassion.  It is important that we pay extra attention to the behaviors as they might escalate quickly.
• Do something fun!  Once again, our kids are reminded that they are not like everyone else.  Because they are special, they should do special things.  There are art projects for everyone and if the weather ever cooperates please be outside!

I will be testing the students this week and next.  Thank you all for helping me on my CAPA scavenger hunt!

8 WEEKS!

Greetings to all who know the value of this post.  We've got several things to complete before the bell tolls on June 10th. 

• CAPA  (Shooting to have them done by the end of APRIL!) If you have "free" time, I could use some help with preping materials.  Make a list of all the odd things that are required.  I think I have a box with almost anything we should need.  We are giving levels 2, 3 and 5 this year!
• Serve Safe Test 4/30
• Mother's Day Gifts made and sent home by 5/7
• French Creek Camp May 12-14
• Spring Concert K-3rd  May?
• Track and Field 5/28
• Accesability Garden (Hang out for the boys)
• Exit Party
• Scrap Books from the year!

I've Got People For That

I've often answered questions in an off the cuff manner. My favorite response of late is, "I've got people for that." And I do.
Having a group of people who work to support a special education program is key to the success and survival of the program. This week I have appreciated my paraprofessionals and nursing staff more than ever.
Today, I worked in my high school program. While I am supposed to be teaching there on Fridays, today I ended up covering for a nurse.  Boy did I get an education!   I learned that I am not a good at stearing a hoyer, it's easier to transfer with two people, pushing a wheelchair for a student who is taller than you is a challenge, and "coming in hot", doesn't mean that the air conditioning is out. I learned that the medical protocol that I sign needs to be read, learned and remembered.
Most importantly, I learned that there are people who work "for" me that work a lot harder than I give them credit for.
...................................... And I learned how to juggle.

Handicapped- the transformation of a word

Handicapped was a derogatory word for beggar. The man on the street corner who was holding his "cap" out in his "hand" and asking for money. It was used to identify the disabled because they, too often, were the ones pan handling.
The disabled community worked to get the word changed to disabled because they were not a group of people on a street corner begging for money. The disrespectful origins of the word made it an unwanted label.
Fortunately, for the word, the golf community picked it up. A handicap is how many strokes over par you play a course.
I bring this to you as I have recently seen postings which refer to SH classrooms. SH stands for Severely Handicapped. This is a term that should have been taken out of use years ago. I am concerned that it is being used. If we, as educators, better yet, as Special educators are still using a derogatory word to label the students we have pledged to serve, how will the rest of the people ever change?
Keep it on the greens!

Turn your world around

I turned my power point assignment in for class tonight. I learned something important... my power points are always too big. This time I remembered to shrink the dpi I just forgot to re size the pictures. And I'm not really sure what that all means. I just know that every time I have an assignment to send via the net, I have to call on my good pal, Rob. And, every time it is the same issue. He shows me how to fix it and I forget the steps as soon as I press send. Maybe I should write down the steps. After all, I would do that for my students. Why do I do more for them then I do for myself? Maybe I need to start turning my world around.

Why I Gave Up My Computer

It is true, my desk is computer free. My computer is now on a student desk and has switches and adaptive mouses hooked to every port.
Perhaps I did it for selfish reasons. I don't enjoy writing reports or answering e-mails. Now, I have to do my work only when school is out. That gives me 6 hours of freedom!
Maybe I did it because my students can better utilize the computer and their time in my classroom.
Probably for freedom...

Web Sites

The last IEP I had concluded with the general education teacher and the parent both asking me for web links for the student to use. I found the answer! Glenda's Blog has the links my students need to begin to develop mouse skills. I would recommend TVOkids.com (although Letterella is "horrible" according to my 8 year old). I also liked "Pop the Bubbles". The switch and timing adaptation will be very helpful for many applications. Balloon Pop was too hard for me although my 8 year old got a perfect score of 18. BillyBear4Kids was "actually kinda fun" and papinet.net was well designed. Enjoy the games and don't tell the kids they are learning.

http://www.atclassroom.blogspot.com/

One of my Favorite Teachers

Today, I ran into one of my favorite teachers. It got me thinking, what was it about pre-school that was so amazing, that 30 odd years later, I recognized my teacher at first glance? I remember singing, dancing and finger painting with pudding. And I remember her smile. She was so happy to be teaching. I hope my students remember my smile in 30 years.

White Out meets Sharpie

The machined "a" how many kids try to write it? Ever try to teach a girl with downs syndrome not to? Not worth my lack of energy today. Solution: white it out with my favorite Liquid Paper and then write the word the way I want it done with a Sharpie.

White Out

Sometimes modifications require specialized equipment. Today, that equipment was in the form of Liquid Paper. Commonly known as white out. My student was confused when reading a clock paper. The time read 09:00. Being the professional I am, I took my Liquid Paper out of the "locked" cabinet and whited out the 0 in 09:00. Suddenly, the time was 9:00 again. Thank goodness for white out.