Pictures Pictures Everywhere

One of my assistants have been taking pictures during the school day. We post the pictures around the classroom. This is a great way to encourage students to start a conversation with adults and peers. It also helps students remember their experiences and what they have learned while in school.  We have also made books based on unit themes with the students art, writing, and a picture of themselves. The students love to find themselves and their friends!

Transportation Unit

The new school year has kept me very busy! I finally have had time to relax. We are currently doing a transportation unit, and my students are loving it!

Here are some great transportation song:
5 Little Airplanes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzY79wsySJI
Cars Trains and Planes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ut-HbauKzDw
Wheels on the Bus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzrjwOQpAl0
Hurry Hurry Drive the Fire Truck: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aD3LZe7IoOo
Transportation Sounds: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcTdNaikO58

Transportation books we have been using:
Sheep in a Jeep: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKR11vzDap0
Little Blue Truck: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9sNIQa9Jhw


Visit my transportation Pintrest page for other great ideas: https://www.pinterest.com/jooliejackson01/k-transportation/

My Classroom

It has been a long week getting my room ready for the first day of school! I am very excited to get started with our super hero theme! Here are some pics. :). More pics and super hero theme ideas to come!

Pictures, Pictures, Everywhere!

I love Boardmaker and PECS, but at times it can be a little overwhelming. Every student is different, and therefore every nonverbal student has a different way of communicating. After spending lots of time with a child, for instance being their teacher for a couple months it becomes easier to see the possibilities of communication. Then comes the difficult part, organizing, making it available, and having it meet the student's needs. I am not a speech therapist, but I absolutely love being apart of developing a child's communication abilities. This year I am really working hard on developing a way to have my students communicate. I have been their teacher for 5 months, so I have seen their strengths and limitations when it comes to communicating. Now it is time to get organized!!

To get started I have put together a list of websites that have free pictures for communication.  

http://www.keefamily.org/pecs/pecs.htm (Some food and toys.)

http://www.setbc.org/pictureset/SubCategory.aspx?id=74 (A lot of boards!)

http://trainland.tripod.com/pecs58.htm (Nursery rhymes) 

http://www.adelaideautismadventures.org/printables.html (Lots of boards!)

http://www.she-wears-flowers.com/2011/03/tutorial-kids-shopping-book-food-cards.html (food)

http://visuals.autism.net/main.php?g2_itemId=65 (routines)

http://trainland.tripod.com/pecs.htm (Tons of pictures. Scroll down to the bottom for lots of picture pages) 

My first step is to pick out appropriate pictures needed to communicate throughout the school day. Then it is time to laminate!!

A post for putting it all together is soon to come!

Data Sheets

Oh data! I have been working on the most efficient way to collect data ever since I started teaching. This year I may be on to something!! I have created weekly data sheets for each child. The sheets are only front and back, and I plan to keep them on one clip board. While working with small groups I will pull the pages of the students to the front. Throughout the day I will use the data sheets as need. Then at the end of the day I will take a couple minutes to add any extra data. At the end of the week I will summarize the data, and place in each students' data folder.

Here is an example of how my data sheets will look. You are welcome to check it out at my TpT store! Feel free to edit them to fit your needs!!

An analyzing data post will be soon to come!

Let's Read!

I love teaching reading! It is so important to have lots of opportunities for students to read to self, share reading, and listen to reading. Here is a list of free websites and apps that have lots of book options!

Websites:
Just Books Read Aloud
Storytime Online
We Give Books

Apps:
Epic!
Speakaboos
Bob Books Reading 



I use these websites and apps during computer and reading centers!

I Can Center Signs

I have created center signs for my classroom! Each sign tells the students what they can do in that center. It gives the students and teachers working in the classroom a clear expectation. These signs also allow for dialog between students and teachers. I plan to post the signs at each center I set up for the day. If I decide that students need to focus on a specific skill I will cover out some options with a white piece of paper and tap :) .

Click Here

All About Me Unit

I am pretty excited to start off my first unit as a mix of super heroes and all about me! I thought I would share some of my ideas for this theme.
1. Of course the typical All About Me book.
2. Counting the letters in your name.
3. Learning and labeling body parts.
4. Graphing eye color.
5. Books:
I Like Myself by Karen Beaumont
The Way I Feel by Janan Cain
6. Songs:
All About Me
This is Me
I'm Going to Catch You 

Back to School Form

I am getting ready for the start to a new year! Before our year starts I like to get information from my parents about my students. It is best if I can get these in the mail and filled out before the students come to school. In my classroom we get breakfast ready before my students get to school. This form is designed for students with special needs, but can be edited to fit your needs!!


Click here

Name Tags

A new product in my TpT store for my super hero classroom theme! These name tags come in different colors and you are free to change the colors and graphics.

You can find them here for $1.00!

Super Hero

Here are some super hero theme ideas I have planned for the beginning of the school year!

1. Super hero pictures of students pretending to fly wearing a cape.
2. Making super hero masks.
3. Making super hero comics.
4. Creating a super symbol.
5. Making up a super name, stance, and costume.
6. Measuring how far our superhero paper airplanes fly!

Grants

I have recently posted a Donors Choose grant to fund some sing-a-long big books! It was funded today! If you are looking at material this summer, and cringe at the cost of some the material Donors Choose is a great way to go!


Here was my page!


Adopt A Classroom is another way to fund classroom projects. In the past I have bough switches and adapted material for my students by raising money on this website.



Go Fund Me can also be used to raise money for supplies and field trips! I haven't used this one yet, because it does not grantee a tax-deduction.

Free Parent Communication Forms!

I have created  2 new communication forms, and shared them on TpT for free. You can edit the forms however you would like!

Behavior form:

Behavior form for students with special needs:

My Super Hero Theme

This year we will be having a super hero themed classroom. Students will learn how to be a super hero of friendship. They will learn about love, kindness, and standing up for each other at a young age. I have included some of the decor I have made for my classroom! There will be more to come! Also the first book we will be reading is How to Be a Superhero by Rachel Yu. It is a great book that assists with each student creating their own super hero name, costume, and side kick!


Classroom Jobs:
 


Superhero alphabet: