SIGN UP FOR ASSESSMENT DAY 

Parents,

     This year I would like you to sign up for assessment day with the SSN classroom instead of with your child's teacher. If your child has high test anxiety or gets very stressed coming to school on a non-school day, please do not sign them up. I will do their assessments during the typical school day. Please check with me if you are unsure. Most kids do fine with testing with me on this quiet day. I look forward to getting some individual time with your student to see their progress

Thanks

Lisa

Please click on the link below to sign up. 

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080a4fa4a82fa46-january

Parent Resource- Winter Sports

Ever thought about skiing with your child or snowboarding? It is not impossible! With help from the NSCD, any kid can learn these Colorado Winter Sports! 
Check out the NSCD's website for more information! 
http://nscd.org/participate/

Parent Resource- Sensory Friendly Movies!

Don't forget some great movie opportunities over break!

Sensory Friendly Movies from AMC! Noise is turned down, lighting is adjusted!

Click on the link for more information!

https://www.amctheatres.com/programs/sensory-friendly-films#movies

Parent Resource- Autism Pizza Night (Sensory Friendly)

If you love Beau Jo's Pizza! 

Here is a great opportunity for you!

On the first Tuesday of every month, Beau Jo's hosts an Autism night. It is a great time to meet other families going through similar circumstances. Also, Beau Jo's provides a sensory friendly and understanding dining opportunity for you! Gluten Free is available also!

Parent Resource- Read aloud

Special Needs Read Aloud at the Bookbar.

This Read aloud is close to my heart as my former student is leading it!

For directions and more information:

http://www.bookbardenver.com/

  

The holidays can be very stressful for kiddos in the SSN program. There are different and new activities nearly everyday. Life isn't as structured as they are used to.  Lots of things to anticipate, and not way to deal with the stress.   Here are a few tips to help make things easier.

1. Tell the kids the plan in a simple way that they can understand. Sometimes behaviors arise when kids don't know where they are going or what is happening.(There are two great aps that you can load to your phone Choiceworks and First & Then that can help you make a quick visual schedule in just a few seconds. )

2. Try to keep some things the same like bedtimes and food. 

3. Give your kids choices to make them feel like they have control and have power. Choices don't have to disrupt your day it can be as simple as when we go shopping do you want to wear your green or blue coat? Should we walk or skip into the store? 

4. Sometimes the days can seem endless. Use timers and clocks and talk about when activities will begin and end.  

Parent Resource- Special Olympics Gymnastics

Paul Derda Rec Center is now registering for Special Olympics Gymnastics

Here  is the link:

https://web2.vermontsystems.com/wbwsc/cobroomfieldwt.wsc/search.html?Action=Start&SubAction=&keyword=Olympics&globalwebsearch_search=Yes&age=&daysofweek=&keywordoption=Match+One&display=Detail&beginmonth=&category=&location=&timeblock=&type=&subtype=&sort=Description&module=Global&globalwebsearch_buttonsearch=Search

Parent Resource- Special Olympics Basketball for Winter Season

Paul Derda Rec Center in Broomfield is offering Special Olympics basketball!

Sign up is now for the Winter Season!

Check out this cool opportunity. Here is where to sign up!

https://web2.vermontsystems.com/wbwsc/cobroomfieldwt.wsc/search.html?Action=Start&SubAction=&keyword=Olympics&globalwebsearch_search=Yes&age=&daysofweek=&keywordoption=Match+One&display=Detail&beginmonth=&category=&location=&timeblock=&type=&subtype=&sort=Description&module=Global&globalwebsearch_buttonsearch=Search

Parents- Santa Breakfast

Santa Breakfast is tomorrow morning. Bring your family for a fun low-key event. Meet Santa, see the choir sing. Burritos and donuts are served. 

Here is the link to sign up for pictures with Santa

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080a45afae2ea13-santa3

Parent Resource- Vocabulary

Parents, 

Thanksgiving break is a great time to help build your kiddo's vocabulary. Often we expect kids to pick up on words just because we know them. But kids with developmental delays need many exposures to words before they truly know a word. It is hard for kids to pick up on words especially if they are only used seasonally. So take these moments to teach words like stuffing, mixer, bake, season, spices, cranberry sauce, uncle, aunt, cousins, pie, squash, hot, cold, counter, stove, oven, dining room, snow, chilly, and many more. 

Remember anytime we build vocabulary knowledge we build literacy skills. 

Let me know if you need ideas.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Ms. Tisher

Parent Resource- AAC trick or treating

What a great time to practice some communication. 
Trick or Treat time is a fun time to practice using an AAC device.  (I know it may be cumbersome but try a small trunk or treat event instead of neighbor hood walk)   SIGNAL CREEK HOSTS A GREAT ONE AT THE POOL THIS FRIDAY!

Here are some tips for what things to program into your child's device.  If you need help setting up a device, just let us know and Kim or I will set it up and have it ready for your child to use the night of Halloween. (For those of you borrowing devices, we can make some special exceptions and allow the device to go home for an evening if you would like to try)
https://www.speechandlanguagekids.com/aac-trick-or-treat/

Parent Resource- Sensory Friendly Trick or Treat

https://englewood.macaronikid.com/events/59d5b1197c45b52d98032db6/sensory-friendly-trick-or-treat-party-all-ages

Parent Resource - Adaptive Clothing

Just wanted to let you know about a cool new find.
Target is selling adaptive clothing.  Check it out   Adaptive clothing with the same look as their typical line of Cat and Jack.
https://www.target.com/c/adaptive-clothing/-/N-ksyrzZlucm565xwgkZ5zlb2

Math- Learning Time Concepts

       Did you know that we work daily on functional calendar skills here at school?  It is an easy skill to work on but a hard one for kids to master because it is so abstract?  So working at it at home can also help. It is important kids learn this because it helps them to align them selves with the world and with routines. Imagine if you woke up tomorrow, not knowing what day it was, what season, what holiday was next, if it was a work day or not?  This is how many kids feel before they develop these skills.

Here are some things you can do?

• Have family routines that coincide with times and days. For instance, most Friday's are movie night at our house. So talk about that today is Wednesday, only two days to movie night. Some people have pizza night, eat out night, or bowling night. Let us know at school know what your routines are and we can help to develop that too. Kids generalize better with they talk about things in all settings. 
• Talk to your kids about the days. "Today is Monday. Today, you have school because it is Monday." "Tomorrow is Tuesday, we go soccer and school on Tuesdays"
• Give kids a calendar for their room and have them mark off the days as part of their bedtime routine. 
• Use a paper calendar as a game board. Roll a di and land on the dates. Have the kid say the date outloud. Try to make it through a whole year. "I landed on October 30th, it is almost Halloween." The winner makes it to Dec. 31.
• Teach kids their birthday. This is a common question at school with friends as birthdays are huge celebrations when you are 6. Talk about how far away their birthday is in months, weeks and days. 
• Use your student's communication device to talk about what day it is, program events on the device so he or she can talk about the activities that happen. Show them how to say "Today, I ___"

Parents- Canned food drive THIS WEEK ONLY

Canned food drive this week only!  The kids are excited to help earn a pizza party with their class. The food drive ends Friday, Oct. 20.

Reading- letter and phonics

Here are some great videos to help kids memorize the letters and their sounds. Play them often with your kids. Dance have fun! Remember that repetition helps to embed these sounds into their brains so that reading will come faster!

Announcement-

Sadly Ms. Hall is no longer with us.

We are excited to report that she has found a job at Hillcrest Elementary!

Parent Resource- Colorado Special Parent Magazine

Parents, 

I came across this wonderful resource at my daughter's doctor's office and wanted to share. Colorado Special Parent magazine is a semi-annual magazine that has some excellent resources for parents. To give you the highlights of what you might find accessible playgrounds, special needs dentists, sensory friendly family activities, stores for therapeutic resources, understanding IEP's, technology updates, and a resource guide with over 150 agencies that support kids with special needs. 
Here is a link to a digital copy!
http://online.publicationprinters.com/launch.aspx?eid=8dc31620-1734-496a-8318-a4d9476222dc

Math Count to 100

Here are some videos to help kids practice their count to 100 skills.

Conferences

Parents,

Please sign up for conferences with your child's classroom teacher. I will try to coordinate my schedule so I can meet with each of you when you meet with the classroom teacher. If it doesn't work I will let you know and either schedule a private time before or after.

Thanks
Lisa

 Able Savings Account

Start saving for your kids without losing benefits!

Channel 7 ran a story about how families can save for their child's future. 

Click below for more information. 

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/about/community-affairs/special-olympics/colorado-joins-growing-list-of-states-allowing-able-accounts-for-disabled-residents

Wacky Wednesday!

Parents,

Hi there, I wanted to let you know that on Wednesdays, Communications Notebooks will have little written in them. The paras will write notes for things that are needed such as lunch money or permission slips but otherwise there won't be much. If there are any issues, we will of course write those. However, please know the reason that we aren't writing is that we are engaged in learning with your student and with the compressed schedule it all happens with a bit more intensity.

Thanks
Ms. Tisher

Back to School Night

Parents,

I am excited to meet with everyone tomorrow night (Aug 14) and hear how the summer has been.
I wanted to let you know that I will be running a few minutes late as I am having to take my own kiddo to middle school Back to School night. I should be in my room by 5:15.

I will be excited to introduce you to my new student teacher, Jessica Hall as well.

Thanks for your understanding.

Lisa

School Supply questions

I know several of you have questions about school supplies and what your kiddo might need. For the most part go along with what is on the list provided on the Tarver Website. If your student struggles with using pencils and uses letter stamps. It would be great if you could provide 2 stamp pads instead of pencils. Also, if your child needs self-opening scissors, Target has them on sale next to their regular scissors this year for the same price. They are labeled preschool scissors. If your kiddo uses bingo daubers instead of markers feel free to send those in instead of regular markers. 

Please also provide a good set of headphones that are clearly marked with their name. No earbuds. 

Also, if you would like to donate Goldfish crackers, or pretzel sticks. I would very much appreciate it. 

I know this time of year can be stressful so please email me if you have questions about supplies and I can be more clear on what your specific child will need. 

Thanks!

Parent Resource- Able Saving Account

Start Saving for your child's future:

At several conferences that I have attended over the years, they have talked about that all families should save for their child's future. The more savings that they have the more opportunities for housing, and support they will have as they grow older.

This year Colorado has issued a new way to save that won't impact the livelihood of your adult children that get services from Medicaid or SSI.   Here is a website that may help you find out more information.
http://www.coloradoable.org/faqs

I highly recommend you check this out. Saving just a little now could make a big difference for your child's quality of life as an adult.

Reading- Sight word rap

Parent Resource-Sesame Street Autism

Check this out. 
Sesame Street has created a new character as a role model for kids. Also, Sesame Street has created a website with resources for parents with children with autism that has resources and a place for parents to start a conversation about autism. 


http://autism.sesamestreet.org/

Parent Resource- Role Models

Check out the Special Olympics World Games this week on ESPN2

These athletes are amazing role models. 

Check our Daina Shilts and her awseome snowboarding race!
http://www.espn.com/specialolympics/story/_/id/18933466/special-olympics-winter-world-games-austria-2017-daina-shilts-niece-role-model

Parent Resource- Go Watch a Unified Basketball Game

Parents, 

     Need a fun night out! Come check out a Unified Basketball game at one of the local high schools. These games are a blast to watch!  Unified Basketball incorporates students in the SSN program and their high school peers into a competitive game. The games can be intense and fun.  

Parent Resource- Coming up for Air

Parents: Here is a opportunity for Spring Break. Have some fun and connect with other families. 

Reading- Rhyming Video for 2nd and 4th graders

Parent Resource - Recreation activities

Broomfield Recreation (Paul Derda)  center has several Special Olympics opportunities for kids. 
http://www.broomfield.org/620/Special-Olympics

Math - Parent Resource- Counting

Counting is an important skill to developing math understanding.

The progression of learning to count really starts with counting on our fingers and then going beyond. Counting with your kids is easy to do and can be done. 

Kids should follow this progression:

1. Counting 1-5 
2. Counting 1-10
3. Counting 1-20
4. Counting 1-100
5. Skip counting by 10's 
6. Skip counting by 5's 
7. Skip counting by 2's
8. Skip counting by 25's 

Here are some ideas for incorporating counting into your daily life. 

• Count the stairs in your house or when out an about. 
• Count out silverware 
• Count out plates and cups
• Count while exercising. (see some videos that the boys begged me to post. )
• Count people in line. 
• Count at the grocery store putting apples in the bag.
• Count trees or cars while driving.

Math Count to 100

Math Count to 100

Math - Count to 100

Parent Resource - Gym for kids with Special Needs

Oh Baby, It's cold outside! 

Need an idea of where to take a kid that is  bouncing off the walls. This gym is specially designed to help kids who have sensory issues to have some fun! They specialize in providing a place for kids who needs a little extra help. 


Here's a link to the Gym's website 

http://www.werockthespectrumarvada.com/

Parent Resource- Keystone Adaptive Ski Program

I had a parent highly recommend this program.  So thought I would pass it on.  If you are interested in skiing, snowboarding or other mountain adventures. This is a great place to start.

https://www.boec.org/adaptive-ski-ride-school/keystone-adaptive-center/

Parent Resource- Summer

MORE SUMMER RESOURCES!!

Parent Resource - Adams County Transition Fair - Preparing for Adulthood

Hi all, 

The district sent this notice about the upcoming transition fair. I know our students are young but it is never too early to learn about what resources are out there. For many of you, you will likely be pleasantly surprised.

Parent Resource- Sensory Friendly Movies

Parents, 
Have you heard of Sensory Friendly Movies for kids with special needs.  I know many of my students are excited about the new LEGO Batman Movie and this might be just the ticket. The closest theater is the Westminster Promenade that offers these showings. 

AMC is proud to partner with the Autism Society to offer unique movie showings where we turn the lights up, and turn the sound down, so you can get up, dance, walk, shout or sing! Our Sensory Friendly Film program is available on the second and fourth Saturday (family-friendly) and Tuesday evenings (mature audiences) of every month. 

Check out this link for more information:
https://www.amctheatres.com/programs/sensory-friendly-films

Reading- Sight words

Sight words are important!

A sight word is a word that a student can read immediately without sounding out.  All kids should have their name as their first sight word.  It is an important word and will be for their life so this is a great place to start.

Here is a list of sight words that I use. It is a combination of the District Kindergarten Sight Word list combined with the DLM list that the state recommends for all students with intellectual disabilities to know. These words are powerful words and even non -verbal students are given opportunities to learn these because they are the core words that appear on most communication devices. These words are powerful and a person can say so many powerful things with just these few words such as: "I like."  "I don't like" "I do it" These are some of the core words that we all used to develop language so they are the core words I am teaching kids to read because of the power they hold.

I	like	not	want	help
it	more	different	who	up
where	up	on	in	me
what	need	are	is	this
all	put	don’t	when	go
he	when	finished	can	here
open	turn	stop	over	that
make	get	look	see	we
can	all	my	off	yes
the	and	do	to	at

Here are some great links for sight word practice games because it is always more fun to play than to read cards. It is also always more fun to beat mom or dad too!

http://www.thejennyevolution.com/fun-ways-practice-sight-words/
http://childhood101.com/2013/09/sight-words-activity-ideas/

Parent Resource- Math Counting

 

Did you know that counting on your fingers is an important skill?
This helps kids understand several key components of math development such as understanding quantity, recognizing amounts and developing concepts of five and ten. See this article for more information: http://www.theatlantic.com/education/archive/2016/04/why-kids-should-use-their-fingers-in-math-class/478053/

Here are some activities to help kids develop this important skill:

• Count things in a room using your fingers.
• Hold up different amounts on your fingers and have kids figure out how many you have then make it on their hands. 
• Ask your child to hold up an amount like 4, then ask them to hold it up using 2 hands. Such as 3 on one hand and 1 on another. (This helps with early addition skills)
• Have kids tell their age with their fingers. 
• Have kids hold up amounts on their fingers behind their back or head. 
• Have kids hold up finger amounts under a blanket. (This can help with visualization of quantities) 

If your child has trouble making numbers with their fingers or isolating their fingers. Here are some ideas. 

• Finger massages can help. 
• Crawling on the floor with flat hands. 
• Ms. Mattingly, our OT, has some great finger exercises that can help as well. Just write me a note and I can make sure to give you a copy of things you can do at home to develop this important skill.  

Call for Tissue!

Hi all, cold and flu season has hit Tarver.  

We would love a donation of Kleenex as we have run out in the SSN room!

Reading- Rhyming words and Dr Seuss

Several of the students are having trouble with rhyming words. Dr. Seuss is a great way for kids to hear rhyming words. This website has lots of fun reading games too.

http://www.seussville.com/

Reading- Phonics Sounds

Reading- Phonics sounds short vowels

Reading -Sight words video