Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! 

I feel truly blessed to get to teach all of my students. I am so proud of all you and wish you a very, Merry Christmas and a happy New Year! 

Be safe over break!

Ms. Tisher

Play a game with me!

Parents,

If your kiddo is using a device. I have great information for you!

Myself with the help of our wonderful Assistive Tech team have loaded some pages so you can play games with your kiddo.

Playing games like UNO, SORRY, GUESS WHO, TROUBLE, MEMORY, CONNECT FOUR are so important to development. It teaches kids turn taking, social language, 1:1 correspondence, matching and so much more!  (Like manners and perseverance)

When you play games using your child's talker. Here are some tips!

•  Everyone can use the talker. (modeling language is so important and kids won't know how unless we teach them and they won't see it as language unless we use it too.)
• Honor all language verbal or talker but model more phrases with talker to expand vocabulary.
• To get to the game pages. Here is what you need to do from the front page, press the word play, then the word games (it's yellow) and at the bottom are game play phrases and social vocabulary.   
• Don't worry the first game will feel awkward! Especially as adult it is difficult to adapt to talker language. 

Here is a link to what the pages look like. Also, if you want to print them for a low tech option feel free. 

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1sWAQ4wwe-7I7hj07LxAeCGvzadpA2SlcoO5zlrrgtB8/edit?ts=5c1aa045#slide=id.p

Parent Resource: Music Therapy

This music therapy group comes

 highly recommended from a parent!

CES waivers will pay for the group. 

SPIRIT WEEK!!!! Make the last week before break fun!!!

Please try to get kids to participate as much as possible. 

Parent Resource- ski school

 Parents, 

I know it might sound crazy but your child could learn to ski or snowboard. Colorado has an amazing amount of resources for getting all kids with all types of disabilities up and skiing.  If you are interested, here are some resources!

https://nscd.org/program/alpine-skiing-snowboarding-ski-bike/

https://www.breckenridge.com/plan-your-trip/ski-and-ride-lessons/category/adaptive.aspx

https://www.steamboat.com/plan-your-trip/lessons/snowsports-school/adaptive

https://www.undercovertourist.com/blog/skiing-disabilities-adaptive-lessons/

https://www.vail.com/plan-your-trip/ski-and-ride-lessons/category/adaptive.aspx

https://www.beavercreek.com/plan-your-trip/ski-and-ride-lessons/category/adaptive.aspx

https://www.playwinterpark.com/disabled-programs

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

Parent Resource- Adaptive Basketball clinic

Here is the sign up for the clinic
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0c4eabaa2ba46-colorado

In need of shoe boxes!

I am in need of about 6 shoe boxes for an activity that we are doing this month with my k-3 kiddos. 

If anyone has some shoe boxes that they can spare, I would love to take them off your hands. 

Thanks

Lisa

Parent Resource: transition fair

Hey Parents,

I know some of you are curious about adulthood. The district sent out this information about a transition fair happening this week. It is mainly for kids that are in middle school or high school but I figure it isn't too early to know what is out there for your kiddo as they grow.

Here is the information

Parent Resource: Broomfield Adaptive Sports and Fitness

Is your kid interested in Gymnastics? Yoga? Basketball?

Then you must check out Broomfield's Adaptive Sports programs through Paul Derda Rec Center. 

I have heard nothing but positive feedback about the coaches. 

Registration is going on now!

https://web2.vermontsystems.com/wbwsc/cobroomfieldwt.wsc/search.html?module=Global&keyword=TR

Parent Resource: Santa Breakfast

Santa Breakfast and Holiday Shop

Posted: Mon, 11/26/2018 - 1:40pm

Come join the Tarver community for a fun holiday event on December 1st from 8:30-12:00!

Pictures with Santa
Skip the long lines at the mall and come have your photo taken with Santa!
The sitting fee is $10 per family and photos will be available to purchase on Shutterfly.  
Please sign up here to schedule a time with Santa.

Food
Tarver PTO will have FREE donuts, bagels, coffee, and hot cocoa!
Breakfast burritos will be for sale for $3.00 each.  

Bake Sale
There will be lots of delicious, homemade treats available to purchase.
All proceeds from the bake sale will benefit Tarver families in need.
Please sign up here to donate a baked good or to make a monetary donation.
Thank you for supporting our community!

Events
The Tarver choir will be caroling throughout the morning!
Free glitter tattoos!
Beautiful wreaths and decor will be available to order from Indigo Flower Market!

Holiday Shop
We will have a holiday shop where kids can purchase special gifts for loved ones. 
The Tarver PTO  and older kids will be available to help young shoppers so they can shop independently and surprise their loved ones.
Please see the attachments below for examples of available items and a price sheet.
Gift bags will be provided at no additional charge.

Children are invited to beat the crowd and shop after school from November 26th through November 30th. 
Our shop will be open again during the Santa breakfast.
The holiday shop will be open for business at the back of the Tarver library during the following times:
Monday, 11/26 -- 2:30 - 3:15
Tuesday, 11/27 -- 2:30-3:15
Wednesday, 11/28 -- 1:15-2:00
Thursday, 11/29 -- 2:30-3:15
Friday, 11/30 -- 2:30-3:15
Saturday, 12/1 -- 8:30-12:00

Volunteers Needed!
It takes a lot of volunteers of make the Santa Breakfast and Holiday Shop successful!
Please consider volunteering some time!  Sign up here.

Parent Resource - Sensory Friendly Santa

Sensory Friendly Santa Experience at Southlands

Southlands Mall

6155 South Main Street, Suite 260
Aurora 80016

12/9/2017 
8:00 am - 10:30 am

 CALL TO CONFIRM TIMES

REGISTRATION REQUIRED 
AGE RANGE: All Ages, Special Needs
COST: $Photo packages prices vary
CALL: (303) 627-5000
WEBSITE

MORE DETAILS:

Southlands has partnered with the Autism Society of Colorado to provide a sensory friendly experience for all children to meet Santa! Join us on Saturday, December 9th from 8am - 10:30am! Visit shopsouthlands.com for photo package prices and for more information.

Parent Resource- sensory friendly movies

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. Please check your local theatre listings for specific showtimes, and don't forget to share your family fun with #AMCSensoryFriendly.

Sensory Friendly Film Showings

---

Ralph Breaks the Internet

Ralph Breaks the Internet

1 HR 52 MIN PGDecember 8, 2018SENSORY FRIENDLY

Get Tickets

Creed II

Creed II

2 HR 10 MIN PG13December 11, 2018SENSORY FRIENDLY

Get Tickets

Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse

Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse

1 HR 45 MIN PGDecember 22, 2018

Parent Resource - Visual Schedule for Thanksgiving

Parents,

The holidays are stressful. They are stressful for kids because they often don't know what is coming next or when will it ever end. (Think about it Aunt Sally may drive you nuts with her endless stories but at least you know you are going home.) As we chatted at our parent meeting, visual schedules can help. Here are some pictures that you can use if you need some visuals if you need them. Remember to work out break times. Kids can make it through new experiences when they get a few minutes to take a break and regroup.  I hope this helps!  Happy Thanksgiving!!

Parent Resource-Social Stories

Here are some of the social stories resources that I showed at Parent Night:

Remember Social Stories help kids learn about social situations. They should never be a punishment but a teaching tool.  They can be presented before a new situation or in response to a situation to teach the correct behavior.

Here is the website that has I showed you that I got the airplane Social Stories from.
It is a subscription site.
https://carolgraysocialstories.com/social-stories/

Here is the social stories book that I had available and the amazon link if you are interested.

https://www.amazon.com/Social-Story-Revised-Expanded-Anniversary/dp/1941765165/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1541700878&sr=8-1&keywords=the+new+social+story+book

Parents- No school on Monday

Don't forget- No school for Veteran's Day

Parent Resource- Adams Camp REGISTRATION NOW

Parents,

    Adams Camp registration started this week. Adams Camp is an amazing program and a cool opportunity for all kids with disabilities. There are many scholarships available so don't let the price scare you.

Here is the website:
https://adamscamp.org/

Here is more information:

What We Do

Adam’s Camp is a group of non-profit organizations, each providing a variety of intensive, personalized, and integrated therapeutic programs for children with special needs and their families as well as recreational programs providing fun, social connections and growth in independence for youth and young adults with special needs. 

Adam’s Camp is successful because we meet the needs of the individual and the family in a camp setting, where healing and hope are contagious.
The impact of our programs is clear:

• Children with developmental delays experience significant developmental gains and have higher quality therapy experiences following camp as a result of the roadmap developed while there
• Siblings gain new strategies for living with a sibling with special needs while appreciating a quality camp experience themselves
• Parents gain new strategies to support their child’s development, build a network of resources, and feel renewed from the respite they experience at camp

Parent Resource- SSN Tarver Parent Night Tonight

Hope to see you tonight for SSN parent Night!

Tonight at 6:00 - 7:30 SSN Room!

Don't forget to sign up for conferences

Don't forget to sign up for conferences with your student's classroom teacher! Conferences are Thursday!

Thanks!

Ms. Tisher

Conferences

Parents,
In the next 2 weeks, you should be getting a sign up for parent teacher conferences.  Please sign up with your child's general education teacher.  I will try to attend all of the conferences for the students that I work with but this is time for you to meet with their teachers and understand how they are doing in their classroom. 
If your student has an IEP meeting in October, you do not need to sign up for conferences unless you want to. 

TARVER CARNIVAL

Tarver Carnival is on Friday NIGHT

The Tarver Carnival is a great, fun, family time. All kids can get involved. There are activities for all skill levels. If you come early it isn't as busy. I truly encourage everyone to give it a try. There will be bouncy castles, a cake walk, a Ninja course, and carnival games with prizes.  Please think about coming!

Math- Counting

 All of the students are working on counting this month. We are working on moving items and counting. Older kids are working on counting to 100 and skip counting and the younger guys are working on counting to 10 or 20. 

Counting is an important skill. Help your student by making movement with counting. Make sure they go slow and that when they are done the tell you how many they counted. (Often when kids finish counting 5 items- they tell me there are 6 things because that is the next number in the pattern) 

Here are some ideas of things to count:

• steps going up or down. (remember not to count until they touch the step.
• pennies- pull the pennies across the table in front of their body to get their whole brain involved
• silverware- Take it out and put it away count it when it gets placed in the drawer
• Count the people coming to dinner (great for when you are out at a restaurant to tell waiter) 

For kids counting large quantities- They often struggle with crossing the decade marks.. like 28 29 30 or 49 50 51
Here are some videos we use in class to help us count and see the numbers. 

Parent Resource- AMC

Parents,

Don't forget about Sensory Friendly movies this month!

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. Please check your local theatre listings for specific showtimes, and don't forget to share your family fun with #AMCSensoryFriendly.

Here's the movies this month:

Reading- phonics

Hey Parents,  a great way to get kids to learn their letter sounds is through music! Check out these phonics videos. The kids love them.

SEPT 5 Assessment Day

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.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080A4FA4A82FA46-sept

Thanks

Lisa

Back to School Shopping

It's that time again! Time to go to school shopping!

Every year I get questions about what does MY child need to bring.  I think many of you are surprised to here me say to check the list for the grade level that your kiddo. Here's the list: https://tarver.adams12.org/sites/tarver.d7sb.adams12.org/files/assets/supply_list.pdf

Many classrooms share supplies and your child is a part of that classroom so having markers, crayons, dry erase markers are very important because your child will be using those supplies when they are in their teacher's classroom. I do ask that any child that uses stamps instead of pencils bring 2 washable stamp pads. 

Other things to keep in mind as you back to school shop:

• Headphones: Get a sturdy pair and write your kids name on them in Sharpie. Target usually sells heavy duty sets for $10.00-$15.00. Please don't buy from the dollar store and expect they will last the year- they won't.
• Backpacks- get a backpack that opens wide and is easily recognizable to your child. Put something unique on the zipper pull so they know their backpack is theirs. It is a small area and everyone buys backpacks from Target or Walmart- which means your kid will likely have a similar backpack to 20 other kids at school. Write their name inside the backpack in Sharpie. 
• Coats- please write names on coats and sweatshirts in Sharpie. In one grade level there are usually 5-6 kids with the same coat so it is very helpful to have this information on the tag. It also helps if you take a picture of it so in November when you email saying that your child lost a blue coat, I know what we are looking through the lost and found for. 
• Water bottles-  Hydration is great! Kids bring water bottles to lunch, recess and sometimes to other classrooms. They get bumped over, lost and hidden away. We try to keep track of them but are honestly a low priority. Please do not buy a $20.00 bottle. This is a great item to get at the dollar store buy 3 so if they get lost your have a back up and write your child's name on it in Sharpie. We will send water bottles home throughout the week to wash. 
• Please bring back to school supplies to back to school night and leave in their teacher's classroom or bring them the first day of school. 
•  If you have more questions feel free to email me. I will be a back to work on August 9. 

Parent Resource- Trying new adventures

It is so important for kids to experience the world. Taking kids to the park, the grocery store, a concert, on a hike, to a restaurant are all valuable experiences that build background knowledge, demonstrate problem solving skills and feed the brains of kids. 

But with many of out kids it is extremely hard to do this. Meltdowns happen, kids run, its embarrassing and it is just easier to not bring kids. I totally understand. 

Here are some tips that might help make it easier:

• Set yourself up for success- don't go to the grocery store and plan to get all of your groceries. Buy 2 things and leave. Celebrate the success of just going.
• Do some planning- Kids often meltdown because they don't know what will happen, how long it will take and when they will be home.  Using a visual schedule like this can help. 
   

Visual schedule do not have to be complicated or perfect a few pictures, a drawing can help. Even an app like Choiceworks can help.

Keep a envelope of places in the car and then you can have them ready at any time for the common places you go.   For for complicated tasks like going to the movies plan the small parts like this: drive in car, park, buy ticket, stand in line, get snacks sit in seat, watch movie, bathroom, watch movie, walk to car, go home. Kids like when they see they are making progress through an event. 

• For some kids a schedule is enough. For others understanding, how to behave in these situations is the problem. For this do some pre-teaching with social stories. Social stories are a specific method that is used to explain the world to people with autism and other developmental disabilities. They may seem corny or boring but they truly work.  Social stories need to be read to the student in a matter a fact way many, many times on a daily basis. (you will know them in your sleep.. which is good because so will your kid) Here are some examples. 
  
  
  

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Social-Story-Going-Shopping-2934407

If you need more the site TeackersPayTeachers has lots. Or just ask, I am always willing to write one for you or to teach you the method of how to write one yourself. 

• Reach out to other parents with kids with disabilities. Go out in groups. (Safety in numbers) Sometimes it is just nice to have someone that has gone through the same things.  (if you need other parents to contact let me know, I have can help get you connected) 
• Remember just trying counts. There are lots of parents that understand what you are going through. Every new opportunity and every new experience helps your child grow a little. Even the failures. 

😀

Parent Resource- Swallow Hill Sensory Friendly Concert

SENSORY FRIENDLY CONCERT

feat. ​Wolf van Elfmand

Wolf van Elfmand is a folk and country-blues artist based in Denver, CO. Wolf began his career in Brooklyn, NY in 2009 when he collaborated with producer Cedar Apffel on his self titled EP. Since then he has released 3 full length albums: "Magic to the Lonely," "Wolf Sings," and "The Death of," which span from finger-picking blues to eerie operatic compositions. His latest project, "Real Wolf" released in June 2017. The EP is self produced alongside Dango Rose of Elephant Revival. With "Real Wolf" van Elfmand dives deeper into the country/folk genre and widens his repertoire of captivating storytelling. Quirky songs are enhanced by compelling lyrics, witty banter, and disarming charm. Wolf maintains a truly unique style in songwriting while continuing to pay homage to American classics such as Randy Newman and Mississippi John Hurt.

Sunday, June 24, 2018

1:00 PM

doors open at 12:30 pm

Daniels Hall

71 E. Yale Ave., Denver, CO 80210  

For Tickets: http://connect.swallowhillmusic.org/EventTicket/EventDetail/3299/id0/sensory-friendly-concert-denver-2018

Sensory Friendly Concert

Sensory friendly concerts at Swallow Hill aim to create a welcoming space for concertgoers and their families to enjoy live music in safe and comfortable surroundings.

Sensory friendly concerts are specifically designed for individuals with sensory sensitivities and developmental disabilities, including those diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. We turn the lights up and the sound down so individuals and their families can walk around, dance, and sing along in a fun, judgement free environment.

Sensory Friendly events are designed to be an inclusive and welcoming experience for individuals impacted by intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their family and friends.

These events, while geared toward some of the unique needs of individuals with I/DD, will make our cultural events and experiences more welcoming for all. We welcome individuals of all ages and abilities at this performance.

Parent Resource- Get Air Trampoline Park

Every Saturday From 8am-10am, provides a sensory friendly experience for families. Kids with special needs are encouraged to come and jump. Parents jump for free. Siblings are welcome too. Music is turned down. 

http://getairlongmont.com/

Parent Resource- Megan's place

Parents,

I don't know much about this place. It looks like it provides respite care for kids with disabilities and babysitting. Here is there website. If someone tries it or tries their summer camps let me know.
http://www.megansplacellc.org/

Parent Resource- Movies in the park

https://www.cityofthornton.net/festivals-events/Pages/MoviesinthePark.aspx

https://www.broomfield.org/2644/Summer-Book-Adventures

Try an outdoor movie experience for free. 

Parent Resource- Concert Series

If you want to try the concert experience without the cost try these fun family concerts in the park. Giving kids new experiences increases background knowledge and helps to increase reading comprehension over time. 
And some of these include free ice cream as well!


https://www.cityofthornton.net/arts/Pages/concert-series.aspx
https://www.anythinklibraries.org/Anythink-Backyard-Concert-Series
http://northglennarts.org/programs/summer-concert-series/

Parent Resource- Longmont Library

Lego Club for All Kids

First Friday of the month, 6 to 8 pm.

Children can complete a building challenge and have their creations displayed in the library or free build.  This is a family event, and all ages, abilities, and needs are welcome.  Children under 8 and those with special assistance needs must be accompanied by an adult.

No registration required. This is an after-hours event, so we ask that patrons please use the West Lobby entrance only.

409 4th Ave.
Longmont, Colorado 80501
(303) 651-8470