Remote Learning- Class Dojo

Parents,

You should receive a letter from me and an invite to join ClassDojo. 

This is the platform that I will be doing remote learning on. \

Here is the link to reach it from a Chromebook or PC.

https://www.classdojo.com/

Also, downloading the app to your phone or tablet would likely be helpful as well because it will make it easier to upload photos and videos. 

Communication devices

Parents,

Here are some links to help you to navigate your child's communication device.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIkeubo6nl8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y96zbQO_wBM

Please email me for more information.

Remote Learning

Parents, 

Today, all of your student's teachers were in trainings about online learning platforms. General Education teachers have started sending out information for various logins that your child will need. 

Tomorrow, I will send out the plan for SSN specifically. Online learning will start on Wednesday. 

More to come soon!

Lisa

Parents: Zones of Regulation

Parents,

  At school, we often use the zones of regulation to help kids understand if there body is ready to learn. We use the language of "What zone are you in?" It is okay to be in any zone but that if we are in the blue, yellow or red their are things we can do to help ourselves get into the green zone which is our ready to learn zone.

Here is a slide show a fellow teacher put together. I hope it helps as you establish an at home learning environment.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1RFo7hJS0Pi2pv47NDtKJdYArY_QyvrwmoZYgmQ2WgfM/edit#slide=id.g827b65bc8d_0_631

Jack Hartman Live- 1 hour!

Hi Kids, 

Our favorite singer in room L is Jack Hartman. Guess What? He is going to live on Youtube on March 30 at 8:50am. 

I hope you can tune in. I am excited to see if he sings any of our favorite count to 100 songs or sight word raps!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxG6Z-GRyM0

Parents: Read Aloud

Click here to hear me read a story!

Parents,

As I prep for next week this is something I am trying to help you guys to access some easy resources.

When kids watch this video have them answer the questions and feel free to pause the video.
 Kids should have talkers our while they listen.


Thanks for your understanding. I hope you all are well.

Teddy bear hunt photos

Have you been counting your bears!

 Ms. Kasey has!

 Ms. Rose has!

 Ms. Nicole has!

 Ms. Tisher has!

Parents- Supplies and online learning

Parents, 

    I know many of you are worried about what will happen with online learning next week. Please know that I am working hard to figure that out. The district is running us through some online learning opportunities next week and we are discussing how to implement this for all students, even yours. 

There are a few things that I need from you though so please email  (lisa.tisher@adams12.org) me with the information:

1. Do you have your student's communication device up and working and do you need tutorials on how to use them?
2. Do you need any adapted tools like adapted scissors, pencils or paper for your student? If so what do you need?
3. Do you have online access for your child to use (ie internet access)
4. Do you need help developing a home sensory diet?
5. What are the best times that I can make contact with you regularly. (mornings, afternoons, evenings)

Thanks for your help. I give you further information next week!

I highly recommend that each student has access to a device at home such as laptop or Chromebook. If you family does not have this available for your student please make sure to read all of the district emails regarding checking out a Chromebook from the district.  You will not be able to check out a Chromebook from me those will come from the district. Students will need this to watch videos and access online things that are posted. 

I

Teddy Bear Hunt Day!!

 I heard on a morning show today that today is Teddy Bear Hunt day. So kids here is your math lesson today. 😉

1. Sort your teddy bears out from the rest of your stuffed animals
2. Count your teddy bears and write that number down.
3. Then put them in your windows. 
4. If your family goes for a drive or a walk see if you find any in the windows of your neighbors. Don't lose count. Let's see if you can find 5 teddy bears out there. 
5. If your parents are okay with it. Send me a picture and I will post it on my blog of all your teddy bears in windows. (please no people in the photos)

Teddy bear hunt- great way to work on commenting with communication device.

For those kids on talkers a teddy bear hunt is a great way to engage them in using their talkers to comment. 

Below is the pathway in the talker to say, "I see brown bear."

Below is the pathway in the talker to say," I see 2 bears." 

Most of the kids can do these pathways pretty easily if you model the first time. 
We do this often in class. 

Good luck and let me know if you need some help. 

Movement to bear hunt song

Bear hunt movement song:


Click the link for a movement song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzIcu6tbEko

Read aloud and questions

Here is a read-aloud that your kiddos can listen to. I realize St. Patrick's Day was a week ago but it is still a fun story. 

Click here to listen to the story!

After the story, ask kids these questions:

Who was in the story?

What was two things that happened in the story?

How would you catch a leprechaun ?

If they can't answer them have them listen again! (It is okay if they have to listen to it 3-4 times or more, most of my students will not retain the story the first time through and that is just fine.)

Parents- Literacy work

Hi all,

I have posted some assignments for all of my students on RAZKIDS. My teacher username is TAESSS. You all should have your child's passwords they were sent home on Friday. If you need some assistance or need their password picture. Please let me know by emailing me @ lisa.tisher@adams12.org

The levels are assigned for each child and for the most part students should be able to use their communication devices to read the stories at their level. Please let me know if you need a quick tutorial and I will post one. 

Thanks

Lisa

Parents- Visual Schedules

Parents,
It looks like students will be home at least until mid April and possibly longer. I know my own two children were struggling with the idea of being home and having so much time on their hands. The district is pulling together resources and I hope to know what the exact plan is in the weeks to come.
However, for all children is a good idea for them to understand their day and how time will pass.  This reduces anxiety and helps children to feel a sense of accomplishment. This could be as simple as writing a list on a sticky note or laying things out a calendar.  However for some of my beginning readers and non-verbal students visual schedules are really helpful. My favorite and easiest to use is Choice works.  Choiceworks is a app that is less than $5.00. 

Choiceworks is an easy way to make a schedule on an ipad or a phone. It has reward options build in and the ability to take a picture of the task as well as built in visual for common tasks. It also has timers to set so children can understand how long a task should take. 

If your student doesn't have access to a device here is another option to print out a visual schedule. 

https://www.andnextcomesl.com/2014/04/free-printable-daily-schedule.html

https://inspiredprose.store/collections/editable-kid-morning-and-bedtime-routine-charts

https://www.naturalbeachliving.com/ultimate-daily-visual-schedule-cards-bundle/

If you need more visual supports, please let me know and I can provide them for you just email me at lisa.tisher@adams12.org

Parents- Social story

Parents,

Social Stories are a way to explain how the world works. For many of our students especially kids with autism it is difficult to understand why the rules of life change. Social stories are a way to explain why we do things. They work but it takes time and they need to be properly implemented. Social stories are read to a student in a "matter of fact" fashion and daily. Students do not need to be verbal to understand the meaning of the stories, in fact ,often they calm when the stories are read. 

Social Stories help especially when students struggle to ask questions about what is happening in their world.  I hope the following will help explain what is happening in the world now. 

https://littlepuddins.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/The-Corona-Virus-Free-Printable-Updated-2-The-Autism-Educator-.pdf

https://carolgraysocialstories.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Learning-About-the-Corona-Virus-by-Dr.-Siobhan-Timmins.pdf

https://carolgraysocialstories.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Pandemics-and-the-Coronavirus.pdf

If you need help writing a social story for your particular situation please email me. I don't mind creating some to help lisa.tisher@adams12.org.

JACK HARTMAN IS OUR FAVORITE

Get your kids up and moving with Jack Hartman! Jack Hartman is my favorite as a teacher. He gets kids moving and learning at the same time. The kids know his counting and phonics videos well. Unfortunately, due to new youtube regulations I can not post his videos to my blog any more but I can give you the link to his youtube channel.

https://www.youtube.com/user/JackHartmann

For kids grades k-2:  check out the Count to 20, letter sounds and directional words

For kids grades 3-5 check out the sight word videos, count to 100, stretchy snake and more.

When kids are active as they learn they retain more so make sure they are getting up, moving and saying the numbers and sounds with Jack.  Kids on talkers don't have to use their talkers with this but they can, you just may have to pause the video.

Parents: Headsprout

Parents,

The wonderful people at the readinga-z.com company gave me free access to Headsprout. Headsprout is online phonics program that will teach your kids phonics skills in a game format. I will be able to monitor their progress from my dashboard so I can make sure they learning what they need.  When kids log on to raz-kids.com then they will be able to Headsprout as one of their options. Your students have not used this before so they will need help navigating. The first thing they will do is a assessment so don't help them other than with using the mouse. After that you can assist them. I sent passwords home on Friday. Please let me know if you need them again.

Thanks
Lisa

Parents- Student learning at home

Parents,

As things are changing daily with COVID-19, I don't know what the next few weeks will entail.
However, I do know that each of your children need to keep learning. I will update my blog over the next few weeks with activities you can do at home with your child.

Today, I am sending home the following home: 

• 2 packets of sight word activities- please have students use their talkers when completing these
• login information for the following online learning opportunities
• www.education.com
• https://www.prodigygame.com/
• www.raz-kids.com

It is important that kids keep learning and doing. If you have questions or need ideas, please email me: lisa.tisher@adams12.org

Stay well and enjoy your kids!

Lisa

Parents- Kids that are sick

Parents:

The SSN staff are trying hard to contain the variety of illnesses that are going around the school building by disinfecting and teaching the kids to wash their hands while singing happy birthday. As of today half of the SSN students were not able to come to school and one of our staff members is out sick.  Please do not send your kids when they are sick.  I know as parents that it is a struggle to find care and to take days off of work however some of the students in the SSN program have immune systems that are weaker and it is important that we do our best to keep everyone well.

Sincerely,
Lisa

Parents- Sensory Friendly Colorado Symphony THIS WEEKEND

Does your child love music?

You might try the Colorado Symphony this weekend?

https://www.dpcolo.org/news-events/sensory-friendly-concerts-with-the-colorado-symphony/

Parents- STEAMFEST is this weekend

STEAMFEST IS THIS WEEKEND at the BOULDER FAIRGROUNDS

Last year my kids convinced me to go to this cool Science, Technology and Math Festival.

We watched drone races, experienced topographical maps with sand and color, dropped eggs, and shot air powered rockets. 

This was an awesome hands on experience for all ages.  

There were a lot of things for kids to do and interact with of all abilities. Also, there are some demonstrators that specifically address those with autism. 

ALSO SCIENCE JOE WILL BE THERE!!

Here is the link to buy tickets. 

https://makerbolder.com/steam/

Parents: Sensory Friendly Films March

Do you want to go to the movies as a family but are worried about how your child will handle it?
Try going to a Sensory Friendly Film. They turn the lights up and the noise down.  Also, families with various needs attend so the audience will be understanding.

This month's movies are Onward, Mulan and I Still Believe

Check out the link below more information:

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