Wish List

Good grades and sleep. This week and this term has worn me out!

Case Study Presentation

In SPED 516, Behavioral Management, I had a Graduate Case Study project that pulled all we learned together. I was assigned a case study to research, create a plan, and present to the class. Below is the presentation, and a copy with my presentation notes, of my case study of Nikos - my little first grade who just cannot sit still!

I do not have my professor's feedback or grade yet, but I was excited for the high amount of class participation and discussion in my presentation.

Presentation
Presentation with Notes

My Token Economy

For SPED 516, Behavioral Management in the Classroom, I had to create a token economy. This token economy would be used to reinforce students and the desired behaviors. We had a lot of freedom with the creation of this assignment; I created the classroom setting, circumstances and the token economy's worksheet.

My professor's feedback on this assignment was positive, especially on the choices given to the students. She felt this was a realistic tool and accommodated for human nature.

Click here to view Token Economy Assignment

Summer One is Officially Done

Tonight, I will celebrate. I have taken my last final. SPED 516 (Behavioral Strategies) and SPED 562 (Assessing SPED Students) are officially in the books. Waiting on grades...

I am employed!!

We are very excited!

This fall, I will be working at Calera Elementary. I will fill a temporary aide position and then transition into teaching, covering some maternity leaves. This will likely last through the entire fall semester, which is just perfect. I will be student teaching in the Spring semester so this is mutually perfect for CES and the Chenaults!

Subbing this past spring, I fell in love with the staff at CES. This school had the most warm, friendly and enthusiastic staff I encountered in all the schools I observed and/or worked. I'm very thrilled to join a team like CES. And, it could not be any more convenient for us. Graham and I will go to school together. He will have his space, and I will have mine; but, this saves us daycare money, which is such a blessing.

I'm very excited about the experience! I'll be able to use my "work" time for my "observation" requirements in my classes this fall, and what a great thing to add to my resume! And, did I mention, there's a paycheck? Oh! we love a paycheck!

Yeah!!!

Wish List

An organization method to keep tools and ideas.

What's the best way to keep up with all the great stuff people share with you? I have several charts, templates, bulletin board ideas, worksheet ideas, web resources... and scattered across a bin, a binder and a social bookmarking site. I'd love smart and practical ideas!

Wish List

A small personal laminator.

We've reviewed a lot of tools and materials for behavioral, communication, and organization. The teachers I see who laminate their tools keep them for years, and they all say they have a small personal laminator. The teachers who don't laminate have a lot of templates they must remake frequently.

Anyone have one they really like?

Wish List

I'm starting a thread called Wish List. These items are things I've noticed and think I would like to have. I'm sharing with you for ideas, recommendations, or just your thoughts. Add them to the comments tab, please!

Behavioral Management/Parenting 201

Prenatal Education classes are part of all birthing plans now. Before the little baby enters your life, you get handy lessons on what to do with it. I found this especially handy, considering neither of my children come with interaction manuals. There were also sibling classes, grandparent classes, and etc. available should one so desire. But after that little baby is born, there aren't any many classes out there. 

My Behavioral Management class should be the next class we are offered as parents. I'm either fortunate or nerdy enough to find each of my classes interesting, but this one is especially interesting. I may even call it my favorite class, but let's not get too hasty and first finish all the exams before we give it that title. Still, the most useful lessons and ideas are presented in this class. We should require all parents to take it a short course when children turn 3! 

Can you imagine every day being presented with not only the "What If" situation but a reasonable solution provided? What do you do when a child is belligerent? Talks to much? Wants all your attention? Runs instead of walks? Hits? Granted, I haven't come home and performed a full Behavioral Intervention Plan with observations and assessments on the boys, but changes have been made:

- we've tweaked our token economy (chore chart & rewards) and the boys are actually doing more!

- we added routine and structure to our day and are fighting less, playing more!

- we all have contributed to positive house rules that the boys like to protect!

- we are all getting more done every day!

 

Instead of just managing the  incident, I'm now questioning "Why did he do this?" and "What did I do to contribute to this?" Even Paul is getting into it, and we're having conversations about what behaviors we want to change and how we can use some PBIS (positive behavior intervention strategies). 

At the pool last night, neither of our boys wanted to get out. We gave the five minute warning, the three minute warning, the two minute warning and Graham cranked the whining up. Rob got out of the pool and we said "We really like how you got out all by yourself, Big Man!"Graham couldn't stand it! He was out of the pool in a flash and rushing to beat Rob to help us pack up. At the same time, another family was doing the same, and their son cranked up the whining. The daddy responded "Do you want to get your butt beat?" and I felt like writing down Dr. Smith's information  and saying "Call her about ED516!" I didn't - I didn't want my butt beat! 

I love this class!

Teaching social skills

In my Behavioral Instruction class, we have written lesson plans about teaching social skills. This project seemed like a piece of cake, but I found this to be a surprisingly challenging activity. My classmates chose the following social skills to teach: maintaining eye contact, empathy, taking turns, table manners, shared responsibility, good sportsmanship when losing, self control, saying "please" and "thank you," and following the rules. We all do these things, but found it challenging to break down into instructional procedures. When was the last time you cognitively thought through saying please and thank you? And, how can you break the behavior down into not just steps but explanations that are understandable for younger children on children with disabilities? How do you teach a student with autism how to maintain eye contact? In class, we've decided it is important but not easy! I chose touching. I decided on this topic without any thought about the current Sandusky case; in fact, I didn't even think about the sexual context of touching. I initially thought about how to be gentle, what's and when is appropriate. I wanted to write a lesson plan on how to hug and when to give a high five, hug, or get someone's attention with touch. When I was researching for ideas, I was struck by the amount of instructional content devoted to inappropriate touching and sexual harassment for students of all ages - including primary. Everything I looked at spent a week of curriculum (combined) on processes for how and when to touch, and weeks on the inappropriate sexual component. This isnt shocking to me, but still caused me to pause and think about the society we live in today. It is saddening. I remember going through Mrs. Daniel's counseling sessions on Ruff McGrough and drug awareness . Of course, this was in the 80's and Nancy Reagan's "Just Say No" program. In elementary school, I was taught to say no to drugs. In elemetary school, my boys will learn about what is not appropriate touch and where is not a safe place to touch or be touched. It is important, just a tad scary. So, this commentary is about two thoughts: 1. It's amazing how challenging to teach the "easy things" can be. 2. Our world is a much different place. Our children have to learn about very adult things at such young ages, and it makes me sad.

Grades are in!

May Term: A

May Term Placement

For Practicum I've been placed in a 4th/5th grade Resource Room in an Intermediate School. This is a AAA classroom with 4 students, but not all on extended standards. There is diversity in disabilities, and an interesting mix: ED, Autsim, ID, and LD. The students also have a mixture of resource time, from most time in their GenEd class to only PE with GenEd. Staff wise, this class has a teacher and two paraprofessionals. I'm excited to observe and participate in this class. This is my second 5th grade experience, but my first in a concentrated resource room. I'm very excited to add experiences to begin to compare and contrast.

Roses and Thorns

May Term Roses and Thorns... Roses: 1. The kids. I loved the kiddos in my class. They cracked me up, they inspired me, one frustrated me and made me grow in patience and management skills. I really enjoyed the kids in my class. 2. School experience. I had the most diverse school experience yet when I consider staff and school. I met many teachers and professionals, many spending time with me answering questions or coaching. Also, I witnessed a challenging social dynamic between staff which was thought-provoking and enlightening. I gained a lot of knowledge that does not necessary fit into a lesson plan or IEP. 3. I enjoyed my classmates and made new friends. 4. Loads of experience. I taught a lot and got a lot of hands-on expience. Thorns: 1. The work load was rough! Managing observations, the school load, my CTs expectations and general life in such a concentrated time was exhausting. 2. Disappointing examples. Considering it was May and close to the end of school, my CT told me upon entering: "I'm done teaching." She really was. I'm not passing judgement I just was disappointed I didn't get to observe many lessons and daily routines. 3. Drama. Unfortunately there was a lot of drama in my school and it was distracting. 4. Traffic and parking. This sounds so silly and petty, but it as such a pain! Traffic congestion, the school infrastructure, and limited parking was a big challenge. When the parking lot flooded... I had to hike in the rain. That was lovely.

Summer 1

This June Is Summer 1 term and I've got a full load! I'm taking: ED 516 Behavioral Intervention Strategies SPED 562 Assesment of Students with Disabilities I'm by excited about the behavioral class because I'm learning a lot I can apply at home. Our first lesson was "If you aren't getting the behavior you want, the kids aren't broken, your system is." That day I came home and both my boys were on yellow (our behavior stoplight) and Paul was threatening to move the to red, which is time-out or loss of privileges. So I say to Paul, "you know they aren't broken, the system is." I cannot share with you what Paul told me I could do with that comment; it was not very professional. ;) The behavioral course is about positive behavior interventions and I am getting a lot of great tips and ideas. This class is with a professor I've known and adored since I met her at St. Andrew's, Dr. Sally Smith. It's a treat to be in her class! I especially love trying to figure out which of her two sons is her daily anecdote about. Oh I know a lot about Kevin and Brian now that I'm sure they wish I didn't! This assessment class is challenging. We are reviewing standardized, norm-referenced, criterion-based, and all sorts of formal and informal assessments. This is a 4 hour class in the afternoon and I tend to drown in basal and ceiling and sample sizes. However, I hope I walk away with a much bette understands of the various tests and types of tests. I have to administer tests to kids for practice, administer to my professor for a grade, and there is substantial paperwork with this course. Maybe it feels more substantial because I require a special dictionary to decode the vocabulary words. Nonetheless, it's a challenge and I actually find this very interesting.