Social Stories

Children with autism tend to be very visual learners. They also think visually, making oral communication secondary. Social Stories can help children that struggle in certain areas. Social Stories describe a situation, skill, or concept. It is hard to meet the needs of a child with autism because of the broad spectrum it covers. Today in class we discussed Social Stories and how to use them. We discussed the use of iPads with autism and Social Stories and some of the wonderful benefits. iPads offer portability that a laptop cannot provide. Children also find the tapping and sliding to be more easy than the mouse and keyboard. The iPad can be tailored to meet the specific needs in each individual child. Looking back and forth from a screen to a key board can be a challenge for an autistic child. The use of an iPad prevents that. The stories reinforce correct behavior with visual examples. Social Stories can be used for children that are autistic, ADD/ADHD, disorganized, unprepared, and lacks social and behavior skills. When writing a Social Story, the teacher will determine the behavior he/she wants to change, one behavior at a time. Here is an example of a Social Story I really liked:

Some wonderful apps to use for creating Social Stories are: Little Bird Tales, My Story, Kid in Story. I also found a link to a web site that is absolutely wonderful! I could spend hours on this website. It has tons of ideas, information, and ways to use and accommodate autistic children and Social Stories. Enjoy!! 

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/22306960629520469/

So far in Practicum...

I am HAPPY! I feel confident, overwhelmed, and absolutely thrilled! I am so grateful for this opportunity at West End Elementary School. The faculty and staff are so kind and welcoming. They make me feel like I've worked here for years. My CT is Robin Hopper and she is spectacular. She is inspirational and very encouraging. Today marks two weeks that I've been here and it is truly flying by. I am so blessed for with such a terrific learning opportunity. 

Experimenting with STEM

Today was too much fun!!! We set up different activities at the tables and acted like kids. What is more fun than that? My group did not make it to all of the activities but the tables we did get to were fabulous! I had seen the "save Fred" activity on Pinterest and I actually got to do it today. We had a challenege, lots of laughs and a ton of learning! 

Saving Fred

We also built a structure out of straws. The straw structure had to be strong enough to hold the weight of the ball. 

Today was a wonderful day. STEM is definitely one of my favorite lessons to teach. I cannot wait to incorporate STEM into my classroom one day. 

Reflecting...

STEM: It's Elementary!

Wow! What a wonderful read. The sand table observation definitely stood out to me. It is amazing how easily and simply STEM can be incorporated into a classroom. STEM education is extremely important. It is important for jobs now and for our future jobs. Making sure our children are fully equipped plays a huge role as well. Children who get a feel and understanding early of STEM are more likely to be prepared for these roles.

 

The Use and Abuse of Technology in the Classroom

                Technology in the modern classroom is definitely becoming one of my favorite things about teaching. This article was full of wonderful information. I think it is very important that we keep children interested in books. I love reading and I love children’s literature and I want to share that passion with my students. As much as I love reading, I also feel the same about technology. Incorporating technology the right way can help engage students. Children all learn in different ways. I think technology is the best way this new generation is going to learn. I am excited to be a part of this upcoming generation and have my own modern classroom.

Prezi fun!

Last week we shared our Prezis and it was so much fun! I had as much fun creating my Prezi as I did sharing it with my classmates. Feel free to check My Prezi out by clicking on the link. Enjoy :)