New Year's Goals ~ Making it work for your child with Autism (Autism, Asperger's, special needs, special education, autism classroom creations, asd, social stories, teachers pay teachers, lesson plans).

Happy Holidays! Wow, it has been almost a year since my last post! It has been unbelievably busy as I get ready to graduate from my Master's program in May and keep up with my family and classroom teaching. 

It has been a year of learning and growing. Pushing myself to complete a goal that took me twenty years to go back and complete. Getting my Master's has not been an easy task.  As we get ready for the New Year in 2015, I am reminded that we will all be doing some goal setting once again.

When you teach, you set your goals based on success and needs of your students.  When you are a parent, you set your goals to meet their needs for success as well. I have read many wonderful tidbits by parents of those with Autism and what some of those goals may be. Some I have read involve trying a new food...not necessarily liking it, but trying it.  Some parents hope to see their ten year old sleep through the night, walk into a room and not run out because of noise, sit at the table for a meal, or  simply be able to steer from "routine" once in awhile. All of us have goals, it is how we approach them and remembering that our goals may be out of the box of the norm and that is okay :).

I want to thank all of you for a very wonderful year on Teachers Pay Teachers, Teachers Notebook, and Autism Educators!!

My goals this year include adding more items to my stores to help promote success in the classroom for those with autism and those with intellectual disabilities. I love watching my students learn and sharing what works!

I have added an instagram for followers @ #autismclassroomcreations  where you can keep up with the latest materials. 

I have recently added a social story about greetings.  My high school students are working on personal space,  Sometimes they are excited to see new people or even those we see all the time. The idea of personal space or responding appropriately to a greeting comes up frequently. Those with autism can have a difficult time understanding social cues. Sometimes all of us can.  The story was written with the help of my students and we have worked on recognition of social cues during greetings. They loved the story and I know your students will too.

Check it out at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Saying-Hello-A-Social-Story-About-Greetings-ByJenna-Leopard-1615044

Thanks for looking and taking the time to check in to see what is new.  I have been working on some new items and cannot wait to post them.  My student's inspire me and hope you will be inspired too to challenge your students to be the best that they can be.  The year 2015 holds promise for everyone!
Happy New Year!


 

~Jenna

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Snow day!!!!

"School's out! Yipeee!! Yeah!!!!" were the shouts that echoed my home from my kids last night as the text and emails came in from their schools. "Snow day!" Wearing their pj's inside out, flusing ice cubes down the toilet, and apparently putting a spoon under your pillow is what makes it snow or ice in the south. So, did I get excited at another day off after being home for two weeks with the kids....yes! We have not yet gone back from winter break and today was to be the first day back. But when we heard possible snow, and below zero temps,we just had to partake in the bring on the snow activities. An extra day off! Who doesn't get excited about that?

Then I read one of my favorite blogger's who writes about this child with autism. His first line was something like "wifey and I are singing a song....back to school". So here it is, the catch 22.  As a mom I totally get it. I love my children as this dad does with all my heart, but there is also that moment when we have all been in the house way to long, spent to much money, and everyone is over being in the same room watching old movies or having game night. I think to myself, "Yep, this is why I work full time." And by no means is a comment to say I don't love to be home with my kids, but there is a reason we all get up, go to school (me to teach), and then return to our crazy run around routines. It actually keeps us on a schedule that keeps us somewhat sane. Then, we run around until we are exhausted waiting for the next break.  But for many, like my favorite blogger, school is respite. It is an eight hour time of the day where a child with special needs is in a secure environment, learning, and having time to be a kid, receiving therapies, learning to interact socially, and mom and dad have a chance to catch thier breath.

The teacher in me has an inner child however, and I admit, I was excited about the extra day off. We do not get snow much and it is different kind of day. It's not the  "mom I'm bored kind of day", it's more like "let's grab the sled that never ever gets used and hit the hill in front of the house".

Reality:  We woke up and no snow! But there is ice in the county so the schools are closed. Will I hear "I'm bored" again today?  Yep. Will I try and be creative today and help them enjoy the day of bliss in the house with "nothing to do"?  Yep. But then I remember, within seconds, my students. This is not the kind of day that is great for my students. Some will understand that school is out. Others will stress about the calendar that reads back to school. For a child with autism spectrum disorder this can be a very stressful event. They do not see any snow. The routine of getting up and getting on the yellow bus is not happening. Why? For them, there is no answer. It simply does not make sense and they are supposed to be on that bus.  Parents of children with special needs have a different perspective on the day. They love their children dearly. But one change can change the day immensely. 

The teacher in me knows this all too well. Enter the classroom after break. Getting back into routine after being out of the classroom is tough. Some kids take a break from meds. Behavior can be tricky when getting back into routine. So, I have to be prepared for whatever comes my way.  Flexibility is definitely a key word. While we stick to what we do, room has to be left for change. We plan and plan for plan b if needed. Luckily, I have 2 paraprofessionals in my classroom who are awesome.

So, it did not snow today. We are off and no yellow bus will be picking up my students. Some will be ready and waiting. They will not understand. I love my students.  I got excited last night when school closings were announced, but the inner child in me settled down quickly with reality this morning that this will not be an easy day for all. Plan of action: a social story for tomorrow. Another opportunity to teach my students about the world which does not make sense to them sometimes....for many, most of the time. Social stories are my favorite way to teach and can open doors for understanding. If you have never seen a social story, they are a great tool for parents as well. There are many online. Here are some great places to get started if you need one today: http://thegraycenter.org/social-stories
http://kidscandream.webs.com/page12.htm

And from the echo down the hall I hear, "What, no snow? "   No mother's work is ever done sweet friends. Let the day begin.
Stay safe and stay warm!