Buddies

I think the most exciting part of our current school year has been the enthusiasm of our recess buddies.  Everyday, a different group of 6-12 grade 3 and 4 students come to join us for recess.  This has become one of the most popular clubs at our school.  They bring great energy to our space.  Everyday, we engage in a great variety of play.  We dance, use the OT swing, listen to books and music, draw, explore the sensory tools, play with balls and other games and toys.  Our students benefit from being able to play with the other kids while staying in a safe, familiar space.  Many of our students have been able to also take this outside and join the rest of the school for the big crazy lunch recess time.  We have also been able to have some grade four students join us for group reading.  It's great to see the smiles on  the faces of all the students - NT and ASD.

This is Autism Flashblog on Monday, Nov. 18, 2013

Autism is looking at the world from a different angle.
Autism is different not less
Autism is a challenge, a gift and a curse

In my life Autism is...

• A High School honor student 
• A different way of seeing the world
• Communicating using smiles, gestures, pictures, sounds, cries
• Frustrating when you don't understand
• Joyful when you do understand
• Ministers, teachers, professors, politicians, actors
• Exploring the world of the senses
• Learning to get along with lots of different people
• Having fun together
• Being alone - sometimes lonely sometimes peaceful
• Being aware of the beauty of the very smallest particle of dust or the sparkle of the lights
• Being overwhelmed

Autism is a way of being human

http://thisisautismflashblog.blogspot.ca/2013/11/about.html

Dogs in the Classroom, Sensory Room, Practicums...

It was quite an interesting day at school today.  We had a visit from some therapy dogs.  The students all enjoyed hanging around the dogs.  Even the one that was said to be terrified of dogs stayed in the room and even allowed the smallest dog to approach him closely enough to lick him on the nose.  We get to see the dogs again in about a month.  We got lots of smiles and interactions.

We have also reworked our breakout room this week.  We had been using as an informal play room.  It is morphing into a more structured sensory room.  Over the Christmas break, we received a standing swing on loan.  It is forming the core of our new space.  We plan to add lights, sound, oral-motor activities, more fine and gross motor activities.   We have been working with our OT to maximize the value of this room.  We have almost no budget which makes things interesting.

Finally, it was the first day for our practicum student.  We have a student from a local college in the Education Assistant program.  The kids benefit from the extra help and opportunities for interaction.

The new term is shaping up to be quite interesting and full of possibilities.

Christmas Concert / Movie Premiere

We premiered our movie today during the school Christmas carolling assembly.  We showed it in front of the entire school and invited all of the parents of our students.  It was very well received.  All of our students had a part in the film.  The two most verbal students narrated the film while the rest acted out the story.  The parents were very excited to see their children in this context.  We had rave reviews from the other teachers in the school and many requests for more films.  The kids worked hard on it and had a lot of fun.  It really helped build understanding and understanding with the rest of the school. 

The rest of the day was devoted to Christmas crafts and parties.  We were totally off routine, but it worked out really well.  As one of the Aides said "it was crazy but good".   We've been working on flexibility and acceptance of change.  Overall it was a great day and lots of fun. 

Sharing assembly

The grade one classes hosted a sharing assembly yesterday.  Our classes had the opportunity to present a short introductory movie about our students.  We focussed on what made our students similar to the rest of the school.  The first section was things we liked at school (computers, trips, gym, assemblies).  The second section was about how we learn (by reading, writing, watching, doing, touching; alone, with help, with friends). The last section was about sensory needs.  It was very well received.  While it was playing, all students watched intently and many glanced over at our classes.  I've sent a link to the other teachers so that they can show the movie again in their classes to generate some discussion. 

Gingerbread Man

We started filming our version of the Gingerbread Man today.   All of our students have a part - some are narrating, some are acting out the parts and one is singing the Gingerbread Man's song.  We did the Kitchen scenes today.  The boy who plays the little boy who makes the Gingerbread Man had an especially good time with his part.  He really hammed it up.  He was so excited.  Tomorrow we hope to do some of the outdoor filming as the Gingerbread Man runs away from the animals.  We've moved the setting so that the GM runs away from forest animals such as squirrels, moose and bears.  We hope to have it ready for the school Christmas concert.

First day back

Today was the first day back with students.  All went smooth.  We had a few minor emotional times with some crying, but nothing major.  Everyone listened well, sat well for deskwork and group times and lined up with minimal prompting.  As a teaching team we are working hard at bringing our classes closer together.  We have been discussing lots of cool activities and trips for the coming school year.