Thursday, January 31, 2013

How Do You Organize PECS

I think any teacher who uses PECS or works with students with autism has this question. How in the world do you keep all of your PECS pictures organized?


They offer some suggestions at the training and ask you to share any bright ideas you have, but really I think it all comes down to what kind of space you have in your classroom and what system works best for you.

At the beginning of the school year I printed, cut, laminated, and cut again 500+ PECS pictures. I knew I would have students on visual schedules and I knew I would be starting PECS with about 5 students. I am so glad that I prepped that many pictures to start. I love having them ready as soon as I need them, but I had to figure out a storage system.


I found these containers at a Big Lots and new right away they would be perfect. I tried to organize them in a way that fit our needs and just used some masking tape to label them. I'm sure there is a cuter way to have them labeled (and we all know I would love that) but for now, this is working.

Yes, I've had to print more pictures since the start of the year, and just this weekend I have printed 430 food PECS! I always print multiples of each picture so I have them if they get lost, or another student needs them, etc. Now, I just hope Big Lots has more of these containers because I have no idea where I'm going to store all of these food pictures.

I also keep velcro pre-cut on hand. This also helps if I need a picture last minute. I grab it, and then grab the piece of velcro I need and I'm all set.


But now I'm super curious about what systems you use! Please share your systems or ideas by commenting below! While I love the system I have now, we might out grow it. I'm going to need back up ideas! :)
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Monday, January 21, 2013

Bear Size Sorting [Freebie!]

The next unit I've decided to put into the works will be a bears unit. This will be a brand new unit to my store, but will include my current Gummy Bear Fun activity that is posted. This unit will also be aligned with Teaching Strategies Gold (TSG) just like my updated Brr! Winter Activity Bundle.

In the meantime, while you wait, because who knows how long it will really take me to complete this unit, I have a freebie for you!


This freebie is for size sorting bears. This activity will also be included in the bears unit, but here is your chance to get it for FREE! 

Here is what is included:


This item includes cards to use for placing the sorting bears on, and bears of various size and color that you can print out and laminate to use for this activity. You could also use plastic bear counters if you have them.
There are cards to do a simple big vs. little size sort, and then a more complicated, small, medium, or large size sort. The bears you would use for small/little and large/big are the same size. J There is also a blank card incase you would like to use different size words, you could fill in your own.

This activity hits on the following Teaching Strategies Gold (TSG) standards:
TSG 13: Uses classification skills
  - Student must classify the bears by their size, small, medium, or large.
TSG 22: Compares and measures
  - Student must compare each bear to one another to determine the larger, smaller, etc.
TSG 26: Demonstrates knowledge of the physical properties of objects and materials.
  - Student considers the size of each bear as their physical property to determine the best size card to place that bear on.


I hope you'll head over to my TpT store to download this activity for FREE!
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Friday, January 11, 2013

Brr! Winter Activity Bundle--Updated & Aligned with Teaching Strategies Gold

Ideally I would have posted this updated unit, I don't know, say a week and a half ago! Maybe 2 weeks ago. I knew I wanted to update the unit--spruce it up, add new activities, combine some activities together, but it has taken me FOR.EV.ER.


When I first made this unit, I made it in Word. I have since become enlightened to the ease of Powerpoint for making units, so whenever I update an old one I copy everything over into a Powerpoint document, then delete my Word one. Goodness, this is tedious. It takes me so long. Partially because I lose patience easily and have to take about 801 breaks.

Then whilst updating, I got the genius idea to align the activities with Teaching Strategies Gold. That is the assessment piece we use in our Pre-School for all students, and to my knowledge it is fairly popular amongst Pre-Schools. Even some Kindergarten's may use it, as it is aged up to 6.

Listed after each activity is the TSG objective that the activity targets. I hope this will help make some of your planning easier! Even if you don't use TSG, your assessment most likely includes very similiar objectives that you can find the equivalent to.

So without further ado, let me share what it is included in my updated Brr! Winter Activity Bundle!

Activities 1-5

Mitten Match: Print out two sets of the mitten cards below. Turn cards over to play a matching game. Students can also match hats, scarves, and mittens together by their colors. (pg. 3- 4) 
TSG: 13. Uses classification skills

Penguin Feed: Print out the penguin cards and feed the penguins that number of fish. Buy a container of goldfish for this activity. Include tweezers for fine motor practice. (pg. 5- 9)
TSG: 20. Uses number concepts and operations. A. counts. B. quantifies. C. connects numerals with their quantities.

Hot Cocoa Count: Print out the cocoa cups and put that number of marshmallows in each cup. Buy a bag of marshmallows (or white pom-poms) for this activity. Include tweezers for fine motor practice. (pg. 10- 14)
TSG: 20. Uses number concepts and operations. A. counts. B. quantifies. C. connects numerals with their quantities.

Penguin Alphabet Game: Print out the penguins and the fish. Hide the fish behind a penguin and have students guess letters to find the fish. A pocket chart works great for this activity. (pg. 15- 19)
TSG: 16. Identifies knowledge of the alphabet a. identifies and names letters.

Winter Spelling: Print the spelling cards. Use small letter tiles, or the included letter printouts. Laminate and apply Velcro. Students look for the missing letters to spell the winter words. (pg. 19- 21)
TSG: 16. Identifies knowledge of the alphabet a. identifies and names letters.
TSG: 17. Demonstrates knowledge of print and its uses b. uses print concepts
TSG: 18. Comprehends and responds to books and other texts b. uses emergent reading skills

Activities 6-10
 
 
Winter Sorting: Print out the cards and the sorting page. Students look at the cards and sort winter items that you wear and winter items that you enjoy. (pg. 22-23)
TSG:12. Remembers and connects experiences b. makes connections
TSG: 13. Uses classification skills
TSG 22. Compares and measures

Snowman Size Sort: Print snowmen and have students place them in size sequence order. (pg. 24- 26)
TSG: 22. Compares and measures

Counting Cards: Students count the number of items on each card and then clip a clothespin on the correct number. (pg. 27- 33)
TSG: 20. Uses number concepts and operations a. counts b. quantifies c. connects numerals with their quantities

Winter Pattern Cards: Students look at the patterns on each card to fill in the missing pieces of the pattern. Missing pieces included. Worksheet for coloring in a pattern also included. (pg.34- 38) 
TSG: 23. Demonstrates knowledge of patterns.

5 Little Snowmen Chant: Use this chant sheet and snowmen props to act out the 5 Little Snowmen with your students. (pg. 40- 42)
TSG: 3. Participates cooperatively and constructively in group situations
TSG: 8. Listens to an understands increasingly complex language a. comprehends language b. follows directions
TSG: 34. Explores musical concepts and expression

Activities 11-12


Alphabet Igloo Sorting: Sort the penguins by the letter that is on them. Put them into the correct igloo. (pg. 43- 54) THE WHOLE ALPHABET IS NOT INCLUDED.
TSG: 13. Uses classification skills
TSG: 16. Demonstrates knowledge of the alphabet a. identifies and names letters

Color Matching Penguins. Look at the color background of the penguin card. “Feed” that penguin the matching color fish. (pg. 55- 58)
TSG: 22. Compares and measures

Shew, that's a lot! I'm excited about the update to this unit AND my idea to include the TSG strategies. Why I never thought of that sooner, I'll never know. If you already purchased this unit be sure to download the update. If you don't already own it, but sure to check it out & add it to your shopping cart!

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Sunday, January 06, 2013

What's for Lunch?

When I realized I would be having students all day this year one of my first many concerns, was what was lunch going to look like? Of course originally I was given a time slot in the cafeteria. First time slot, with one other class entering the same time we did (K-self contained) and then more students would arrive while we were seated.

We did this only twice before I quickly realized, this is going to be a nightmare the rest of the school year if something doesn't change.

The kids can't make their own choice. They can't see over the counter to even look at the choices. They can't carry their own trays. We have 2 lunch packers. When do I take my lunch? When does my para take her lunch? Oh, and what about the students who are supposed to arrive while we are finishing up in the cafeteria?! Nightmare, I tell ya.

I quickly asked if we were allowed to eat our lunch in the classroom and was much relieved when I was told yes. This was a perfect solution. My para goes to the cafeteria to pick up lunch and brings it back. One of us does lunch with the kids while the other eats, then we flip flop when it's quiet time. It is working splendidly. We are there in the classroom when other students arrive and when kids finish their lunch they are occupied with a table filled with toys.

Up until now I have been sending home the lunch calendar. Parents circle their child's choices and I type it up into a pretty little chart. This chart is then on a clipboard with student lunch numbers that my para takes to the cafeteria everyday.

I want my students to start making their own lunch choices. Especially our picky little eater. Maybe he'll eat if he makes his own choice! (We're open to trying anything!) So I have created a book/lunch choice system for us using pictures.

This includes a chart where students will place their selection, pages to use for presenting students with their choices, and storage pages for all of your pictures.

I went through our own lunch menu to select the pictures included and then tried to think of a few other common school lunch choices that your school may have and mine doesn't. I wouldn't be surprised if this item becomes updated often with more choices/pictures!

I created a book that will hold the pages the students make their choices from and the storage pages for the pictures. Please ignore the quality of my book. I had a fight with the binding machine that led to me trying to trim the sides & now the book is uneven and oy vey, I just don't want to talk about it. The show must go on. 

 The first page in the book will give the students 2 choices for their main meal. My school generally offers 2 options and then salads are always a choice as well. I am just going to present my students with 2 choices. The second page will present them with 2 choices for their first side. The third page will present them with 2 choices for their second side. This is a great way to control what your students pick too! If they always pick 2 fruits, you can put your fruits on the same page so they can only pick one. We can always be a little sneaky with them right? The fourth page will allow them to make their drink choice. My school always offers milk or a juice-either apple or orange juice depending on the day.

 I purposely arranged the choices on the page in this way because right now I only have 5 students who make lunch choices, but if I should ever have more I still want to be able to use this book. With this arrangement I can easily add to it. Just something to keep in mind if you are setting up your own copy.

When they make their choice for each part of the meal they will place it on another page. This page is not attached to the book. This way my para can take it down to the cafeteria with her and it makes it easier for the students to make a lunch choice. No flipping back and forth between choices. I wrote each students name with above the column that their choices go in.


For the student who packs her lunch, I just plan on having these pictures to the side and asking her if she has her lunch box that day. On occasion she does not. Included in the pack is also a brown bag lunch choice along with the lunchbox.

And lastly, for storing the additional pictures there are pages in the back of the book. I haven't finished filling mine in yet, but I wanted to share this item with you guys! You may have to print multiple pages depending on how many lunch options you typically use. I know that for my meals page, I will have 2 storage pages to put all of the meals.


If you are interested in this item you can purchase it in my TpT store by clicking here. If you purchase this item and need additional food items, please comment and let me know. I will compile a list of items to add!

I'm linking this activity up with Crayonbox Learning and their Autism Awareness Linky!

 
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Thursday, January 03, 2013

Need an Organization Tip?

3 Months ago I got a new desk in my room. I love it. My dad and I kind of made it together. He painted a door white for me and added molding around the edges for a finished off look. I ordered the side pieces from Ikea and voila--a large workspace for around $85.00

you'll have to excuse the wires. I know they don't make for a pretty picture, but I moved the chair so you could see the full size of the desk.

I don't think you could beat that in the stores. You'd spend at least that if not more for a workspace this size.

With the open shelving at the bottom I had to make sure it was kept clean and organized. I purchased the 2 brown baskets at Michael's, and the 2 clear plastic containers at Dollar General. The clear plastic containers were perfect for storing my printer paper and cardstock paper. BUT they needed labels! 


These metal bookplates by Martha Stewart Home Office were PERFECT! I knew they existed, it just took me a while to get around to buying them and putting them on. How amazing are these to organize bins with! They stick on and come with multiple card stock pieces to write your label on. They slip in and out easily. I added some washi tape for extra flair. How polished would these make your classroom organization look?! I can't wait to find more ways to use them!

Have you used these before? I would love to know your organization ideas for them!
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