I am currently teaching a special education kindergarten classroom in a new school building. For some of my students, this is their first time in a school setting. My students are learning in school how to become more independent members of the community. In doing so, visuals such as schedules, step by step instructions, images for communicating, and materials are needed to assist them with completing tasks. Some students are nonverbal which means they rely on pictures and images to communicate their needs, wants, and interests with their peers, teachers, and therapists. Without having a printer, it is very difficult in providing these necessary images, picture cards, and schedules for their independence in school. Our classroom will benefit greatly from having our own classroom printer so these materials for communication can be printed on a more consistent basis. Our classroom is in need of some tangible items that are also extremely beneficial for their success. Buttons that allow recordings will provide the students with another way of communicating. For example, pre-recorded greetings or requests on the buttons will allow the students to have a voice and communicate when they need/want. The digital timers allow the students to have a visual representation of their day and provides them with the processing time needed to understand when an activity is beginning or ending. The sensory toys and puzzles will provide the students with items to use when they are overwhelmed in school and need a means to calm down functionally. By providing them with calming activities, they are learning how to calm down in school more independently and functionally. These materials will be used for full time in-person learning.
About my class
I am currently teaching a special education kindergarten classroom in a new school building. For some of my students, this is their first time in a school setting. My students are learning in school how to become more independent members of the community. In doing so, visuals such as schedules, step by step instructions, images for communicating, and materials are needed to assist them with completing tasks. Some students are nonverbal which means they rely on pictures and images to communicate their needs, wants, and interests with their peers, teachers, and therapists. Without having a printer, it is very difficult in providing these necessary images, picture cards, and schedules for their independence in school. Our classroom will benefit greatly from having our own classroom printer so these materials for communication can be printed on a more consistent basis. Our classroom is in need of some tangible items that are also extremely beneficial for their success. Buttons that allow recordings will provide the students with another way of communicating. For example, pre-recorded greetings or requests on the buttons will allow the students to have a voice and communicate when they need/want. The digital timers allow the students to have a visual representation of their day and provides them with the processing time needed to understand when an activity is beginning or ending. The sensory toys and puzzles will provide the students with items to use when they are overwhelmed in school and need a means to calm down functionally. By providing them with calming activities, they are learning how to calm down in school more independently and functionally. These materials will be used for full time in-person learning.
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