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Sunday, November 11, 2012

Life Skills Classroom

A couple years ago, our principal gave my coworker and I an empty classroom for us to use as a life skills classroom.  We both wanted to incorporate these tasks into our classrooms, but many of them just took up too much space!  So, once we got the empty classroom, we combined some materials we already had with a trip to the dollar store.  I think we spent about $75 on that first trip to the dollar store, but that was enough to get the room up and running.  We also collected donations from friends (mostly clothes for our laundry area).

We split the room into four areas:  KITCHEN,  LAUNDRY,  OFFICE, and BATHROOM.  Then we created tasks that had something to do with these general topics (we currently have about 25 tasks).

Today I will show you some pictures of the tasks and tomorrow, I will show you how the room works (how it is scheduled, data collection, etc.)

This is from the KITCHEN area.  This task is setting the table.  The dishes we use are in the clear plastic bin sitting on the "table."





This task is sorting recycling items (sorting plastic bags, plastic, glass, and paper into recycling bins).  Above each bin, we have a photos of example items.  Other tasks in the kitchen area include sorting silverware, rolling silverware into napkins, sorting pictures of food by food group, and assembling lunch bags (putting in one plastic fruit, one water bottle, and a set of silverware into each bag), 



This task is from the LAUNDRY area.  Students find a matching pair of socks, fold them together, and put them in the finished basket.

This task is sorting laundry (darks vs. lights) into laundry baskets.  Other tasks in the laundry area include hanging clothes on hangers, and folding towels.



This task is from the BATHROOM area.  It requires the student to take body parts and velcro them onto the felt body.  Other tasks we have in this area include putting together curlers, sorting bathroom items (such as qtips, bandaids, flossers), and assembling bathroom bags (putting one comb, brush, and mirror into each bag).


This task is from the OFFICE area.  This task involves sorting paper by color into file folders.


This task involves collating and paper clipping.  Students take one sheet of paper from each colored basket, paper clip them together, and put them in the finished bin on the right.  Other tasks in the office area include sorting tasks, packaging straws, and putting tops on different size Tupperware.


**Update: I now have a product available in my store to help you set up your own life skills room (click here for a direct link to my product).

11 comments:

  1. Hi!

    What age range do you teach??

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    1. I teach 3-4 grade this year....I usually have 5th graders too, but this year there are so many in 3-4 that my coworker took the 5th graders!

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  2. Hi! I was basically told I have to do the same thing next year, set up a life skills class for a fifth grader. Do you do community based trips as well? I have to set those up and wondering if you have any ideas. So far I've thought of fast food places, the public library, the gym and the post office. Any other ideas would be great if you've had prior experiences. Thanks!
    Andrea

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    Replies
    1. Don't know if these will help you, but below are some links to the visuals we use on community trips:

      Subway:
      http://autismtank.blogspot.com/2013/01/community-trip-of-month-subway.html

      Sit Down Restaurant/Diner:
      http://autismtank.blogspot.com/2012/12/restaurant-dining-experience.html

      McDonalds:
      http://autismtank.blogspot.com/2012/09/community-trips-to-mcdonalds.html

      Other Restaurants:
      http://autismtank.blogspot.com/2012/09/other-field-trip-visuals.html

      Grocery Store:
      http://autismtank.blogspot.com/2012/09/grocery-shopping-visuals-and-strategies.html

      Hope these help!

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  3. Thanks again, I will def use them. Have a great weekend!
    Andrea

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  4. Would this work for a high school class?

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    Replies
    1. I think something like this would be perfect for a high school class! We use it with 3-8th graders...just trying to start them young!

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  5. Hi I will be teaching a high school level of life skills and was wondering what you do for your final assessment of your students? or if you have any ideas for high school level final assessment (9th-12th graders)

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  6. Hi!! I was wondering if you have any of these tasks on teacherpayteachers that I could buy (with all of the PEC symbols already made) and the different layouts of the tasks. These tasks are unbelievable and I would love to use them for my vocational rotation :)

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    Replies
    1. Yes, some of these are included in my life skills product on TPT. Check it out here http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Life-Skills-Classroom-Set-Up-1097690

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  7. I incorporate these tasks within my students' school day. Do you have visuals as far as task analyses that are available to download?

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