Making Snow Inside (FREEBIE!)

This is a perfect thing to post about as I sit at home on my second "cold day" this week.  Last week, we made "snow" inside our classroom.  I saw this idea on Pinterest and it seemed SO easy.  Just mix together cornstarch and shaving cream and you can make this amazing looking snow man (picture from Modern Parents Messy Kids).

Well, ours didn't turn out quite as perfect.  We played around a lot with the ingredients to figure out the right proportions.  When we thought we got it just right, we tried to make it again….only that time it didn't turn out at all.  Here is our cute little snowman from the first batch we made.  

Independent Art Task

Some days during my direct instruction time (where I work alone with 2 students), I need to focus most of my attention on one of my students as we work on a more difficult skill.  On these days, I still need something fun and engaging for my other student that they can do mostly by themselves.  

For my students who can handle working with markers on their own, these simple tasks often involve using my good old trusty Do-A-Dot Bingo Markers.  

Last week, we created these rainbows.  I drew in a colored line for each of the colors of the rainbow and had the kids go over them with their bingo markers.  Not only did it take them some time to complete, they also turned out as nice cheery artwork to hang up in the classroom during these cold gloomy days!

Math Facts and Graphing

Math is such a great time for the kids to work on taking their own data!  It is usually on something concrete and the actual process of data collection involves the use of many math skills.  This year in our math groups, we have downloaded the app Flash to Pass (FREE) for our iPads.

Pinterest Fail(?) Snowflakes

Once a week, we do "reverse inclusion" where students from the gen ed come into my class to participate in social activities with my students.  These activities range from playing games, to doing crafts, cooking, or working on simple academic tasks together like reading a book.  This is a super great opportunity for my students who struggle to be included in the gen ed classroom because it allows them the chance to interact with typical peers from the comfort of their own structured classroom.  I also love that this year, the gen ed teacher is the one who suggested it!  Usually I am the one trying to beg teachers to let kids come to my class for these type of activities.  

Well, anyways, this past week, I tried a Pinterest craft with them.  The craft consisted of creating a snowflake out of tape.  

Putting Kids "In Charge"

I totally meant to post yesterday, but was busy all weekend playing with nieces and nephews and enjoying a (very) belated Christmas with my husband's side of the family.  But, I am back today with a post about the newest change to my classroom.

With my mid-level group of students, we do a full morning group every day that covers calendar, weather, social skills, etc.  My kids have gotten so good at this routine, that if I do something wrong, they come up and correct me.  So, I decided it was time to put them in charge.  I think this helps develop my students' independent functioning skills as well as allows them more opportunities to interact with their peers.

We already have this "Schedule" posted for the order of activities in our morning group.  So, all I did was write my students' names on clothespins and clip one onto each activity.  It worked out that we had the perfect amount of activities to be in charge of.

Five for Friday

Friday…the best day of the week!  This week I am joining in on Five for Friday with Doodle Bugs where you post about 5 random things from your week….so, here you go.

Matching File Folders

When I first started teaching, I made file folders like crazy.  I had those black and white books you could use to create your file folders, but you had to color all the pictures by hand.  Well, my fist year of teaching, my boyfriend (now husband) and I would sit around coloring all night until our hands hurt.  Then the next night we would be cutting out all the pieces I had laminated…I'm sure our fine motor skills got much stronger!  But after that year, I realized it was much easier to make my own file folders on the computer or buy pre-made ones (of course from Lakeshore!).