Social Skills

Over my years of teaching, I have found teaching social skills to be a necessary component to teaching. Many students lack social skills because they have not been taught and some lack social skills and need them to be taught. We have been teaching social skills in two ways at Alexsander Academy. We have been teaching skills in a class format, using social stories based on the skill, some modeling, and discussions about the skill. However, that isn't all you can do to effectively teach social skills. We also integrate into every school day and reinforce it throughout the week. We find and create opportunities to work on these skills and take the time to review them. We also find it is important to send home the materials with the students and have the parents review it with them at home. Sometimes it can take time....and sometimes it takes longer than you would like it to, however, it takes patience and reiteration of the skill for the student to master it and they CAN do it!

Great Article...a Must Read!

Check out this article to learn more about effective schools for kids with high functioning autism....like Alexsander Academy! It is a great article and showcases 3 Atlanta schools and a few other schools from around the country.

Funny Friendships

Lately my students have enjoyed telling jokes during lunch and it has encouraged friendships amongst them and a common ground for them to build a friendship. One of my students uses a Tango (communication device) for communication and today, one of his classmates asked him to tell him a joke. The child used his Tango to tell jokes and interact with his peer and all the students were laughing and enjoying themselves! It was funny to hear the student using the Tango ask the jokes that the kids laughed at several times to keep the kids laughing and to continue their interaction. I think I heard the joke, "What part of a fly hits the window first?" many times and I heard the punchlines, "the butt", ever more! Of course, when you have teenagers telling jokes and the punchline is "the butt" and it being said over and over again it is hilarious....I have to admit it was funny and I loved seeing the students having such a great time with each other!

A Successful Day...Finally!

It has been a little bit rough at Alexsander Academy the last few weeks because one of students has been having a tough time. This happens sometimes and it isn't always easy to deal with the change and be flexible, but it is part of working with our children. We have been patient and trying to help him get on a more positive track and today, for the first time in a couple of weeks, he has had a great day! With some adjustments to his schedule, lots of positive reinforcement, and several conversations with him, he was able to make today a positive one. I am hopeful that this will continue and make a great a week overall!

Free Movie Ticket for Special Needs Kids!

Studio Movie Grill on Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell, GA is hosting a Special Needs Movie Screening on November 13, 2010 at 11:00AM for the movie Megamind. This special screening is for families raising children with special needs and admission for children with special needs is free. This is a great opportunity for families with special needs children that sometimes avoid going to the movies. I know for many families they worry that their child may have difficulty at the movies, may be disruptive, or others won't understand their child while at the movies, so they just avoid the movies. That is why some movies are offering special days and times so that families can bring their children and not have to worry about these things. If you have time and want to enjoy a movie with your special needs child, check out the Studio Movie Grill on November 13th and 11:00AM!

If you have any questions, e-mail Studio Movie Grill at twist@studiomoviegrill.com.

iPad Helping Children with Autism

Recently, I read an article about how the iPad is helping kids with autism. If you have the time, it is a great article to read. I'm sure Apple was surprised at the success and usefulness for kids with autism to use the iPad and didn't realize that market as a source for their iPad. One reason it seems to be successful with children with autism, is that it has a touch screen, which is easier for many kids to type on, search on, and communicate on. It is like having a touch screen on a computer (which many families with children with autism buy because it is too difficult for their child to move a mouse while looking at a computer screen) except it is smaller, portable, and looks way cooler. Having iPad's for my students would be amazing and it could really open up a lot of doors for children with autism and other disabilities. There were, however, a few things in the article that I did not agree with. One thing being that it made several references to children with autism not liking to socialize and preferring to socialize with computers and not humans. In my years of experience I don't believe this to be a true statement. Yes, kids with (and without) autism enjoy technology, however, they also want to interact with other, make friends, and feel connected to peers. All humans need to be connected to others, and this does include children on the autism spectrum. Take the time, read the article, and as you read the article, be a little cautious of believing everything you read. http://www.sfweekly.com/2010-08-11/news/ihelp-for-autism/

Success!

As we wrap up the school year and my students finish their final exams, it forces me to reflect upon the year (and 2 years for some of them) and remember where they were when they first came to my school. Some of them felt broken, most of them had been given up on by other teachers and professionals (but not their parents!), and some had challenging behavioral and social issues. Their anxiety levels were high as the started the year at a new place, unsure if we would "get" them. Now, I see these children that have grown SO much that sometimes I can't believe how far they have come. Their anxiety levels have been greatly reduced or are almost non-existent, their conversational skill have made vast improvements, and their academic abilities continue to progress. Many of their behaviors have gone away or have improved so much. They are happy and feel good about who they are. Just watching them taking a final exam, being focused, trying hard, asking for help appropriately, makes me remember all of this growth and really makes me proud of them. It hasn't been as easy road, but we have worked hard together....never giving up. Fortunately for me, I will have these same students next year and I can't wait for the end of the next year so that I can reflect upon all of the amazing changes that they will make over the next year and to able to "see" their bright futures ahead of them. It is amazing how having the right school and/or the right teacher or professional, and/or just one right person that can change the life of a child.