Thread: New Autism Unit

Sounds like you have quite a challenge on your hands. At least you won't have a boring year!

Read their IEP's carefully before you even began to plan and set up your room. Look into their communication skills and needs. Will you need to set up picture exchange systems or other communication methods?

You need to consider many things in your classroom environment. Start with your routine and traffic patterns. Where will the kids start the day and how will they move about the room? Plan on many centers and a leisure area. Bean bags are great. You also need to consider what room will be needed for the OT and PT to have their sessions. Will there be a swing or ball pool in the room? You will need seperate work areas but the kids need to be visible to you/your aides.

I would suggest visiting: [url]http://www.teacch.com/[/url]

TEACCH offers useful ideas, links and training if your school will send you. The site will also help you locate experts in your area.

In your classroom you will be running on 7 different schedules and programs. The kids will need to know where you want them to go, what they need to do, and what they will be doing after they are done. Expect a strong adherence to routine. If you give a student the yellow cup, be ready for the student to expect the yellow cup every time.

You will be working in all areas of the educational realm from school skills through life-skills. Be ready to address each of these areas in small steps with lots of reviews.

Take care of yourself. Give yourself a break at sometime during the day. Being a first year, on your own, in a very challenging classroom will create a huge amount of stress. Don't stay late every night, even though there will always be work that isn't done. There will always be "just one more thing to do". Learn to let it go and get to it tomorrow.

Above all...LEARN TO LAUGH!!!! You will need to do a lot of that this year.

Please ask more questions and feel free to PM me. There are a lot of knowledgable folks here and if you ask questions you will get a lot of great answers.[/b]

Just do your best with everything!!! I will suggest that for autistic students that you follow this as I did in my 1st year--work is play and play is work and
keep it VERY HIGHLY STRUCTURED. Most autistic students need the structure to give them the understanding that you may want to get across. Don't expect too much right away, the kids will take some time to get used to you. So just do as I did not and relax and have fun the more you worry about things the less fun you will have, thus the less fun the students will have.

I remember my first day...since it was last September. As for supplies you will be amazed as to what you can find at a dollar store. Most of my students sensory toys have come from the dollar store or WalMart. Another type of chair you may want to consider is the game playing chairs. They are curved so that they rock, my students love them. I would also suggest a radio, and you may have to flip through the stations to find one that plays music that calms the students. Surprisingly my boys prefer classic rock to any other kind of music.

I also agree with the other two posts, to take things slow, keep a routine and have fun. It's amazing where you can sneak a lesson in, someone comes in the door and you have an instant lesson in saying hello, good morning, introducing themselves, asking the other person their name, etc. I try and find a learning opportunity where ever I can, because book work doesn't work for my students.

I do have to admit that my first year I did stay late almost everynight and no matter how late I stayed there was still work left behind. I have now gotten better about deligating work to my staff. If your lucky enough to have staff members deligate! And as proudliberaldem said: don't stay late!

Hope this helps and keep asking questions thats what we're here for to help each other.

Oh thank you all so much for the advice, I printed it all out, and will make myself look at it through the first weeks of school. I do plan to have a lot of fun with my kids, thats the most important thing to me, I have to enjoy being at work and they have to (I hope) enjoy being at school. I received their files today: 5 kiddos for sure...1 5th grader is not potty trianed the rest are (for the most part) 3 out of 5 have aggressive tendencies, but by reading their paperwork I think I already have some ideas on behavior plans to hopefully bypass the tantrums. I will really start getting my room in order tomorrow, when it is done I will take pictures and post them...hopefully you guys will reply back with suggestions or comments. I think i decided on a leisure area (couch, bean bags and pillows for now, TV, teddy bear and some toys), reading corner, computer center/workstations and then my corner (which is the smallest part of the room). Luckily, the room is a good size, so this should work out well. Will update with some pictures...thank you again, all of the advice was wonderful, I really appreciate it.

Originally Posted by aggiegrl2006

Oh thank you all so much for the advice, I printed it all out, and will make myself look at it through the first weeks of school.

I am in the exact same boat...new first year teacher at a middle school and the only Moderate/Severe Special Ed teacher working with students with autism on the campus.

I, too, printed several things as well. Please keep in touch. You are the first First Year Special Ed teacher I have found on this discussion site to "chat" with.

Right now, I am trying to come up with some first day activities that can be adapted to each child's ability. I'll have two paraprofessionals who have been there for years, so I will rely on them a lot in the beginning. Will you have any paras to help you?

Becky

This site looks very promising:

[url]http://forums.atozteacherstuff.com/showthread.php?p=30623[/url]

They seem to have some great ideas and sources for tasks. Take a look at let me know what y'all think.

PLD

Originally Posted by aggiegrl2006

I received their files today: 5 kiddos for sure...1 5th grader is not potty trianed the rest are (for the most part) 3 out of 5 have aggressive tendencies, but by reading their paperwork I think I already have some ideas on behavior plans to hopefully bypass the tantrums. I will really start getting my room in order tomorrow, when it is done I will take pictures and post them...hopefully you guys will reply back with suggestions or comments. I think i decided on a leisure area (couch, bean bags and pillows for now, TV, teddy bear and some toys), reading corner, computer center/workstations and then my corner (which is the smallest part of the room). Luckily, the room is a good size, so this should work out well. Will update with some pictures...thank you again, all of the advice was wonderful, I really appreciate it.

A parents perspective.

Our son was in a classroom setting like what you describe, and eventually removed him from that setting as it was to damaging. In your work one of the things that will be nessasary is that you understand the patterns of the kids, and that the quiet ones are not harmed/ignored because of the violent ones.

Make sure that your reactions to disturbing/violent kids do not act as a enforcer, that increases bad behaviour. Both quiet kids in my sons classroom increased bad and deviant behaviour.

A good site for materials/knowledge is [url="http://www.difflearn.com"]www.difflearn.com[/url]

Especially this software package can help you in the classroom. [url="http://www.dttrainer.com"]www.dttrainer.com[/url]
It is very professionally laid out, and selfinstructing. You can have individual profiles for all students. Curriculim goes up to roughly 4th grade. This will allow you to use the computer as a very competent assistant. With computers, seriously consider a touch screen as some students cannot master a pointing devise

.

[remarks edited]

TEACCH provides measurement and tracking tools through their program. They are outstanding tools and allow you to track and modify your students' programs on a consistent basis to direct their growth.

This site: [url]http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/mdenoncourt/teacch-paul.htm[/url]

has great information on the TEACCH method and measurement tools.

Educational strategies are established individually on the basis of a detailed assessment of the autistic person learning abilities, trying to identify potential for acquisitions rather than deficits.

The assessment called PEP, Psycho Educational Profile tries to identify areas where the person "passes", areas where the skill isn't there yet, and areas where the skill is emerging. These domains are then put in an education program for the person. This assessment is multi dimensional. This is a must since there is a great variability of skills, even in the same autistic person, from one domain of competency to the other (I have also expended on that subject of assessment in another article).

There is also great information there on how to manage behaviors in the TEACCH setting. I have found the lessons I learned from TEACCH to be highly useful and effective in whatever setting I teach in.

As to computers. Try a smart board if your school can get you one. They are awesome (if one has $5000) to spare They can also use keyboards and anything else a regular kid can use. I would suggest track balls instead of mice as they are easier for any kid to manipulate in the sped setting, but they will likely do just fine with mice. You probably would be better served to set the mouse to the largest/darkest pointer type, slow it down, and also turn on "sticky keys" if you are using PC's.

The atozteacherstuff forum looks very useful. I would also visit the TEACCH site and look at their materials.

You are going to love the TEACCH program.

[remarks edited]

If you are interested in input to on the different methods emanating from an unbiased source (ie. Not a TEACCH or an ABA site) this report pinpoint the most relevant documentation - [url="http://www.madsec.org/docs/ATFReport.pdf"]www.madsec.org/docs/ATFReport.pdf[/url] and advice to follow for evaluative procedures. (read the conclusion and the sections on ABA and TEACCH respectively)

There have been many exchanges between proudliberaldem and myself. There is much information there, but I will urge skimming quite a lot.
[url="http://www.teacherfocus.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=5884"]http://www.teacherfocus.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=5884[/url]
[url="http://www.teacherfocus.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=5017"]http://www.teacherfocus.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=5017[/url]


>>>>>>>>>>

For the more relevant part in this thread, there are excellent sources of materials available for free, that I believe that you teachers can evaluate without help from someone having to tell you what you should or should not think.

First one that isn't free:

Originally Posted by aggiegrl2006

5 kiddos for sure...1 5th grader is not potty trianed the rest are (for the most part) 3 out of 5 have aggressive tendencies, but by reading their paperwork I think I already have some ideas on behavior plans to hopefully bypass the tantrums. I will really start getting my room in order tomorrow, when it is done I will take pictures and post them...hopefully you guys will reply back with suggestions or comments.

You have one student that is not potty trained. There is a great section in the book "A Work in Progress" by Ron Leaf on that particular problem (and many others). I will strongly recommend that book. [url="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/customer-reviews/0966526600/ref=cm_cr_dp_pt/102-1299978-7993719?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books"]http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/custom ... 55&s=books[/url]

My purpose here is to give aggiegrl2006 and others access to material that will be helpful to your students. This is a list of free materials that you can evaluate for yourself.



[url]http://www.endlesspotential.org/resourcesandlinks/downloads/default.aspx[/url] which has a tremendous amount of training materials and worksheets

Same is true for this site [url="http://www.polyxo.com/documents/"]http://www.polyxo.com/documents/[/url]

This is a site that has a loads of teaching tools [url="http://www.autismteachingtools.com/"]http://www.autismteachingtools.com/[/url] and documentation.


This is a list of software that can help in and out of the classroom

ABA Math - [url="http://abamath.sourceforge.net/"]http://abamath.sourceforge.net/[/url]
ABA Math is an open source (free!) program to help kids with autism learn arithmetic using discrete trial techniques.

Accelerations Educational Software - [url="http://www.dttrainer.com/"]http://www.dttrainer.com/[/url]
The Discrete Trial Trainer is an extensive package written specifically for discrete trial work with kids with autism. The company was founded by Karl Smith, who initially developed the software for his son.
We have this software and it is fantastic

Autism Language Therapies - [url="http://www.autism-language-therapies.com/"]http://www.autism-language-therapies.com/[/url]
If your child or client knows the words for basic colors and shapes and can read these words, the GrammarTrainer software program can teach him or her how to put words together into ever longer phrases and sentences.

Bright Start Therapeutics - [url="http://www.bright-start.com/"]http://www.bright-start.com/[/url]
"Talking Words" offers many features to assist you in planning and managing an intensive language program (specifically aimed at ABA programs). There's also a range of Autism / PDD Software for students with autism and PDD in all stages of language development from emerging vocabulary comprehension to basic language mastery

Computhera - [url="http://www.computhera.com/"]http://www.computhera.com/[/url]
"Computer Assisted Therapy for teaching cognitive skills to visual learners" Computhera offers a seven-step gradual discrete approach for teaching reading.

edbydesign.com - [url="http://www.edbydesign.com/ebdsw/"]http://www.edbydesign.com/ebdsw/[/url]
Oz based developers of the "special learning" series of software, which provides activities that will challenge and stimulate learners with intellectual disabilities.

Geddes Productions - [url="http://geddesproductions.com/"]http://geddesproductions.com/[/url]
Several different programs available from this New Zealand based family business who originally developed the software to help their son Kevin (who has Downs rather than autism, but the products are clearly applicable to ASD kids too).

Laureate Learning Systems - [url="http://www.llsys.com/"]http://www.llsys.com/[/url]
Laureate offers over 80 programs for children and adults with Special Needs. Includes cause and effect, turn-taking, early vocabulary, syntax, cognitive concepts, auditory processing, and reading

Millenium Software - [url="http://members.aol.com/peuapeu/"]http://members.aol.com/peuapeu/[/url]

Labelling_Tutor [url="http://members.aol.com/peuapeu/"]http://members.aol.com/peuapeu/[/url] is discrete trial software for kids with autism and it's available on both Mac and Windows.

MouseTrial
[url="http://www.mousetrial.com/have_a_go.html"]http://www.mousetrial.com/have_a_go.html[/url]
Small inexpensive discrete trial modules using short fun animations. You can play them online right now, download them, or buy them on CD.

Silver Lining Multimedia - [url="http://www.silverliningmm.com/"]http://www.silverliningmm.com/[/url]
"The Great Action Adventure" is available for teaching verbs to visual learners. They also offer four different programs for teaching social skills.

TeachTown - [url="http://web.teachtown.com/"]http://web.teachtown.com/[/url]
A scientifically designed and research based program of computer assisted treatment for kids with autism and other special needs. Draws from ABA and other proven treatments. Development team includes ex video-game programmers, so it should be fun! (Can't find any price information though).

Team Asperger - [url="http://www.ccoder.com/GainingFace/"]http://www.ccoder.com/GainingFace/[/url]
Gaining Face is software which helps people with Asperger's Syndrome, high-functioning autism, and similar issues learn to recognize facial expressions.

Ultimate Learning - [url="http://www.ultimatelearning.net/home/"]http://www.ultimatelearning.net/home/[/url]
Ultimate Learning comprises three unique products and aspects of learning: Problem Solvers, Fun With Feelings, and Sound Readers

These sites that have nothing to do with any ASD method has good games that requires some thinking.http://www.nickjr.com
[url="http://www.pappyland.com/homepage.htm"]http://www.pappyland.com/homepage.htm[/url]
[url="http://www.noggin.com"]http://www.noggin.com[/url]
[url="http://www.thewiggles.com.au/games/play.html"]http://www.thewiggles.com.au/games/play.html[/url][url][/url][url][/url]