We are learning so many new things!!

We have been talking more about the "zones".  We talk about feeling in the yellow zone when we are upset, silly or frustrated...we refer to our coping skills board to help prompt children to take a break, breathe, or use the coping skill tool box to help get back in the green zone. Children are beginning to understand that the green zone feels better, and we always praise them when they use a coping skill to calm down strong feelings.

We had some other social skills lessons that helped us learn about focusing to listen to/watch directions. Focusing, listening, and thinking about the directions takes a lot of practice - we try to build this skill into everything we do. We are also practicing how to use "self-talk" to stay on task, especially when a distraction takes our attention or focus away.  One way we practice is by having students repeat directions to themselves so that they can remember what to do. We love to practice this with our rhythm sticks! 

We added another coping skill to our bulletin board - "get adult help". Students are learning to raise their hand and wait when they need help with difficult work. They can also get adult help on the playground or anytime when someone is bothering them. 

We have continued to enjoy stories and activities about farms and farm animals. We are becoming more independent when we create art work, and attempting tasks that we think might be hard. 

We are all working on journal writing and drawing...our journals are for the month, so it will be interesting to compare writing done in September with writing done next spring! 

In our Social Skills Lessons we talked about the Listening Rules that help us learn and participate in school activities. These rules include ears listening, eyes watching, voice quiet and body still. We also practiced focusing and shutting out distractions - research shows that these skills are linked to academic and social success. We practice these skills every time we work together at group time, for a group lesson and during a read aloud story. We also began to learn and review three coping skills - deep breathing, taking a break and yoga. Taking a break means stopping what you are doing and just sitting/relaxing quietly. We encourage students to take a break at the beginning of frustration - they are always praised for using a coping skill such as taking a break.
We completed several "tricky" art activities together - these types of activities help give children opportunities to learn and practice the Listening Rules and focusing...these are the same skills children will need in the general education setting. Although art activities may be fun, they can also be challenging and frustrating...

We are building our "read to self" stamina by reading/looking at book boxes and baskets each day. We are learning how to look at books carefully and quietly...we are up to 10 minutes already!

We went to our first assembly - we practiced sitting and watching a yo-you show. 

We had a great first day of school!

Today was a busy, exciting day for all of us in Room 113. We discussed routines and practiced things like lining up and walking in the hallway to go to music and PE...everyone has a number and a spot to sit and walk in.

We did some work...

and we had Center Time...

We began our Farm Animal Unit by learning and reading about cows and we completed our first art activity! There were many transitions (music, PE, lunch and recess, getting on and off the buses) so your child may be tired and hungry by the end of the day! This is just a short little blog post to let you know that your children are off to a great start - we enjoyed each and every one of them today!