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.