By now I have connected with all of you and it's been great to hear about how things have been going at home! I know these are challenging times, and these huge changes to our normal routines have been hard for everyone. I hope moving forward we can work together to create at-home learning programming that will support you and your children in areas that are important to you. I know each of you are at a different stage in what you are looking for from me, and that's ok. Do what you can and what works for your family! And please don't hesitate to ask for things that you need from me!
Going forward, I am going to be using the classroom blog to post general activities and strategies that can be used for all students. I will send individual activities or strategies for your child to you via email.
Today I am going to email a daily schedule document for you to print off and use if you do not already have a visual schedule at home for your child. In the classroom we use visual schedules to support student understanding and reduce anxiety about what is happening in their day. Visual schedules can also increase independence, and reduce push-back from students about participating in non-preferred tasks (i.e., Mom didn't say it's time for work, the schedule says it's time for work!). 😜
Please check out the video below about the importance of structure and routine from the Autism Helper. She is a board certified behaviour analyst and former special education teacher. Start the video at 4.30 to hear her explain how providing structure and routine increases predictability for kids. I'm sure many of you are already following some sort of daily schedule with your child at home, and now that school may be happening from home for the next 3 months this is even more important! Consider having a clear working space for your child if you don't already. Asking them to all of a sudden start doing work in their bedroom where they usually play may not go over well!
*Please let me know if there are specific visuals you need for a daily schedule that are not included in the document I send and I can make you them.*
That's all for now, stay safe and healthy! 😊
-Heather
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