April 6: Tips for parents for home learning

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to link you to another great blog post from the Autism Helper website that lists 5 tips for parents to support home learning: https://theautismhelper.com/focus-on-five-tips-for-parents-for-home-learning/

It talks about how to:

• create a schedule
• make rules for learning time
• motivate your child
• use simple teaching strategies (like "I do, we do, you do" and "errorless learning")
• practice life skills

In speaking with you last week, it sounds like most (if not all of you) are using daily schedules with your child. That's great! And I love how in the above blog post the writer reminds us that our schedules don't have to be fancy - they can simply be quick drawings and words on a scrap piece of paper! So remember there's no pressure to print off colour visuals or laminate your schedules. Do what works for you!

I also wanted to highlight the information given in the above blog about errorless learning. In our classroom, my education assistants and I refer to the "prompt hierarchy" when teaching our students new skills to incorporate errorless learning techniques. As shown in the picture below, the most invasive/highest level of prompt is a full physical prompt (i.e., help child complete a puzzle with hand-over-hand prompting to put pieces into correct holes). The least invasive/lowest level of prompt is a visual prompt (i.e., help child complete a puzzle by simply showing them a picture of the completed puzzle). When first being introduced, a student may need full physical prompts to complete the puzzle. Over time, prompting is faded, and the student may only need gestural prompts, then verbal prompts, and then they can eventually do the puzzle independently (without prompts). Teaching new skills in this way reduces frustration for students, allows them to practice the skill the correct way (rather than making an error and having to "un-learn" that error), and therefore decreases task-avoidant behaviours (i.e., wanting to stop doing the puzzle because it's too hard or they keep doing it wrong).

Check out the following video that gives some examples of what errorless learning looks like:

I know you are all just parents - not therapists - but I want to share the successful strategies we use at school with your children in the hopes that they may make things easier for you at home! Trying to put on a therapist or teacher hat at home with your child may not be easy; lots of times our students associate "work" with their at-home therapists or with school. So take it easy on yourself if your child is not responding well when you try to pull out the work bin at home with them...

That being said, I know you are all experts on your children, have been on this journey with them from the beginning, and know them the best! So a lot of this information may be old news to you. Please know I am just attempting to share as many universal strategies as I can on our blog to help those of you looking for more guidance. 😊 Take care, and happy Monday!

-Heather

April 2: World Autism Awareness Day

April 2nd is World Autism Awareness Day. This morning I spent some time watching Temple Grandin videos on Youtube. I had the pleasure of hearing Dr. Grandin speak at a conference in Calgary a few years ago, and I have read some of her books. I love her message that the world needs all types of minds, and that we need to build on the unique talents that people with autism have. If you haven't already, check out the movie about her life starring Claire Danes. She has such an amazing mind, and her ability to articulate her experience allows those of us who love someone with autism to perhaps understand them a little bit more.

Something I try to do as a teacher is use my students' unique interests to motivate them in learning. As parents, you know your child best, and can hopefully use your child's interests to help support your at-home learning journey! Something we do at school is try to gather a running list of student interests that we can use as motivators. For example, student A may like cause and effect toys, m&m chocolates, and high fives. We use those motivators to support us in encouraging student A to participate in non-preferred activities, like toilet training or sitting at their desk to do some work. Remember that everyone is motivated by something! Adults go to work everyday for a paycheque, not just out of the goodness of their hearts... So, before you ask your kid to do something challenging at home, think, what is their currency? It will help your child buy-in to doing those not-so-fun things in life! 😊

April 1. Our new reality: online learning!

Hi everyone,

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

The new ASD "at home" world - 10 ways to cope with changes during COVID-19

Hi everyone,

I came across a relevant article from the Autism Awareness Centre that I thought I would share with you all. I hope you're all managing ok and staying safe and healthy.

https://autismawarenesscentre.com/the-new-asd-at-home-world-10-ways-to-cope-with-changes-during-covid-19/?utm_source=Autism+Awareness+Centre+Email+List&utm_campaign=8c2df5e15d-Monthly_Book_Blast_June6_17_2013_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_3ea35006c7-8c2df5e15d-90245713&mc_cid=8c2df5e15d&mc_eid=bbc0a9ec10

-Heather

Update: March 20

Hi everyone,

I miss seeing all the students' smiling faces at school! I hope you are all healthy and finding ways to enjoy spending this time at home with your family. 

Please continue to check the CBE website for updates and resources. CBE has shared some mental health supports and resources for families that can be found here: https://www.cbe.ab.ca/about-us/school-culture-and-environment/health-and-wellness-in-school/Pages/Positive-Mental-Health.aspx

The school will be closed for Spring Break as usual, from March 23-27. Staff will be available to respond to parent emails again beginning March 30. At this time, classes are still cancelled for after Spring Break, but please watch for any updates on the CBE website. Teachers will be working from home or school after the break, and we will have more clarity on what learning looks like after the break.

In the meantime, there are many resources available online right now for children with complex communication needs to support understanding around COVID-19, such as the following communication board. Also check out the PrAACtical AAC website for many more visuals and resources. There's also some information related to COVID-19 on the Autism Canada website.

I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy! Take care.

Update: March 16

Dear Families, 

We miss seeing our students and families already!

We realize you likely have many questions since classes have been cancelled indefinitely. We will be communicating further information to you as soon as we are able, especially in terms of when and how to collect belongings from school. Please continue to check the classroom blog, and your email for updates.

In the meantime, please continue to read with your child daily. Below is a resource for reading that you could access if you choose.

Take care and be well, 

Heather

Calgary Public Library – Tumblebooks Audio Books - https://www.tumblebooklibrary.com/Home.aspx?categoryID=77

Learning Update: March 12

This week our core word of the week was "put". We read stories, listened to songs, and did activities that allowed us to practice using the word "put".

We also connected our core word to our predictable chart writing. Students chose a clothing item to put on our person and then we talked about what part of the body they wear that clothing item on by referencing a body parts choice board.

Please be sure to check your email regularly in regards to pertinent covid-19 information from CBE.

Sensory play and centres

Playtime and work time