Positive Partnerships

Hi Everyone,

I am going to be out of the classroom for a couple of days attending a Positive Partnerships Workshop.

At the end of the two days I will be spending some time visiting and supporting participants from other schools who are new to working with children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). I am really looking forward to this role.
The great news is that you can get involved in this program by signing up for the online modules they offer on their learning portal.

The site has courses to meet the needs of parents, carers and educational support staff as well as teachers.

The first module takes about 95 minutes to complete. It can be broken up into smaller units and you can stop and start as many times as you like.

The Positive Partnership folk will be regularly adding new reference material and online learning courses to the site .

Click on the picture to check it out.

Online Books and Videos for Kids

Hi Everyone,
We are in the process of organising our 2009 school sleepover night!
We will announce the date after our next Junior Unit meeting.

In the mean time I have added a sleepover story to our online book shelf. Click on the picture to read Arthur's First Sleepover.

You will find hundreds of videos, online books, switch stories, magazines and cartoon shows on the Junior Crew Book Shelf too! You will be able to find a permanent link to our bookshelf in the left margin of the blog. Just look for the flying books!

Money Money Money

Hi Everyone,
I have spent the weekend searching for life skills sites on the Internet to add to my teacher resource blog . Next term the Junior Crew kids will be spending lots of our maths sessions developing their money handling skills.
During SSG meetings this term parents have asked me how they can help to develop these skills at home. Today I found a website with some great tips on how to teach money management skills to kids. Click on the picture and it will take you there!

Big Changes!

Change is in the air and I'm not just talking about hair colour! In science we have been looking at how properties of chemicals change by adding air and water. Marg took these beautiful photo's of Tey Neisha and Tim blowing bubbles in the playground.

Luke welcomed a new baby sister. Little Servanda, Nathalia, Rose came to visit us at school this week. Luke holds her gently while cousin Cory looks on. Welcome to the world little one and congratulations to Luke's family.

The biggest change happened yesterday! We have a whole class worth of new students starting at our school next term so we have had to change things around a little. I will be leaving Rooms 4 &5 with some of the older Junior Crew class members to set up a middle years transition class. We are all very excited about the move into room 12!

Change is inevitable but I wasn't expecting quite so many changes this week!

Two days of changes are coming up next week. I will be away at an Autism seminar and Helen and Liz will be teaching in my place. Liz will be the new Room 4/5 teacher next term so it will be nice for her to spend some time with the children.

Only one more week until the Easter Holiday. We're looking forward to 2 weeks break.

How about you?

What's Different?

Hi Everyone,

On Saturday I coloured my hair. I have gone from bottle blond to brunette.

It will be very interesting to see the reactions of the children tomorrow.

My class has difficulty coping with change. Last time I had such a radical change I had five very interesting responses.

One child whispered, 'What did you do to your head?'

Another didn't say anything until the end of the day and then said, 'Thanks for looking after us today Sue. When is Sue coming back?'

Upon reflection, the most honest of the bunch said, 'You changed your hair. It looks yucky'. When I look back at the photo's I think he was right!

One child cracked up laughing every time she looked at me and another wouldn't look at me at all!

So parents and friends I will let you know what happens tomorrow.

We are going to play the 'What's Different Game' this week during 'circle time'.

Would you like to play too?

Just click on 'Start'.

Social Skills Confuse me!

Hi Everyone,

Sometimes the hidden, unspoken rules of how to get along with others are hard to learn without some help.

Social stories are a very useful tool to help children understand social conventions.

If you click on the social stories buttons you will discover a link that we use in our classroom when we have a point of need social skills emergency.

We also use social stories to explicitly teach social skills so that when situations arise, the children have the tools they need to work through tricky social situations successfully.

Social stories are good to use in all sorts of places. Why don't you check them out.

The Virtual Gallery is Open

Hi Everyone,

Today I spent some time uploading art work into our Virtual Gallery. I have neglected this area of the blog this year but I plan to change that starting now!
Art sessions are a very important part of our week.

• We experiment with colour, shape and texture.


• Use visual expression as a means of communication.


• Express our feelings.


• Experience pride in our accomplishments.


• Develop an understanding of cause and effect.


• Experience sensory pleasure by working with a variety of media.


• Develop small muscle skills.


• Refine hand eye coordination.


• Share and cooperate with others


• Solve simple problems.


• Develop planning skills
  

All while we are having fun!

In the Virtual gallery you will also find some fantastic online art activities for kids and adults and links to the art blogs that inspire me.

You can find a permanent link to out Virtual Gallery in the left margin of the blog. Or, click on the picture of Luke working with clay and you will be there in a flash!

Our Super Swimming Day

Hi Everyone,
We had the best day ever!
The weather was warm and overcast.
The water was warm and clear and we loved swimming with and against our sister city school.


The hot chips from the canteen were delicious!

The water slide was big, tall , scary but awesome!

Everyone won a ribbon and nobody wanted the day to end, but all good things do!

Swimming Sports

Hi Everyone,
Tomorrow is our Swimming Sports day.
Remember to pack:
Lots of cold drinks (water is best)
Healthy Lunch and snacks
Bathers and a towel
Hat
T-shirt or rash shirt to wear in the water
Sunscreen
Spare warm clothes if the weather looks dicey
Spending money (optional)