September 26-30, 2016

 

This week we are working on "Self-Awareness: Who Are You?". Throughout this unit, students are learning about the importance of speaking up for themselves. This particular lesson focuses on the importance of knowing strengths, interests and challenges in order to better self-advocate. Students will build word recognition within daily living and vocational materials. They will also demonstrate effective self-advocacy skills to maximize independence in home, community and employment.

Topic words include: Challenges, Help, Speak Up, Choice, Know, Strengths
Literacy Words include: Article, Illustration/Symbol, Topic, Read, Tittle, Discuss

Daily we continue to work on money handling skills, telling time, vocational and daily living tasks. This week's safety signs include:
"No Parking"
"No Tresspassing"
"No Food or Drinks"
"No Walking"
"Use Stairs In Case of Fire"
"No Diving"
"No Swimming"
"Keep Out"
"No Drugs or Alcohol"
"Men's Restroom"

 Important dates this week:Friday 9/30/16 is our first CBI to the Bloomsburg Fair

Last week I discussed our participation in the PaTTAN Autism Initiative program. Here is a little more detail regarding the program: 


 

The objectives of the PaTTAN Autism Initiative are:

• Establish competencies in staff that allow them to provide individually specified teaching procedures using Applied Behavior Analysis, the Analysis of Verbal Behavior and effective instructional practices to improve communication, social, academic, and other relevant skills for students with autism.

• Provide training, to include on-site guided practice, in Applied Behavior Analysis, and the Analysis of Verbal Behavior to teachers, paraprofessionals, parents, administrators, Speech Language Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Behavior specialists, and all other staff supported by the Autism Initiative.  On site guided practice means the consultants go into the classrooms and work directly with staff modeling, guiding them through, and providing feedback on specific procedures.

• To coach the development and implementation of focused instructional goals based on individual student needs and aligned with PA academic achievement standards.

• Train and guide staff on using effective instruction based on principles of ABA and Analysis of Verbal Behavior.

• Teach staff to utilize Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program (VB MAPP) as an assessment tool and curricular guide that assists in program development.

• Teach staff to utilize other assessments as needed for further programming guidance such as social skills assessments, curriculum-based assessments, and daily living skills assessments.

• Train and guide staff on effective management of problem behavior including conducting functional behavior assessments, developing positive behavior support plans, utilizing data to monitor the behavior, and methods to ensure interventions are implemented with fidelity.

 Identify one internal coach from the Local Education Agency (LEA) who will attend consultant trainings, and participate in onsite guided practice with the PaTTAN consultants. The role of the internal coach will be to establish local capacity and to extend applications of the ABA/VB consultation within the LEA and/or region.

• Evaluate the success of the PaTTAN Autism Initiative through measures of instructor skill acquisition in ABA/VB and student outcomes as measured by the VB-MAPP.

• Evaluate professional and parent satisfaction with the initiative by conducting social validity assessments (satisfaction surveys).

September 19 - 23, 2016

This week our class continues to work on the VB-MAPP assessment. . The Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program (VB-MAPP) is an assessment, skills-tracking system and curriculum guide to assess the language, learning and social skills of children with autism or other developmental disabilities. I am excited about our new Autism Initiative program through PaTTAN. The purpose of the PaTTAN Autism Initiative is to enhance learning and communication to improve the lives of children who live with autism and their families through implementation of evidence-based practices. 

More information regarding the PaTTAN Autism Initiative can be found at: PaTTAN Autism Initiatve 

This week brought a new set of safety/environmental signs. This week's signs include: Hard Hat Area, Flammable, Guide Dogs Allowed, In/Out, Food, Crime Watch, High Voltage, Keep Off The Grass, No Bicycles and, Hospital.

Weekly, I will post a video or article related to Autism. This week is an article from Autism Speaks titled Ten Things Every Child With Autism Wishes You Knew.

On Friday 9/23/16 our class will go swimming in the JR/SR High School Pool as a weekly reward. Please remember to send in your child's swim suit and towel.

Permission slips for our first Community Based Instruction at the Bloomsburg Fair have been sent home. Please sign and return your permission slips by Friday 9/23/16

Important dates this week:
Wednesday 9/21: Board of Education Meeting at 7:00
Saturday 9/24:  NS Tournament of Bands at the N.S. stadium