Classroom Set up:
My classroom is a K-5 level 3 setting for students with developmental disabilities and autism. I co teach this class and teach the 3rd-5th grade students. To accommodate student's differences, incorporate movement and sensory input, and accommadate the different schedules for 6 different grades we have created a station system.
Stations: |
There are two teacher stations where each teacher gets to have 1:1 time two times each day with their students to teach math reading and writing. There is the spot where whole group happens for morning meeting and calendar math. There are seven other independent work stations, a writing station, math station, phonics station, listening/word work station,TEACCH work box station, sight word station, and a computer station. I have worked to add movement and sensory input into the stations.
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Differentiation
I differentiate all my stations for each student. One way to help everyone keep track of who does what where is a simple chart that says what a student should be doing at that station and what computer or iPad game/games they should go on when done with their station. I set up the stations as structured work systems to help students have a clear beginning and end point and know exactly what when and how much to do. I put alarms on an iPod so that is goes off at the exact time that students should rotate since I am lousy at remembering to set a timer.
Technology
To make my iPad easy to use I put apps in folders and have all my reading apps on the first page
This is my games website that has games for each student that is not using Readlive, Edmark math or reading or DT Trainer. It is differentiated per student so each student has the games that are at their level and work on the skills they need.
Curriculum
As you may have noticed I am big into differentiation so I use a number of different curricula. Here are some of the things I use: Edmark Reading for students that struggle with phonetic due to language difficulties, Seeing Stars, for teaching phonetic rules, Story Grammar Markers, guided reading, and Visualizing and Verbalizing to help teach Reading comprehension, If a student is not using Edmark I use Fry sight words or Seeing Star's sight words,TouchPoint Math is a great starting point for teaching basic math skills but needs modification and supplementation, TEACCH or structured work system and sometime Talkies. Computer programs we often use are DT Trainer, Edmark math and reading, More Starfall, I just started using Activity Trainer and think it is great so far and Readlive.
Sensory Math Stations
HUNGRY TENNIS BALLS: The skills I uses with these are adding, subtracting, 1:1 correspondence, and money but I will also be making one for time and fractions. The kids love this one. I also made letters so that kids can feed the balls toys that start with the letter on its head. I laminate the numbers/letters and use hard Velcro to stick it on.
GEL PACK MATH: This is cardboard, a large envelope a plastic gallon freezer bag and hair gel. I used the duct tape to tape the envelope on the back and the gel pack on the front. The gel pack has three numbers and there are different cards, money 1 to 1 correspondence, addition and subtraction. The laminated sheets slip between the cardboard and the gel pack so students can move the numbers through the gel to answer the problem or match the number. I suggest covering the front of the freezer bag with contact paper or clear packing tape because kids use their finger nails and rip the packs.