This year, the social skills group will be called the Buddy Club. It will be held on Thursdays at 9:00. The club will start next week, Sept. 22nd.
The first couple of weeks will be "get to know you" sessions as I indirectly assess their social skills. We will be reviewing the Hidden Curriculum by going over the school rules.
The following weeks, I will be using the Social Thinking program.
First graders will be using We Thinkers! Volume 1
Second graders will be using We Thinkers! Volume 2
I will be including different concepts throughout the school year. I love to do a unit on learning positive affirmations. This helps so much with building social confidence.
If you have any questions, please contact me. :)
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2016-17
The children have been learning about positive affirmations. Positive affirmations help children change their negative thoughts into positive ones. For example: Negative thought - "They never want to play with me." CHANGE to "I can make new friends." What we think, we become. If the children believe they are a good friend, chances are.... they will be a great friend. Affirmations give children confidence on so many different levels.
Here is an awesome printable with several affirmations. Print them out and let your child choose which ones has meaning to them.
http://www.kidshappyapps.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Kids-affirmations.pdf
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We are starting a new series in Lunch Bunch!
I will be using the book, What is a Thought? ( A Thought is a Lot) by Jack Pransky and Amy Kahofer.
This poetic and engaging book introduces children to the amazing, creative power within us all: thought. It is not a book about changing thoughts or changing behaviors, but rather a story to help children (and adults!) see how their own thinking creates their lives, moment to moment, day to day.
Lunch Bunch will start October 21st (My birthday!!)
The children are starting the year reviewing rules of the school. Sometimes, students have a difficult time learning the hidden curriculum. The Hidden Curriculum is a set of rules or guidelines that are often not directly taught but are assumed to be known (Hemmings, 2000). I spend some time reviewing the rules to help some of them who may need some extra support in this area.
This is the booklet I'll be using to teach the rules of the playground, lunch room and bathroom.
=================================================**The end of the year is coming. We are finishing the year with the Whole Body Listening story. After we are done with the story, the children are allowed to bring in a game from home. If we end up with multiple games, we will take a vote and play the one with the most votes. Please send in age appropriate games. Thank you!**
If your child is chosen for Lunch Bunch, please do NOT pack any type of nuts in your child's lunch. Our children with allergies need to feel safe at all times. Thank you for understanding! :)
What is Lunch Bunch?
Lunch Bunch is a social skills group designed to get to know the students and teach them appropriate communication skills. It is lead by the Speech Language Pathologist and the School Psychologist.
Which curriculum do you use?
Most of the activities come from the Social Thinking program by Marcia Garcia Winner. I use the Incredible Flexible You curriculum and the You Are a Social Detective book. Check out her website for more information. http://www.socialthinking.com/
What skills are targeted?
Whole Body Listening: We listen with our whole bodies... eyes, ears, mouth, hands, feet, body, brain and heart.
Expected vs Unexpected behavior: This concept helps the children understand how their behaviors and words make other people feel.
Other skills worked on are eye gaze, introducing yourself, listening and responding to peers, taking turns, building social/self confidence, understanding and using body language paired with emotions and staying on topic.... are to name a few.
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