Teresa
LaBianco
July
15, 2013
SPEDE
776
My placement for this summer
pre-student teaching session is in PS 68 at PS 111. Schools days begin at 8:30am and end at
12:30pm. The class consists of twelve
children with autism spectrum disorder.
All of the students come from classes of PS 68’s ASD Nest program. In the ASD Nest classroom, during the regular
school year, there are four students with ASD that care integrated into a
general education classroom. The four
students from three classrooms have been put together to create one class for
the summer session. Eight of the
students have finished kindergarten this June and are preparing for 1st
grade in September. The other four
students are leaving first grade and are now entering 2nd grade this
coming school year. There are two
teachers in the classroom that teach in the ASD Nest program throughout the
school year at PS 68.
The curriculum of the class
throughout the school year is based on the common core standards. However, during the summer program all of the
ASD Nest classes at PS 111 are only focusing on one unit of study. The summer unit includes lessons on health,
fitness, and nutrition. Since the summer
program is mandated for services including Speech and Language Pathology and
Occupational Therapy, the unit has also been incorporated into the provided
services. Speech sessions, done in a
whole group setting, are called Social Club, and in the allotted time the
therapist focuses on enriching the students’ vocabulary as well as increasing appropriate
peer verbal interactions all while discussing ways of eating and staying
healthy. Occupational Therapy sessions,
done in a whole group setting as well, are conducted by a team of three
therapists. They do yoga with the group,
talk about ways to stay healthy, play matching games, help with sensory
integration, and develop fine motor skills.
All of the therapists and teachers work together as a team, planning
activities within the unit and ways of helping the students continue to grow
throughout the summer.
Challenges in the classroom include
managing the daily schedule, different students’ academic needs, and behavior
modifications for all students. All of
the students are use to a certain structure during the school year that is
thrown off with the varying schedules and different teachers of the
summer. The students are all diagnosed
with ASD, and bring their own specific needs into the classroom. Some students have difficulty staying focused
on longer activities, getting easily distracted. Other students need breaks throughout the
day, as a way for the students to help control their own behavior. Allowed breaks include time in the calming
corner, rocks in the reading rocking chair, getting a drink of water, or a movement
break to walk around the classroom. One
student in particular is very oppositional, and will refuse to participate in
almost every activity, needing a teacher to create some modification for him to
help him, such as activity schedules or timers to structure the activity. The teachers work together to provide the
adaptations for all of the students.
PS 68s mission is, “We believe that all children including
English Language Learners, Special Education students and high achievers, can
learn. We will work with the parents and the community to achieve the highest
academic standards. Our computer labs, literacy partners, Internet access,
library and arts partners are assets in helping students reach their goals. Our
students will be informed, lifelong learners who will reach their fullest
potential. Everyone at P.S. 68 has a vision of excellence”. Though the classes are misplaced being in PS
111 for the summer, the mission of PS 68 is still seen in the summer through
the hard work and dedication from all of the teachers.
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