Raising resilient kids is actually easier than you think. These simple parenting adjustments will you raise kids who aren't afraid to fail.
There are some old-fashioned skills that kids should learn that will benefit them in life. While we often forgo teaching them to our children, thinking it's not necessary anymore, one day they could use those skills if they have them, even if they are labeled as "old-fashioned." Every generation changes. Things become old-fashioned and are
Life prep happens everywhere! When you're trying to focus on life skills for teens, it's important to make sure that all of those critical skills are addressed. Here's how!
Do you practice life skills in your SPED classroom? If you don't, you should! Let me show you how to set up life skills centers.
Teaching life skills for kids is IMPORTANT. It is in fact the greatest gift you can give your children. Here's what your child NEEDS to know.
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Freedom Homeschooling lists free homeschool life skills electives for all grades. Home economics, personal finance, auto repair, and more!
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Life skills are as important as educational or other skills in life. Now when children are at home due to the
This post shares tips and strategies for teaching different learning styles to meet the needs of all learners.
Do you have the skills it takes to get through everyday life or in the midst of a global crisis? It's easy to get wrapped up in all the to-do's of life that we don't always take the time to learn the things we need to live "the good life." Don't miss the 48 life skills EVERYONE should know—even our kids.
As kids start middle school, it's time to be intentional about adding life skills for teens to your homeschool lesson plans. This list has a ton to choose from.
We all want to raise our kids into capable adults. To do that their are some valuable life lessons kids should learn before they grow up.
Do you have the skills it takes to get through everyday life or in the midst of a global crisis? It's easy to get wrapped up in all the to-do's of life that we don't always take the time to learn the things we need to live "the good life." Don't miss the 48 life skills EVERYONE should know—even our kids.
Most children are afraid to fail and, as parents and teachers, we naturally want our children to succeed. But what if we recognized failure is good and a crucial step on the path to learning? Here are 7 ways to teach children about the gift of failure, and how to do it skillfully.
Do you practice life skills in your SPED classroom? If you don't, you should! Let me show you how to set up life skills centers.
1. You can't do it all the first year. Seriously. You will find so many great ideas and be inspired by so many awesome teachers that you cannot possibly find the time to implement every great idea. That's why Pinterest was invented. Simmer down and pace yourself. Summer does not come nearly fast enough. 2. Veteran teachers are watching you. That's right, and they sometimes laugh and shake their heads at you and your big, cheesy enthusiasm. It's not like you think it is though. We were all new teachers once, and we remember feeling and acting like you are acting right now, crazy as you are. I clearly remember silently judging my master teachers because they didn't do this or that according to what I learned in my methods classes. However, you quickly learn that the classroom isn't a laboratory where you can control all the variables. Some of the best learning you will do as a new teacher is by trial and error. It's honest to goodness on the job training that never stops. You think I'm kidding, I know. I'm standing back here smiling and shaking my head as I think to myself "you'll see." You must understand though, I do it as a parent would watch their child. We can help you, and we can mentor you, and we can share our knowledge, but ultimately you have to figure out what works for you. We are watching you, but we want you to succeed and we want to help you. 3. You will never master teaching. When I say this, I don't mean to discourage you, just to warn you that although you will teach and touch many lives in your career, your students will also teach you and touch your life more than you can imagine. I've never really been an emotionally sappy person, but I have found myself on many occasions overcome with emotions so strong that I experience this strange mushy, tingly feeling all over my body. It's a wee bit creepy, but nice, in a warm, fuzzy, caterpillar kind of way. 4. Summer does not come nearly fast enough. At times you will feel like you're in a never ending tunnel in which they have turned off the light at the end of the tunnel due to budget cuts, and then the next thing you know you're on the front lawn of the school, waving to the buses as the students are carried away, and dancing and singing at the top of your lungs "School's Out for SUMMER!" You can't even begin to understand what a surreal experience it is to be caught up in the party and then you realize, "OMG, I survived my first year of teaching! When did that happen? How did I get here?!!!" There is no other feeling quite like that last day of school when you've earned your first year survival badge, and you have your whole summer stretched out in front of you. 5. There is no one ideal teaching style. You have to do what works with your personality and what feels right to you. I remember being incredibly worried when a professor told my education class that we should never use sarcasm in the classroom. For me, that was like telling me I had to grow gills because I was going to have to learn how to breath under water. 6. Education is Synonymous with Change. You will realize this at least by your fifth year, sooner if you are more alert than myself. Even before you realize this, you will find yourself leaving every faculty meeting and PLC meeting muttering "Really? One more thing I have to implement that I don't have time for?" 7. The Next Great Thing in Education is a Cyclical Process. Refer to number six above. Every year an amazing new idea will be presented in your PLC that is going to change everything. It will come with new buzz words and everybody will use them ad nauseam in educational conversations. Then next year it will be replaced by something else, and so on, and so forth, until you start seeing the same tired old ideas again, but with new buzz words attached to them. That being said, some of it is good, and you should strive to keep an open mind lest you become cynical and rigid. The bottom line is that there is a delicate balance between implementing new ideas and feeling overwhelmed. Give yourself permission to take a reasonable amount of time to implement new things. 8. Your work is never done. No matter how hard you work, you will never be completely caught up and there will always be things left undone. Accept it and prioritize. You will have to decide how much is good enough and then leave the rest for tomorrow. It's okay to push away from your desk at the end of the day and say "I've done enough," and go home. 9. You will be wrong and you will try stupid things. We tell our students over and over again that they have to make mistakes in order to learn. The same is true for us. Learn how to admit when you are wrong and your ideas don't work out. You will be surprised at how resilient your students are. 10. Eat lunch in the faculty lounge. You need to get out of your classroom and talk to adults. Talking and laughing with your colleagues is the best stress relief you will find in your school day. Take advantage of it. 11. Make time for yourself. I feel like a hypocrite even writing this, but I know deep down in my heart that it is necessary and so, so important. Try. I beg you. 12. You won't always like your students. It's true, but don't ever, ever let them see it. Fake it until you make it. Sometimes your most annoying students turn out to be the ones that you find a very special place in your heart for. Make an effort to get to know them, and find something that you like about them. 13. Your students won't always like you. Teaching is not a popularity contest. You are not their friend. Being a teacher is a lot like being a parent. You are there to teach them and to help mold them into well-rounded, compassionate, problem solving adults. 14. Teaching is the hardest job on the planet. You won't believe how hard you will work. Pace yourself and get plenty of sleep. You will need it to maintain quick reflexes. 15. Ask for help. You do not need to reinvent the wheel. Ask other teachers for lessons and materials. Most good teachers love to share. I have learned more from other teachers I've worked with than all of my college classes and the Internet combined. Veteran teachers especially are like gold. 16. At times you will have to breath polluted air rich with the stench of body odor. Suck it up, Princess, and stock up on the Scentsy. This is your life now. Trust me, as a teacher in a middle school I always have two Scentsys going at a time. They work. 17. You will laugh every day. Clean air isn't the most important thing. Laughter really is the best medicine, and your students will make you laugh until you wet yourself. I promise. 18. You will spend more money than you thought possible on school supplies. At times you will feel like you are hemorrhaging money. 19. Sometimes you have to say no. Your Administrators will ask you to head committees and do all sorts of things because they know they can depend on you. And you absolutely should do some of those things, but know your limits and don't take on too much. 20. Never pass up an opportunity to use the restroom. If you are walking by a restroom, whether you have to go or not, go in and try. It may be your last chance for the next six hours. 21. Choose your battles. You will experience all types of personalities in your teaching career and not every child, nor adult for that matter, can be dealt with in the same way. Some students absolutely cannot be pushed and you need to know when to step back and give them choices. Decide what is important and what is worth fighting for. 22. If it isn't documented it didn't happen. Document, document, document. You will have to prove which interventions you have used on students, what behavior you have witnessed, what was or wasn't turned in, etc., etc. Find a system that works for you and document everything. Ask other teachers in your school how they document and you will save yourself hours upon hours of time. Refer to number fifteen above. 23. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Sometimes it's a good thing and sometimes it isn't, but it is one of the most enjoyable parts of Parent-Teacher conferences. 24. Despite federal legislation, some students choose to be left behind. You can lead a child to knowledge, but you cannot make them think. 25. Helicopter parents are alive and well. Although they can be bothersome, at least they are involved and you have to give them credit for that. Depending on the demographics of the school where you teach, you may find that uninvolved parents are a much bigger problem. 26. You will not make enough money to live on. Marry well. A large number of teachers have second jobs. Frankly, I don't know how they do it. Referring back to number eight, I can't even finish this job, let alone keep another one on the side. I am fortunate to have married well. 27. Sometimes your students are smarter than you. They don't have to know that though. Fake it until you make it. What works for me are exclamations such as: "Tell me more about that!" "What were you thinking when you got that answer?" "Explain your thought process" or a simple, but genuine "Amazing!" can work wonders. Also, make sure you pay attention and take notes. Don't let anyone see though. Rely on Siri. 28. You will not be able to teach everything your students need to know before they take their standardized tests. Do not panic, stress out, or freak out. Your students will smell your fear and react accordingly. Teach them what you can in a calm, organized manner and let the rest go. Stress doesn't help anyone perform better on tests. 28. Sometimes you just have to smile, walk into your classroom, close the door, and teach what you know you should be teaching. No one has to know you just deep sixed that PLC binder you just received in the faculty meeting. Although in reality you probably shouldn't do that. I mean you will want to do that, but more than likely you will need to access it at some point, so cover your butt and hang onto it. Once you give yourself an attitude adjustment, you can come back to it.
Do you have the skills it takes to get through everyday life or in the midst of a global crisis? It's easy to get wrapped up in all the to-do's of life that we don't always take the time to learn the things we need to live "the good life." Don't miss the 48 life skills EVERYONE should know—even our kids.
Life skills may need to be specifically trained in kids with disabilities, often though chaining methods. 100+ Indepent Living Skills Checklist included in this post.
First, let me say that unscheduled stretches of time for kids are great. Not all free time should be filled. B...
Helping older students acquire life skills is a crucial component of speech therapy and special education. As SLPs and teachers, we are always looking for functional ways to prepare our students for the "real world". And now more than ever, the "real world" means utilizing technology to get and interpret information. There's no question about it. Our world is DIGITAL. We use apps to check the weather, e-mails to communicate with family, QR codes to access restaurant menus, and the internet and v
Here are a few games for kids with Autism suggestions to use in your classroom. There are also many ways you can play these games...
You won't regret adding these ten important life skills to your homeschool before your kids leave the nest to start a life of their own. They will thank you later!
There's good reason why people keep hitting the pause button during these scenes
We’ve all had that teacher at some point in our lives. It can be really difficult to determine what makes a teacher remarkable.
Many people have lost the basic skills, but with this list of old fashioned skills that kids need to know your kids will grow into independent adults.
Freedom Homeschooling lists free homeschool life skills electives for all grades. Home economics, personal finance, auto repair, and more!
Setting up classroom jobs for our students is a great way to build a sense of community and ownership in the class as well as teaching about responsibility. Here are some ideas for getting you started: We assign our daily jobs during morning meeting group. Every morning we combine WH question practice, identifying peers and ... Read More about Setting Up Student Jobs Inside The Special Ed. Classroom
Hello, this is the school nurse. We have Greyson here in our office. My breath catches, then stops, and the rest of the world stops making sound. He's alright now, but I want to let you know he's been bitten. I drop to my knees. My silence is punctuated by gulps of air so I can sob. Hello? Are you there? He's okay, he's just been bitten on the stomach- but it didn't break the skin. He was crying so we got him calm and we are trying to ice the area. But he's ok- really. I was aware my overreaction was severe but I couldn't take one more single thing. I was scared and confused and my heart was breaking a bit more with each day that went by. Greyson was in an autism preschool program called PALS, and it was starting to feel like we were in a nightmare. Yes, I'm sorry. I'm here. It's just... He can't talk and I'm worried he's not ok and he probably doesn't understand what's going on. Can you adequately explain the terror and protectiveness you have the ability to feel for your nonverbal child? Are there even words invented to explain it? Because I have never come close to finding them. It was the second time he had been bitten. Add to that an unexplainable black eye. Greyson's first day of preschool, August 2012 His black eye Things felt wrong from our very first day there. I chalked it up to me. He was only three and I wasn't ready for him to be gone at preschool five days a week from 8:20-1:20. The classroom age mix was 3-6 years old. That's too much of a gap for general ed- so how in the world would it work for children with autism when each child is so vastly different from the next? I wasn't sure if it felt bad because it wasn't the preschool experience I expected, or if it felt bad because it wasn't right for us. Can I volunteer in his classroom? I asked the teacher. No, she responded unsympathetically. Every student in this room has an IEP posted and it is a private legal document. You can't be in here without advance notice and you need to be accompanied by a Director or the Principal. I suddenly felt stupid for even asking. Angry I was being deprived of one more typical mom thing. On the second morning of school I parked and walked him up to his classroom while Grey screamed and attempted to lie flat on the ground. For your convenience you can just bring him to the school drop off lane in the morning, I was told. Oh that's ok- I would prefer to park and walk him up until he's comfortable here--that way he realizes I am bringing him here on purpose, and not just letting him get yanked out of the car by someone we don't know. Okay, you can do that but an aid will meet you on the sidewalk. Unfortunately the parents aren't allowed in the class as to not disturb the other students. It was obvious that I was not welcome in Greyson's classroom. Other than basic information and testing results the new school didn't ask me for information on Greyson. Even my friends with children in general education filled out information about their child on their likes, dislikes, and skills and strengths. A couple of weeks after school started I created lists of programs and skills Greyson had mastered during Early Intervention, as well as the things he was currently working on in his home behavior program to share with his teacher. I made an appointment so we could review it together. I also brought his Speech Teacher his current goals and capabilities based on the year of one-hour, twice weekly Speech Therapy sessions we both religiously attended. I was especially adamant that she knew that Greyson was capable of making three word requests. I want drink. I want car. Grey tries to get away with the least amount of language possible and I didn't want that to happen at school. I wanted to make sure they knew what he was capable of so they could continue his learning from there. Grey did so good today, he Speech Teacher reported. He said ball and car and mountain bike. He said mountain bike? I asked incredulously. (it's not possible) Um- did you tell him to say mountain bike or show him a picture of a bike and tell him what it's called? No, he just said it all on his own out of the blue- 'mountain bike'. I'm curious- if he says car- does he get reinforced or rewarded? Yes, of course, she said smiling as if that was the answer I was looking for. Ok- can you please make sure when requesting preferred items that he uses three words? As I mentioned before he tries to get away with as little language as possible and I don't want him to regress. Greyson is stubborn and hard to keep focused, but he is also a great and consistent learner. He tests all new Teachers and aids to see what he can get away with. He responds best to firm yet loving Teachers. During his year of at home Behavior Therapy they only had to stop one program due to Greyson being unable to get it. However, all the feedback I got from the PALS classroom just didn't describe Greyson. It was obvious they had one way of teaching and he just wasn't fitting their mold. No one was able to figure out what made him tick. We've had many good autism teachers and they just keep trying new methods until they figure out the Grey's motivation and preferred rewards. And some of the very best Teachers can figure out things about him that even surprise me. But at this school every week the teacher would have to stop a lesson and start a new one because Greyson wasn't able to learn or demonstrate his knowledge. After a couple of months Greyson stopped using three word requests at home and would only use one word: Juice. Car. No. Chips. And when he wouldn't get the item he would scream them at us. JUICE!!! CAR!!! NO!!!! CHIPS!!!! After a couple of more weeks he would only point at what he wanted and scream. Then even the point vanished. He could no longer label colors or items he once knew. All the hard work that was poured into him during Early Intervention was gone. I was concerned so I asked for weekly written updates including any information that would help us reinforce the lessons they were working on in school while we were at home. Every few weeks I would receive an update. Here's an example of one: Good afternoon, Hope you had a good week! Looking toward next week’s programs; Greyson will continue previous programs with the exception of his “Come Here” program and his program for matching object to object which have been moved to maintenance. I will be adding DT: Lesson 8: Matching: Picture to Picture My head was spinning. Is that English, I wondered? Greyson was vanishing before my eyes. Again. First from autism and now from school. I would pick him up from school in the afternoon and it was like he didn't even recognize me he had retreated so far inside his head. I called my friend crying. I cried a lot then. I still feel sick when I drop him off every single morning. It's been nine months. Shouldn't that have gone away by now? I asked her. I ask the school for information and I don't get anything. I don't understand what's going on and I don't know what to do. Have you ever thought about taking him out of school? my friend asked. She knew our concerns and how bumpy this road had been. I had thought of it - but only in my daydreams. Isn't that illegal or something? There were no private schools for children with Special Needs around. Greyson didn't yet have the ability to mainstream in a general ed classroom either. Since he had turned three, he was no longer eligible for the services provided through the state's Early Intervention program. Our options were limited. But I couldn't watch him fade away any longer, and her words were the push I needed to make change. I was going to risk it and pull him out of school. I needed to come up with a plan built for Greyson. A plan that would help bring him back and hopefully one day- help him learn again. We started 20 hours a week of at home Behavior Therapy. We sent him to a private preschool one day a week with a typical special aid shadow that we paid out of pocket. We started private $85 an hour speech therapy again and would alternate other activities like horse back riding, swimming lessons and typical child play dates and outings. Some nights I couldn't sleep, I was so scared I was doing the wrong thing. After a couple of months Greyson started to come back. So slowly at first. And after a few months I finally experienced this blissful exhale of relief. We were on the right path doing exactly what we needed to do, a fact I could feel in my bones. Before I had been desperately searching for a path worn in the grass for us to follow- but I realized- it was up to us to wear our own path. For the past two years we have done our own thing, and Greyson is thriving, still stubborn and so happy. Greyson turned five nine months ago and I knew it was time to explore schooling options again. He needed the structure and curriculum that only five days a week school could provide. I was scared but ready. I called and spoke with the Director of the PALS preschool program and voiced all of the concerns we had about the first PALS classroom we were in. We set up a tour for another school in the PALS program, hoping that this site would be different. As soon as we walked in the door Greyson reached his arms up to Michael saying, I want up. My heart was thumping. Please let this be better, I repeated in my head over and over. There wasn't a toy in sight. There were no days of the week or colorful art or the children's names decorating the wall. Having autism means that my son is a professional learner and will be doing extra learning all of his life. When a child is only five, learning needs to look like joy and fun. This classroom looked more like a large storage closet. It felt like an insane asylum. A row of children sat in front of a Signing Time DVD; none of them engaged. There was a child strapped into a chair screaming, setting off the other children to do the same. Another child was yelling and groaning on the floor. My hands were shaking and I was rapidly swallowing so I wouldn't cry. Home, home, home, Greyson repeated over and over. Do you have any sensory activities /rooms for the kids? we asked We have a weighted vest, the Director replied. Do you do Speech Therapy one on one? Greyson does much better that way. No- we usually do speech in a group setting. It works better that way. They stood behind every reason they gave me, just like at the previous site. And most of the answers were - This is how we do it. This is how it works for children with autism. How could these professionals run an autism program and not even realize autism doesn't work that way for anyone? There is no one size fits all. We finished the tour and walked to our car. The air was thick with silence until I started to cry. "He can't go there. We can't make him. That was so awful. It's a place you go to dump your kid for five hours- not a place you send them to learn." "No- I agree," Michael said. "Greyson was gripping me so tight the whole time we were there... he remembers". Michael's voice started to crack as his words trailed off. For months we researched and asked everyone we could. I asked Teachers, and parents of children with autism. I prayed. I hoped. One evening we decided we needed to move to a completely different neighboring school district. Like pulling Greyson out of school- It was another moment filled with hope- but even more fear. What if we do all of this and it's an awful idea? What if we end up worse off? But we were ready to go for it and so we did. We listed our house and within a month it was sold and we had purchased another. Everything was moving so fast. And one month ago we started Greyson at a new school in an autism classroom. This week we had our first 30 day IEP meeting- Individualized Education Plan . An IEP is mandated by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The IEP describes how the student learns, how the student best demonstrates that learning and what teachers and service providers will do and provide to help the student learn most effectively. And with tears in my eyes I will tell you- this meeting was incredible. I finally felt like I could stop waiting for the other shoe to drop. This is it- and it is good. I looked around the large rectangular table filled with people willing to do what it takes to help Greyson succeed. It was hard not to cry. This environment has exceeded our expectations. The school does 1,000 things differently and in the best interest of how each individual learns. They have a whole room dedicated to gross motor and sensory stimulation- which really helps kids like Grey who need it to stay focused and calm. The way the Teachers describe Greyson and his learning process shows that they get him. The goals they set for him are hearty yet realistic. They took turns speaking at this meeting and you can tell they want him to succeed- and they will do everything they can to make it happen. His Teacher told me that he's the perfect fit to their classroom- and that they didn't even know until now that it had a Greyson shaped hole until he came along. His Teacher gave us a journal notebook to keep in Grey's backpack so she and I can communicate back and forth. The greatest part- Greyson walks into his classroom happy every single day. He may not talk but he can communicate --and that right there is the greatest sign. He likes going there- and because of that so do I. I hesitated writing this post for years. By nature, I am a fixer- not a complainer. But I feel a need to tell this truth. To admit that there have been scary decisions we've made that I've doubted and been sick over. To show that something bad can turn into something amazing. To remind you to trust your gut instincts. I believe that the people in the PALS program have good intentions but outdated practices that desperately need to be changed. For Greyson's privacy and safety, we do not share where he currently attends school. I look around at our new home and realize this is exactly where we are supposed to be. I feel like I dreamed this house and school into being. God has been here every step of the way, opening the right doors and closing the wrong ones. I frequently tried to walk into those closed doors and got hurt. I'm realizing now that's because it was time to walk away. And Greyson is doing amazing. It's so easy to forget that most set backs are temporary. Just recently he started to be able to write his name. And I've also realized that the journey isn't about writing his name or mainstreaming in a general education classroom. It's about the tiny little million things he does every day. The tiny things that lead up to these big milestones and miracles that blow us away. It's been a hard journey, but one that I am so proud to call ours.
Looking for a list of life skills to teach your child with special needs? Look no further. I've compiled 60 life skills my son has been working on.
This series will help you teach your teen life skills for this world and the next.
Is it ironic that I'm talking about laundry at school but I have a huge looming pile of it at home at all times? If you're teaching older students in Daily Living Skills Units I hope
Too Tired to Teach? It happens to the best of us. We all have those days where we stay up too late grading papers, planning fun lessons for the next day, organizing materials for science experiments (or binge watching your favorite show on Netflix). Then you pay for it the next day when you have […]
I'm so excited to share my labor of love..My life skills adapted book for special education. I have also been a huge supporter of having a life skills focus in the classroom. If you've been following me for a while, you'll know all about how much I promote the importance of life skills. You can
