This week we continued our work learning the 5 point scale. We often refer to it when we want children to reference how they are feeling and whether they need help calming down or solving a problem. Once children can identify how they are feeling it is easier to advocate for themselves and share that information with others. Often, children on the autism spectrum assume we know their thoughts and feelings because they lack perspective taking (Theory of Mind). This is one way we can help to teach that or build that gap a little.
We finished the coloring and identifying each number and did an activity with picture cards of various stressors or events and sorted how they made each of us feel. For example, a fire drill could make someone a 4 where others it made a 3. A birthday party could make someone a 3 but others a 1 or 2. We talked about how people sort them differently because we each have our own thoughts and opinions. This was really hard for the 1st graders to understand. The kindy kids are really too egocentric right now to understand the concept, so I didn't cover it in detail.
The kids will be bringing home a 5 point scale they will be coloring so you can see the numbers and the feelings we have covered. Then as you notice they are demonstrating a certain feeling or behavior you can reinforce this by identifying it for them. "Wow! You look so happy playing right now. I bet you are at a #1!" or "Seems like this is frustrating. Are you feeling a #3?" The more we practice this, the more we will set a foundation for them as they get older to help self-identify and communicate their needs, feelings, and wants. As kids get upset here and if they lose control at a #5 our rule is you have to calm your body back down to be a #1 or #2 in order to go back to class or other activities (lunch, recess, etc.). We help by taking deep breaths, offering a hug, giving arm and shoulder squeezes, or just quiet time with no words or touching for 1-3 minutes.
In academics, the kindergarten kids worked on the sight words is (by ripping scrapbook paper and decorating a large sight word), go, my, and I. Some were review. We watched a video with the songs (like the go song I posted). We worked on oral story telling with our heart maps and story telling math problems on our fingers. We worked on labeling and this will continue into this week.
The kids did a wonderful job with the fire drill, too! It was a great first drill. We will have more scheduled in throughout the year as required by law (not by the ASD teachers-hehe ;) ).
We finished the coloring and identifying each number and did an activity with picture cards of various stressors or events and sorted how they made each of us feel. For example, a fire drill could make someone a 4 where others it made a 3. A birthday party could make someone a 3 but others a 1 or 2. We talked about how people sort them differently because we each have our own thoughts and opinions. This was really hard for the 1st graders to understand. The kindy kids are really too egocentric right now to understand the concept, so I didn't cover it in detail.
The kids will be bringing home a 5 point scale they will be coloring so you can see the numbers and the feelings we have covered. Then as you notice they are demonstrating a certain feeling or behavior you can reinforce this by identifying it for them. "Wow! You look so happy playing right now. I bet you are at a #1!" or "Seems like this is frustrating. Are you feeling a #3?" The more we practice this, the more we will set a foundation for them as they get older to help self-identify and communicate their needs, feelings, and wants. As kids get upset here and if they lose control at a #5 our rule is you have to calm your body back down to be a #1 or #2 in order to go back to class or other activities (lunch, recess, etc.). We help by taking deep breaths, offering a hug, giving arm and shoulder squeezes, or just quiet time with no words or touching for 1-3 minutes.
In academics, the kindergarten kids worked on the sight words is (by ripping scrapbook paper and decorating a large sight word), go, my, and I. Some were review. We watched a video with the songs (like the go song I posted). We worked on oral story telling with our heart maps and story telling math problems on our fingers. We worked on labeling and this will continue into this week.
The kids did a wonderful job with the fire drill, too! It was a great first drill. We will have more scheduled in throughout the year as required by law (not by the ASD teachers-hehe ;) ).