ALIST Spotlight: Amy Beanblossom, Arcanum Elementary

Our team loves working with ALIST Intervention Specialist Amy Beanblossom at Arcanum Elementary! We have had the pleasure of visiting her classroom many times over the years which has given us the opportunity to capture TONS of great ideas to share in today’s ALIST Spotlight.

 

Organization

The first step to an effectively ran classroom is organization! Amy implements a variety of organization strategies across all areas of the classroom including:

Classroom Layout

Physical boundaries for centers station

Locking toy shelf for leisure time

Physical boundary using divider

Visual Boundary for lining up

Paraprofessional Planning

Center Rotation schedule

Paraprofessional Schedules

Zoning Plan

Materials Organization

Labeled bins for table activities

Labeled bins for center activities

Extra schedule icons for student schedules on binder rings

Student Schedules

Differentiated Student Schedules

Student check-out system for leaving classroom

Progress Monitoring

Color Coded Post-it Progress Monitoring System

Student Work displays

Interactive Activities

Amy knows that engaging students is essential to effective classroom management and student progress. Amy's creativity is evident in the interactive activities she has created for students from classroom rules, to daily reading activities, and fun cooking groups. 

Classroom rules with 3D visuals

Reading The Very Hungry Catepillar with interactive pieces for students

Interactive story pieces and differentiated sequencing headbands for Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear?

Recipe Review Worksheet

Amy also knows the importance of differentiation. She creates interactive activities that are easily accessible to students at their ability level. 

Differentiated Calendar Interactive Activities

Sensory Supports

Students are most successful when they are able to stay regulated and sensory supports are built in throughout their day. Amy does an awesome job of addressing these needs and finding creative ways to regulate students. 

Over the years, Amy has trialed a variety of calming spaces within the classroom for students to use for a break in a sensory-neutral area. 

PVC Calming Cube area

Beanbag Break area

Sensory corner

Amy has also used a variety of seating options for students working on learning tasks. 

Study Carrel home base station

Adapted carpet seating options

Throughout the day, Amy plans engaging sensory activities for students to complete independently or as a group including sensory bins, yoga, GoNoodle videos, and a FOCUS wall. 

Rice sensory bin

Football themed focus wall for letter and symbol matching

Sensory option choice folder

Communication Supports

Many of Amy's students have limited functional communication skills. Amy does a great job of preparing picture-supported communication tools for students to use during interactive learning activities. Additionally, she has specific communication supports readily available for students to use throughout the day. 

Wh-Question flipbook with sentence strip cover

Communication board for managing frustration