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 |
No comments:
Post a Comment