ALIST Spotlight-- Jennifer McGowan, Smith Middle School, Vandalia

This month's ALIST (Autism and Low-Incidence Support Team) Spotlight shines bright on Jennifer McGowan at Smith Middle School in Vandalia. 

When we first started coaching Jennifer she piloting a new unit in a new building and was working a student who had not previously attended a traditional public school program. Jennifer took these challenges in stride and blew us away with her thorough implementation of evidence-based practices and continual reflection and adapting to meet the needs of her students. 

When first entering Jennifer's classroom, you can see she makes great use of physical boundaries to clearly designate specific areas for each classroom activity. 

kitchen station

blue work station 

green work station

iPad station

structured work system station

finished bins for work stations

Jennifer uses location based schedules to help students navigate throughout the classroom and school environment with independence. Students remove the icon from their schedule and match it to the pocket at the corresponding location. We love this use of visual supports!

vertical folder schedule

horizontal clipboard schedule

location-based schedule pockets

Jennifer keeps her visual schedule icons organized using this great tool box.

Other visual supports Jennifer uses help to communicate expectations, 

visual countdown for transitions

line leader job display

stop sign visual cues in kitchen station

 

rules visuals

 illustrate instructional concepts,

support functional expressive communication,

and display student work.

Jennifer also proactively addresses her students' sensory needs through the evidence-based practices of exercise and self-management supports.

stationary bike

calming sensory space

heavy work pusher

ruler fidget

We love this innovative way to decrease auditory clutter in the classroom restroom using quilted moving pads. 

Jennifer also uses the evidence-based practice of reinforcement to motivate her students. 

reinforcement choice board

reinforcement system incorporating student's flag special interest

earning smiley faces reinforcement system

"working for" reinforcement system

A huge THANK YOU to Jennifer for welcoming us into her classroom and for being an outstanding model for other teachers in the area.