ALIST Spotlight: Molly Magoteaux- Intervention Specialist, Northmont City Schools

Our Autism & Low-Incidence Support Team (ALIST) is compiled of education professionals across the Miami Valley who use best practices and evidence-based practices with fidelity, are able to model their expertise for others, and have tons of great ideas to share. ALIST Intervention Specialist, Molly Magoteaux, is no exception! Last year our team had the pleasure of working with Molly at Kleptz ELC in Northmont and we can't wait to share some of the awesome ideas we saw in today's ALIST Spotlight!

Organization

The first step in any successful classroom is organization! Especially when you have multiple staff members, students at different grade levels, and various activities happening at any given moment. Molly did an awesome job of staying organized and organizing classroom supports so everyone knew where to find needed materials. 

Material organization using labeled, clear containers makes it easy for staff to grab their materials to take to their table. 

A Staff Communication Corner provides a predictable location for announcements and posting important documents such as schedules or calendars. 

Color-coding student bins makes it easy for students to locate what they need even when they haven't mastered reading their name.

Physical and Visual Supports

Molly's students had complex needs and benefitted from a variety of visual and physical supports to communicate expectations. These supports are also an excellent way to increase consistency in supporting student needs across staff members. 

During carpet time, Molly's students benefited from adapted seating options to address mobility and sensory needs. 

Location-based schedules using colored location labels is a great way to encourage independent transitioning. 

Visual contracts help communicate to students how many tasks need to be completed before they earn preferred activities. 

Incorporating Special Interests

Molly is an expert at identifying her students' special interests and finding creative ways to incorporate them into the classroom from sign language videos at carpet time to independent work tasks. We love this cute name sequencing task for a Minnie Mouse lover!

We are delighted to have Molly as one of our ALIST members! A special 'thank you' goes out to her and her staff for welcoming us into the classroom and sharing all of these great supports!

Taskbox Time: Literacy

There is no limit to the types of tasks you can incorporate into your students' structured work times. Most academic and functional life skills tasks can be adapted in some way to make it into a structured taskbox. Today's Taskbox Time has gathered a variety of tasks geared towards Literacy Skills. We are excited to show you these awesome examples from the Miami Valley and beyond!

Alphabet

One of the most basic literacy skills is letter and sound identification. We love these creative options for matching letters and identifying sounds. 

Letter Matching File Folder
Dustin Krouse
Horace Mann Elementary, Springfield

Uppercase-Lowercase Letter Matching Lids
Raising Dragons

Uppercase-Lowercase Letter Matching Clothespins
Jamie Minnish
Prass Elementary, Kettering

Leap Frog Beginning Sound Puzzle
Debi Gnau
Mad River Early Childhood Center, Mad River

Name Skills

Many functional literacy curriculums focus on name skills including name identification and sequencing. This can be done through velcro board and file folder tasks. 

Name Sequencing Velcro Board
Jenna Fitch
Demmitt Elementary, Vandalia

Name Sequencing Velcro Board
Deanna Mullins
Kiser Elementary, Dayton

Name ID File Folder

Name Sequencing with Picture Cue
Jamie Minnish
Prass Elementary, Kettering

Special Interest Name Sequencing Velcro Board
Molly Magoteaux
Kleptz ELC, Northmont

Spelling

Spelling is another popular independent work task. We love how these tasks use manipulatives to spell simple words. Remember if you are not working 1:1 with the student to develop a way for them to display their work so that it can be checked later. This can be done through setting up completed words in a seperate location such as a tray or cookie sheet. Some classrooms even allow students to take pictures of the finished product to add to their virtual portfolio. What a great use of classroom technology!

Magnetic Letter Spelling Box

Find and Spell Rice Bin
Katie Bigelow
Brookville Elementary, Brookville

Sight Words

Another important literacy skill is identifying sight words. We love how these tasks range from basic sight word matching, to matching to a picture, and following lists such as shopping lists or lists for stocking shelves. There are endless opportunities for tasks whether your students are working on a traditional or life skills curriculum. 

Worksheet Converted to File Folder Sight Word Task

Unique Learning System Sight Word Matching

'Getting Dressed' Clothing Sight Word File Folder

Shopping List and Menu Sight Word File Folders

'Stocking Shelves' Grocery Sight Word File Folder

Comprehension

Most classrooms use worksheets for comprehension tasks. But what if your student has limited handwriting skills or hates to write? You can get creative in your comprehension tasks using velcro boards and adapted books. 

Question Word Picture Sort
Brittany Bush
Spinning Hills Middle School, Mad River

Match Picture to Sentence Adapted Book

Adapted Book
Jamie Minnish
Prass Elementary, Kettering

Match Picture to Sentence Adapted Book

Super Star Schedules: Schedule-Based Reinforcement Plans

Some of our referral students have targeted behavior goals that they work on each day. We find great success when these goals are clearly communicated and then reinforced consistently throughout the day so that the student knows exactly what is expected and exactly what is earned as a result of meeting their goals. A Schedule-Based Reinforcement Plan is a great way to present these expectations, provide a structured visual support, deliver reinforcement, and track progress. Today's Super Star Schedules provides ideas for Schedule-Based Reinforcement Plans that can work for students at various age levels. 

For younger students, targeting a single goal is a great place to start. Some students will be reinforced by a simple smiley face, star, or sticker on their chart. 

Picture Schedule with Sticker Reward System

Smiley Reinforcement Chart
Debi Gnau
Mad River Early Childhood Center, Mad River

Interactive Schedule with Token Economy
Amanda Naylor
Helke Elementary, Vandalia

While others may benefit from a break to do a special activity or get a tangible reinforcer after earning a designated number of positive marks. 

Picture Schedule with Stars to Earn Breaks
Mary Nolan & Shanon Vance
Valley Forge Elementary, Huber Heights

Smiley Face Behavior Schedule
Beth Young
Snyder Park Elementary, Springfield

The Autism Helper

Smiley Face Behavior Schedule
Jessie Henry
Tri-Village Elementary, Tri-Village

Coin Earning Schedule Path
Sandy Beck & Bethany Czapor
Broadway Elementary, Tipp City

As the student masters a single focus area, they may be ready to focus on multiple goals. Often this can be communicated using multiple columns on their schedule for each goal area. 

Two-Column Behavior Schedule

Three-Column Smiley Face Behavior Schedule
Leslie Mann
Demmitt Elementary, Vandalia

Older students often use a Point System or Check-In/Check-Out (CICO) System. 

Schedule Point System with Smiley Faces
Heather Balkcom
Springcreek Primary, Piqua

Weekly Period Point Sheet
Korie Jacobs
Mad River Middle School, Mad River

For more great examples of reinforcement systems, check out our previous posts:

Reinforcement Systems

More Reinforcement Systems

Reinforcment for Task Completion

Tips for Incorporating Reinforcement

 

Regulation Rendezvous: Class-wide and Individual Proactively Scheduled Sensory Breaks

School can be overwhelming for students, especially those with autism or low-incidence disabilities. It can be very sensory-rich and full of demands. To help students stay regulated, focused, and ready to learn, it is important to proactively schedule sensory breaks throughout the school day to address sensory needs and provide a break from various demands. Because they promote self-regulation, sensory breaks should not be contingent upon behavior or work completion. Sensory breaks can be beneficial as a class-wide and/or individual support. They may occur within the classroom or in another designated location. Today's Regulation Rendezvous will provide a variety of sensory break ideas from our referral districts. These recommendations will be organized by class-wide breaks that can be done with a group of students, individual breaks within the classroom in which the student takes a break at their desk or in an area of the classroom, or individual pull-out breaks where students are taken out of the classroom to a separate location. 

Movement Breaks

Movement breaks can be a great way to meet student sensory needs when they seek vestibular input or if they have been inactive or seated for long periods of time. 

Class-wide Breaks: We often hear these breaks referred to as "brain breaks" in the classroom. They can be scheduled during traditions between long periods of seated instruction or during times where the class seems sluggish or unfocused such as before lunch or late in the afternoon. Be sure to choose movement activities that will leave their bodies ready for the next activity. For instance, a guided dance may be more appropriate before specials or lunchtime while yoga may be a better choice before math class. Use visuals, choice board, or project visual supports to provide guidance. 

Unicef Kid Power Videos

GoNoodle Videos

Exercise Choice Board
Brittany Bush
Spinning Hills Middle School, Mad River

Circle Time Yoga Moves
Shanon Vance
Valley Forge Elementary, Huber Heights

Individual Breaks Within Classroom: There are a variety of ways to embed movement for individual students within the classroom. Some classrooms provide active adapted seating options, create movement-based center activities, or select movement-based classroom jobs for the student. 

FOCUS Wall Center
Amy Beanblossom
Arcanum Elementary, Arcanum

Heavy Work Book Sorting Center
Stevenson Elementary, Mad River

Stationary Bike Desk
Allysson Rudnicki
Tipp High School, Tipp City

Sensory Circuit Exercise Choices
Bobbi Jo Chapman
Snyder Park Elementary, Springfield

Classroom Sweeper Job
Robbie Whorton
Trotwood-Madison High School, Trotwood

Individual Pull-out Breaks: Sometimes students need movement beyond what can be done within the classroom. They may need more room for gross motor movements or may need increased vestibular input. 

Heavy Work Delivery Job
Bradford Elementary

Walk Break Choice Board Visual Support
Peggy Ristau
Brookville Intermediate, Brookville

Weight Room Break
Wayne High School, Huber Heights

Sensory Room Choice Board
Driscoll Elementary

Deep Breathing

Deep breathing is a great sensory break activity to help students relax and calm their bodies. 

Class-wide Breaks: In some of our classrooms, teachers schedule time to deep breath with students while waiting in line during transitions or when preparing for a test or quiz. There are a variety of video supports to guide students during deep breathing practice or any of the individual visual supports can be used as group supports.

Deep Breathing Video from GoNoodle Empower Tools Channel

Individual Breaks Within Classroom: Visual supports can be a helpful way to support students learning to deep breath. Individual deep breathing breaks can be scheduled prior to transitions that are frequently stressful or challenging for the student. 

Breathe Folder

Breath Repetition Counting Visual

Rainbow Breath Visual
Heather Balkcom
Springcreek Primary, Piqua

Individual Pull-out Breaks: Some students may need to be pulled out for direct instruction of deep breathing. Or they may benefit from whole body deep breathing activities such as belly breathing or air walk breathing. 

Air Walk Breathing

Swimming Stuffies Belly Breathing

Sensory Neutral Calming Breaks

At times, students just need a time to relax. They need a break from sensory stimuli and active demands.

Class-wide Breaks: Class-wide breaks can be as simple as turning off the lights and putting on some calming music and allowing students to sit quietly. These breaks can also be a great opportunity to introduce mindfulness and meditation practices. 

GoNoodle FLOW Channel

GoNoodle Think About It Channel

Calm Connect (formerly MeMoves)
Leslie Mann
Smith Middle School, Vandali Butler

Class Calming Time with Fidgets, Adaptive Seating, and Oceanscape
Rylie Jarrett
Stevenson Elementary, Mad River

Individual Breaks Within Classroom: Having a safe spot to relax within the classroom such as a Calming Corner or Home Base can be a great way for students to escape sensory demands with minimal disruption to their learning. Schedule times to take a calming break before stressful transitions or prior to more challenging academic work. A cozy spot works well for many students while a tent can be an additional barrier to blocking out external clutter and stimuli. 

 

Chill Corner
Barbara Martin
Watts Middle School, Centerville

Calming Corner
Jessica Stewart
Trotwood ELC, Trotwood

Pop Up Tent
Rylie Jarrett
Stevenson Elementary, Mad River

Individual Pull-out Breaks: Some students may need to completely escape the classroom to decompress and regulate. Providing a separate sensory neutral location can be a great support.

Calming Sensory Room
Kettering High School, Kettering

Calming Sensory Room
Demmitt Elementary, Vandalia

When evaluating the effectiveness of your students' sensory break, keep in mind that participation in sensory breaks should result in students feeling/appearing calmer and more regulated. If you need help planning for these important breaks, consult with your district occupational therapist. For more information on proactively scheduled sensory breaks check out our previous blog post:

Regulation Rendezvous: Proactively Scheduled Sensory Breaks

And for additional information on different types of breaks including Reinforcement and "In the Moment" Breaks don't miss this post:

Around Town Round Up: Types of Breaks