Pell/Hekman November Group Update

It is finally here!  Some pictures will come in the next few weeks to show you some of the things we are doing!!
SPEECH:
As I was able to share with some of you over conference week, our focus during speech-language groups this year will be reading and talking about “Predictable Books.” What I love most about predictable books is they are exactly what they sound like...predictable. Student’s who read predictable books are often better able to fill-in and use phrases, sequence story events, and answer comprehension questions. Predictable books are great for language-learning because they use repetitive language to teach an array of syntax skills including: articles (i.e. a, the, of), prepositions (i.e. on, in, around, above), noun-verb agreements (i.e. is, are, have, has)..not to mention a variety of verbs & vocabulary. Many of my speech-language students in the CI classrooms have goals in one or more of these areas, leading me to wonder..why haven’t I tried this sooner?!  Not only will we concentrate on improving expressive and receptive language skills targeted in our monthly books, but will continue to work with students on functional and social communication skills through the activities used. I am excited for our upcoming units and look forward to sharing with you in your child’s progress!
      Our book for November will be Cookie’s Week, by Cindy Ward. Cookie is a curious kitten who get’s into some sort of trouble each day of the week. What I enjoy about this book is it’s focus on the days of the week, sequencing, and the wide array of verbs that are targeted. I will send home a hand-made copy so that you may read the story at home with your child. Encourage them to label actions, pictures, and fill in the story. You can encourage them to fill in story events by giving the first part of the phrase (we call them carrier phrases) and have them fill in the rest. For example, say “On Monday, Cookie ____.” Encourage verbal attempts and be sure to give plenty of praise! :) You can also encourage your child to label possessive nouns and plural nouns by adding ending sounds  -es to the word. Be sure to emphasize the sounds for them as a model. Here is a list of vocabulary to focus on:
Verbs: Fall, knock down, upset, stuck, run, close, climb, rest

Plural Nouns: Plants, footprints, pots, pans, dishes, clothes, curtains

Possessives: Cookie’s toilet, Cookie’s footprints, Cookie’s closet, etc.
Suggested activities: 

1.  Go through the book. Find objects in your own home that match objects from the book. Work on producing -es endings to label plurals/possessives. Talk about the objects you find in the home and to whom they belong (i.e. “Mom’s pots and pans, Susie’s clothes, Johnny’s curtains”). You can expand length of utterance by playing “I spy”. Use the carrier phrase “I spy ____” or “I see____” to label the objects you find.
   
2. Action acting: Play Simon Says or act out the actions you read in the book. Get siblings involved and make a game out of it. Talk about how the verb may change after it happens (i.e. he is falling, he fell). 

Thanks for all of your practice at home!
Enjoy!
-Miss KlucK

OT:

We have been having so much fun getting to know your kids! It is truly a privilege for us to spend time with them in centers each Monday! We would like to fill you in on some of the areas we have been focusing on in the last 2 months and give you a glimpse of the things we will be doing in November. The focus for September & October was “tummy time”. We challenged your kids to build their back, neck, and core muscles by lying on their tummies, rolling over a therapy ball, and pushing themselves on a scooterboard to complete many different activities. We practiced many skills that involved using both of their hands together, such as; stringing beads, placing stickers, cutting different textures, passing or rolling a ball, building creative things with nuts & bolts, pounding golf tees into a pumpkin, and playing visual games.

Our focus for the month of November is going to switch from “tummy time” to “back time” and “all-4’s”. Your kids will be challenged to strengthen their tummy and core muscles through activities and fun games! We will be using special seats that will help to build strength and they will complete activities while on all 4’s to practice weight shifting. We will also be focusing on using one hand to complete activities, such as; throwing at a target, using a push pin to make a picture, using clips or clothespins to strengthen fingers, putting marbles on suction cups, manipulating small items, and doing some fun harvest & Thanksgiving activities, too!
Miss Sandy & Miss Jill      

PT:

For November we are going to be doing obstacle courses with a different focus each week.  We will be focusing on balance skills, jumping and hopping skills, and ball skills. 

Ms. Rebekah

SOCIAL:

In social skills group we are identifying feelings and matching responses to situations.  Activities we do will help the students connect cause and effect as well as a spectrum of emotions.  At the end of our lessons, the students will have been exposed to language that you can use at home and teachers will be using at school "big feelings are for big deals and little feelings are for little deals."  You can prompt your child with this question when they are overreacting, "this is a big feeling, the situation is a little deal.  Let's try using a little feeling so we match the situation.". Remember to model and praise!  It takes a village and I'm glad to be part of your child's.  We will also be making a "thankful book" using our feelings to represent the many things we are thankful for!  Once it is completed we will send it home so you can read it