Fall Trees and Apples - Video 1 of 2

Summary

The video showcases an engaging and inclusive learning environment where students explore various activities centered around seasonal themes, particularly autumn and apples. The teacher emphasizes the use of music, storytelling, and interactive experiences to cater to the diverse needs of her students, many of whom have special needs. Through activities like reading, cooking, and sensory experiences, the students learn about seasons and participate in hands-on tasks like making 'autumn toast.' The focus is on creating accessible, enjoyable learning moments that encourage communication, motor skills, and sensory engagement.

Takeaways

• 📚 The lesson centers around the theme of autumn and apples, incorporating various activities to engage the children in different ways.
• 🎶 Music plays an important role in the classroom, helping children warm up, communicate, and stay engaged with the activities.
• 🌳 The teacher uses books as a key part of the lesson, specifically reading about seasons and making the learning interactive with 'story boxes' or 'story bags'.
• 🍏 One of the highlighted activities is a simulated field trip to an apple orchard, giving the children an experience similar to being in a real one.
• 👦 The teacher carefully tailors lessons to meet the sensory needs of her students, many of whom have impairments or limited life experiences due to time spent in hospitals.
• 🥞 A cooking activity, where the children make 'autumn toast' with colored milk, incorporates motor skills and encourages student engagement.
• ✋ Throughout the activities, each child is given a chance to participate, ask for turns, and communicate, ensuring everyone is involved in the process.
• 🌳 The children learn about the different seasons through tactile experiences, like feeling a bare tree for winter and discussing how trees change.
• 🍞 The cooking activity helps develop life skills, with students learning to smash bread, paint with colored milk, and use cookie cutters to make leaf-shaped toast.
• 💪 The teacher emphasizes holding high expectations for students with special needs, believing they are capable of more than what is often assumed, which leads to rewarding outcomes.

Q & A

What is the central theme of the activities mentioned in the script?

The central theme of the activities revolves around autumn and apples, incorporating various educational elements such as reading, cooking, and motor skill development.

How does the teacher use music in the classroom?

The teacher uses music as a tool to engage the children, helping them to get warmed up for activities, stretch, and communicate. Music is a key element that seems to resonate with all the kids, aiding in both learning and engagement.

What is the purpose of using 'story boxes' or 'story bags' during reading time?

The purpose of using 'story boxes' or 'story bags' is to make the reading experience more interactive and engaging for the children. By using objects related to the story, the teacher helps bring the book to life, making it accessible and meaningful for all the students, especially those with sensory or cognitive impairments.

How does the teacher accommodate the special needs of the students during lessons?

The teacher accommodates the students by planning differentiated lessons that meet their individual needs. She ensures that all students have opportunities to participate, engages them through multiple sensory activities, and uses tools like communication devices to help them express themselves.

What kind of cooking activity did the class do, and how was it connected to the theme?

The class made 'autumn toast' using colored milk and bread, connected to the fall season. This activity was integrated into the overall lesson on autumn and incorporated cooking, which the teacher enjoys as it engages the students and helps develop various skills.

How does the teacher make sure every student is engaged in classroom activities?

The teacher makes sure every student is engaged by providing clear opportunities for them to participate, either by requesting turns, giving instructions tailored to their communication needs, or directly involving them in activities such as smashing bread or painting with colored milk.

Why does the teacher place a strong emphasis on high expectations for students with special needs?

The teacher believes that students with special needs are capable of much more than what is often expected of them. By holding them to high expectations, she sees them achieve skills and learn in ways that others may not have anticipated, demonstrating their full potential.

What sensory experiences are incorporated into the reading lesson about seasons?

The reading lesson incorporates sensory experiences such as touching a bare tree to understand winter, smelling syrup to learn about sap, and feeling objects like squirrels and birds that are part of the story. These experiences help students, especially those with sensory impairments, connect with the content.

How are communication skills developed during these classroom activities?

Communication skills are developed by encouraging students to ask for turns, express their preferences, and use assistive devices or gestures to participate in conversations. The teacher prompts them to say 'my turn' or make other simple requests, fostering active participation.

What does the teacher believe is the key to helping her students succeed in learning?

The teacher believes that the key to helping her students succeed is maintaining high expectations and providing them with opportunities to learn in a way that meets their needs. She also emphasizes the importance of creating meaningful experiences that help students engage with the material in a way they can understand.