Writing a schedule for the student to have is good.
Another idea is a "social story." These were made popular by a Carol Grey, I beleive. What it is, is a story about how the day will be different and what will be expected on that day.
For example, assume the student is going on a field trip to the zoo. The social story might might be in the form of a coloring book six pages long. The first page might be a drawing of the student getting to school and walking past this normal classroom to get to the bus. The next might be of the student on the bus going to the zoo. Then pictures of activites at the zoo. And a final picture of the student getting back to the school at the end of the trip. A younger student would color the pictures as the teacher explains the trip. An older one would draw the pictures, or possibly even write the book. This idea could be adapted to a different day within the classroom too, the zoo example is just an easy one to us.
How about schedule on the blackboard with things crossed as the day progesses.
My son's aspie/autie classroom as a special clock. I'm not sure how it works but it made so that at the start of each activity the teacher sets a timer and that part of the hour lights up a different color. For example, the clock face is white. If the class will have 40 minutes to read and they start at 9:00 the clock face from the 12 at the top to the 8 in the left side (ie 40 minutes) turns blue. As time passes, the past time turns red. So at, say 9:30 one has a clock with 30 minutes in red and 10 in blue. This way the students (and the teacher I guess) can tell at a glance how much time of a certain activity has pass and how much is left.
There is one child in the classroom that doesn't transition well. Whenever their is about 8 minutes of an activity left, an aide sets a bluzzer for five. The aide sets the buzzer on the student's desk. That act tells the student that it will soon be time to change activity. The buzzer indicates to them when to start cleaning up.
Reward systems are ever popular. For an odd day, the rewar should be quicker to earn than a regular day, I'd think.
Sometimes, if the teacher can see the student start to escalate before they know it themself, a "secret code" can be worked out. A tap on the desk might mean the student is dismissed to walk around and let of steam or whatever.
Having stress toys available is a good idea. Taping a pencil on a mouse pad relieves stress and doesn't bother others.
My older son's occupanial therapist said that chewing things, be it gum or fruit snacks or tiny bits of jerky, help people calm down as it works the jaw, people strongest bones and muscles.
Just a few idea.
19 Oct 2005, 11:56 pm
