My students need imaginative play items such as a cash register, block sets, and accessories so that students have the opportunity to pretend in engage play which develops vocabulary, social and pragmatic skills, and fosters creativity!
As a teacher working in a low income/high poverty elementary school there is a high need for specialized special-education programs. My students are all a part of the COMPOSITE program. Their disabilities range from high-functioning Autism, Intellectual Disabilities, Learning Disabilities, and mild to moderate behavioral needs. A majority of the students in my program have overcome many difficulties.
My students are challenged daily, but persevere and love to learn.
These students age range from Kindergarten to 3rd grade and all have individual behavior, social, emotional and academic goals. My students work extremely hard daily, school isn't easy for any of them, and to reach their goals takes determination, effort and stamina.
Each student is not just in my program to work on academics, many have social, functional and emotional goals that they also are working on daily. School is a safe place for them, and a place that they have learned to challenge themselves, and become independent, hard workers.
My students are sweet, friendly, kind children with giant hearts, who are looking to find their strengths and to feel good about themselves.
My Project
My students work extremely hard on academic skills. School doesn't come easy to them, and so having down time and time to be creative is also important. My students also have functional, social and emotional deficits, which means most areas of their lives are difficult. School should be a place to work on goals, but also to stretch their imaginations, allow them to be creative, and to give them time to be kids.
My students will be able to practice social, functional, conversational and behavioral skills while PLAYING!
Play has become a past-time for kids, school has become all about academics. For my students play will be a fun way to work on many goals. With the blocks sets, cash register and market accessories, and small table in this project, my students will be able to build, create, imagine, and be creative, they will be able to feel joy in learning and mastery of goals.
As a teacher in Maine in winter we often have inside recess, these toys will also give us the opportunity to provide more meaningful play during those times.
Play is a beneficial and necessary instructional technique for young children, and even more so for my students with disabilities who are working on goals that target many areas of their development.
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