I have 2 classrooms (AM/PM) of 3-6 year olds. I teach in an integrated setting so I have 8 students on IEP's in each class (16 total) and 4 peer mentors in each class (8 total). My students have been learning to recognize letters and numbers. We are currently involved in an investigation on the ocean. When beginning the current investigation, I asked my students what they wanted to know about the ocean and I got a range of answers. Many wanted to know about why submarines are used in the ocean, what animals live in the ocean, and why the end of waves are white. They are a very inquisitive group of kids.
I also have a few students who have more severe needs.
They benefit from having many different types of manipulates to use during circle time to help keep them focused on the lesson. They are very busy. I have a student with CP, a student with Autism and Epilepsy, and a couple students with some severe behaviors. These students can be a challenge, but meeting their individual needs is the most fulfilling part of my job.
My Project
These materials will help engage my students in learning. My students love using keys and locks, but the materials I have currently don't support the needs of my students with lower fine motor skills. The locks and keys are more developmentally appropriate for these students and this activity pairs learning alphabetic principle with fine motor skills. Currently I only have 6 chairs that are the proper size for my students, the rest of these chairs are too small for the majority of my students. Providing students with the proper sized chairs will take the focus off of who gets a big chair and who gets a small chair. Also, I plan to teach social skills and multicultural acceptance with the dolls. I have a dollhouse, but no dolls. These dolls will help students learn acceptance and social skills.
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