Help me give my students a way to express themselves by using different puppets to put on a show using their new tabletop puppet theater and observe using the carpet squares.
My students range from kindergarten to fifth grade and all of them fall somewhere on the autism spectrum. All of my students are bright and intelligent and they love to learn. They are with me and my paraprofessionals all day, so we are looking ways to encourage them to use their intelligence to push themselves to be their best. Some of them read on grade level, while some are just beginning that process. They love to get up and move and to sing to their favorite songs.
We have made great strides during the first semester and will see that trajectory continue this semester and for years to come.
I want my students to be as successful in life as they can be. I know that the foundation for that starts here in elementary school. Everyday is a celebration in our classroom. Not only am I teaching the students their academics, but I am also teaching the social skills needed to interact with their peers outside of this classroom.
My Project
My students are creative and love to put on performances for those of us in the classroom. By using puppets and a puppet theater, my students will be able to tap into their creativity, while tapping into their feelings and emotions. This will help them discuss what they are feeling and be able to understand what their friends might be experiencing.
Since it is often difficult for autistic students to express their social and emotional feelings, this will give them a safe way to do that.
Students who participate will find it easier to discuss their feelings with me or one of the paraprofessionals in the room. Social and emotional learning has been a big part of what we teach everyday and as I said, my students sometimes have difficulty expressing themselves.
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