September 1-5

Have a nice looong weekend! :)

Word of Week (WOW): it

# of Week: 2

Letter of Week: B

Books: Am I?

  Earth’s Water

Upcoming dates:

9/10/14: 11:35 dismissal

9/19/14: IS Picture Day

Reminders:

• Review flash cards 4 times a week (the kids get tested on these)
• Tuesday is Library Day, please send books back each week
• Send a snack with your child everyday
• Notebook/folder come back everyday
• Give your child jobs to do at home:

feeding pet

making bed

helping with laundry

helping wash dishes/putting clean dishes away

picking up toys

packing book bag

etc.

Moster Listening

I have a Monster theme in my classroom this year and it seemed fitting that I had a Monster listening page for the kids.  The students had to listen to my oral directions and created a monster from those directions.  I love that everyone heard the same directions, but everyone's monster turned out differently!

The listening ties right in with our Whole Body Listening we have been learning this weekend.

Social Thinking Curriculum

This school year, we have started a Social Thinking Group using the Social Thinking Curriculum.  Mrs. Patten (speech path), Miss Marketti (social worker), and myself will be the implementers of this curriculum.  We started our Social Thinking Group today by reading about Whole Body Listening.  The kids learned what whole body listening is, why we use it, and why it is important.  We will be using terminology from this curriculum during the day to help the students learn and retain the information.  Below you will find a picture of a poster I have in my classroom about whole body listening.  Ask your child about being a whole body listener!

August 25-29

Week of August 25-29

Word of Week (WOW): As

# of Week: 1

Letter of Week: A

Books: (your child will only have 1 book)

Who Am I?

Cool as a Cuke

Upcoming dates:

9/1/14: No School, Labor Day

9/10/14: 11:35 dismissal

9/19/14: IS Picture Day

Reminders:

• Review flash cards 4 times a week (the kids get tested on these)
• Tuesday is Library Day, please send books back each week
• Send a snack with your child everyday
• Notebook/folder come back everyday
• Give your child jobs to do at home:

feeding pet

making bed

helping with laundry

helping wash dishes/putting clean dishes away

picking up toys

packing book bag

Open House

CCIS Open House is Thursday, August 21st from 6:00-7:30.  Please come visit the school and classroom, then enjoy some cookies in the cafeteria!!

Here is a little project the kids worked on this week.  The kids are rockin' in their school shoes! :)

Welcome Back

Welcome to the 2014-2015 school year!  That was one fast summer, but I'm happy to be back at school with the kids for a new year of learning and fun!

Please check my blog weekly for information about the class.  At the start of each week I will post the info for the week (number of the week, word of the week, story, upcoming dates, etc.).  You will also find pictures of different activities in our classroom.

I have a new behavior system this school year.  I have gone to a 3 level system.  Students earn pennies for following our classroom rules.  At the end of the day, the students count the pennies to see how many they have.
1-30 pennies is Level 1 (yellow)
31-60 pennies is Level 2 (green)
61-100 pennies is Level 3 (purple)

Each level will have 3-4 different rewards the students can earn.  If a student is at Level 1, they can only earn a Level 1 reward.  If a student is at Level 2, they can pick from Level 1 or 2 rewards.  If a student is at Level 3, they can pick from Level 1, 2, or 3.  The students will put their color in their notebook at the end of the day so you can see what level they were on.  We started this today, and the kids really seemed to like it!  This kind of behavior plan is all about encouraging positive behavior.

This Thursday (8/21) is Open House at CCIS from 6:00-7:30.  Please come visit the classroom and have your child take you on a tour of the school.  If you need help setting up Remind 101, I will be happy to help you that night.  Hope to see everyone Thursday!

The start of school is always a big transition, so please make sure your child gets plenty of sleep and eats breakfast before school.  Remember to send student's notebook and folder to school each day.

We are off to a great start in the TRAILS program!  :)

Summer

Hello families!  Happy summer!!  It's hard to believe this summer is quickly coming to an end.  I hope everyone has been able to get out and enjoy the weather and get some rest at the same time.  I've had a pretty good summer.  I work part-time during the summers as a lifeguard and teach swim lessons.  This summer I also taught a Mommy and Me class at the Morris City Pool.  Despite working, I have been able to sneak some fun into my summer!  I went to a Bruno Mars concert with an old college roommate in June....it was AWESOME!!!  At the end of June I went up to Door County, WI for a few days.  I enjoyed the water, delicious food, and time away from work and IL.  My sister and brother-in-law moved from VA to IA this summer.  I was able to visit them and see their new house.  Some family friends from Las Vegas were home for a month, and we took a trip down to Purdue University for the day (she and I both went to Purdue).  As the summer comes to a close, I will be heading up to Milwaukee, WI to see family and enjoy the WI State Fair.

Along with my travels and work, I have been taking an online class about autism.  I am really enjoying learning new things about autism.

I hope the remainder of the summer goes well for everyone!  I look forward to seeing the kids in August and having a great school year!!!!

Below you will find the 2014-2015 School Supple list

School Supply List

2014-2015

Classroom Supplies

·      Markers (fat)

·      Crayons (a box of 8-16)

·      1 package of highlighters

·      1 package of pencils

·      4 packages of glue sticks

·      3 packages of note cards (3x5 size)

·      1 package of low odor dry erase markers (bright or regular colors)

·      2 folders

·      1 plastic pencil box

·      Hand sanitizer (with a pump)

·      4 tubes of disinfecting wipes

·      1 box of large zip lock bags

·      1 box of quart size zip lock bags

·      P.E. shoes

·      Notebook (Jacob and Lexi only)

Grooming Supplies

·      Tooth paste

·      Toothbrush

·      Brush (girls)  Comb (boys)

·      Deodorant (no sprays)

Please contact me with any questions about supplies.  svahle@ccu1.net

(815) 634-2182 ex 1366

 Here is a little something I bought for the new school year!!  An electric aquarium....no feeding or cleaning required!! :)

See everyone soon!!! :)