South Miami Senior High School

MARCH 13, 2008
We visited the Everglades Outpost located in Florida City just 3/4 miles from Robert's famous fruit stand! This was our first visit and it is probably one of the best activities we have engaged in. For a nominal contribution (Around $3 per person), you will get a guided tour of the facility and animals that have been rescued. You can see bears, camels, tigers, alligators, and many other animals. In addition, they have a collection of venomous snakes, monkeys, etc. The tour is short and the facility small, but students have an opportunity to see animals up close! Right outside the outpost is a large chickee hut with picnic tables. There is no food for purchase nearby so bring your lunch and drinks. Our students practiced receptive listening skills, and nature appreciation! After our visit, we drove down the street to Robert's fruit stand, where they had animals out in the back. We saw the workers cutting down sunflowers, and toured the fruit stand. Some of us had the famous milkshakes.....they truly are the best! Call ahead and make arrangements for a visit, you won't regret it! Money collected from the entrance donation/fee goes to providing the animals with food and care. For more information, go to http://www.evergladesoutpost.org/

DECEMBER 2007

December 2007 is a month long of celebration and learning. In an effort to help my students generalize skills, we participated in a holiday social that included most of our self-contained units in our school (We have eight). It was a great challenge to help my students with autism transition into a different environment and socialize with a different group of people. We had so much fun, and I was very proud of my students' appropriate behaviors! They were "the life of the party". Some skills specifically targeted for this activity were: Tolerance of proximity to others, self-regulation, impulse control, communication, and displaying appropriate pro-social behavioral skills. We had a great time!!!

November 2007





We spent a wonderful morning visiting Bayside with our students. They were very excited to see the cruise boats and the bay! A couple of our students had been there with their parents before. This was evident by the words and phrases they used to identify some of the things they saw. After visiting our favorite stores and enjoying the view, we had lunch at the food court and had pizza and soda.

Labels: Holidays at Happy Burger

The October month began with incorporating motivating activities, Halloween clip art etc. into our daily routines! Our students counted ghosts, read theme related stories, and went out on our CBI outings to try on costumes ,masks, and shopped for activity supplies.

On the 31st, we prepared our own holiday luncheon which required students to cook, bake and set the table for classmates.

After our lunch, we were invited into another classroom to engage in social activities and make crafts. It was great to see the smiles on my students faces when they entered the other class. They were respectful, cooperative, and felt at ease.

I felt like a proud mother hen! It was very gratifying to see my students generalize the skills we work so hard on in class! They were perfect guests!

The start of the new year posts challenges for our students with autism. Students have been away for the summer, either on vacation, at home, or at summer programs and "extended school year programs." In an effort to begin the class routines, here are some strategies that I incorporate in my classroom.

* Keep classroom layout the same - This allows my returning students to recognize their surroundings quickly. The bins, folders, and location of common materials and centers remain the same. Subtle changes are made, but keeping the environment consistent allows my returning students to get back on schedule quickly and reduces the stressors for everyone so I can begin training the new students effectively. I notice that when I receive a new student, and that student sees the others checking schedules, and following the routine effectively, the new student catches up quickly. Their classmates are the role models as they demonstrate the routine and expectations for the new student.
* Discuss, point, use visuals to address new changes, classmates, etc.- Every year I give my students advance information as to changes our class. I let them know verbally and through visuals that we have new students, and I remind them of class expectations. Remember to never, ever underestimate the abilities of our students. I find that many of my students understand what I want to convey when I use verbal, gestural, and visual prompts to communicate and it helps them recognize and accept changes in the class environment and structure.
*Discuss your expectations with new staff members- The earlier we inform our paras about our students and how we expect our paras to handle situations, meltdowns, etc. the better for all in the room. Schedules and routines are important for us too! If we are organized, and have a clear vision of our expectations and routines, we will get the most out of our valuable paras. Make certain that they understand their schedule, where they need to be and their individual responsibilties in assisting you to deliver the instructional program.Thank them in advance. Thank them often. THANK THEM ALWAYS!!! Most importantly, be their role models. Lead by example! We are all in this together!
*Review all goals and objectives with your classroom staff. There are many important things we teach that are in addition to specific goals and objectives on our IEP's. However, reviewing the goals and objectives will make sure that selected activities, worksheets, manipulatives etc., are directly relating to our students "priority educational needs". There is so much we can offer our students, that it is easy to deviate from our documented goals. One way I focus on my goals is to make a list of the goals for each of my students. As I prepare instructional materials, I refer to my list to make sure the activities are appropriate, and directly related to the PEN's.

I find that these strategies/tips are key in developing a positive successful environment for our students and ourselves. Hope it helps!
Have a great year!!

Ms. Fernandez

On April 21 we went to Miami Metro Zoo for our CBI experience. Our students engaged in a real hands on experience. We toured the zoo, rode the monorail, had a picnic lunch and enjoyed the petting zoo. Our CBI driver not only took us, but stayed with us and formed bonds with our class. Metro Zoo has discounted rates for MDCPS. Since our numbers in our Autism program are usually below the minimium required for discounts, I wrote a letter and we received reduced entrance rates, free entrance for teachers and paraprofessionals, and discounted prices for the monorail. We had a designated picnic space and the Zoo was very accommodating to us. For contact information see the website www.miamimetrozoo.com

March is the month of the year when we are all "tired" out teachers, paras and students. Our trip to the Dade County Youth Fair gave us a "breather". It was evident that our students had begun to generalize many of the skills we have been working so hard on since the year began. We rode, ate, rode again, ate some more, and our kids were experts in communicating their likes and choices. Just looking at the faces makes it clear that these students in the "spectrum" made valuable connections with the environment. Just look at those smiles! (That's me in the "shades") The only challenge: GETTING THEM OFF THE RIDES!