Who are your students?

1
Who are your students?

• seven 3 year olds, one 4 year old
• Identified with autism or developmental delays
• limited play and communication skills
• Start with existing skills and abilities

2
What intrigues you about teaching young children
with autism?

• Individuality, diversity of characteristics,
  abilities and skills
• Seeing first steps of growth
• Supporting families

3
How do you determine educational priorities for a
childs first school experience?

• Observe and follow the childs lead
• Build relationships with students
• Stress classroom structure and routines
• Building from individual strengths and interests

4
What are the aspects of your classroom that best
promote your students learning?

• The child is comfortable
• Trusting relationship with families
• Eclectic approach to learning
• Behavioral approach to classroom management
• Routines, structure and schedules
• Individualization
• Teaming

5
What is a typical day like in your classroom?

• Arrival time touching base with parents
• Circle time sitting and attending skills,
  following routine
• Snack communication and choices, setting limits
• Outside play play and motor development, social
  skills with other children
• Individual Activities - typical preschool
  experiences
• Lunch speech therapy and oral motor
• Playtime Sensory and motor play skills
• Dismissal - touching base with families

6
What qualities do you feel other teachers
recognize in you?

• Team player
• Resource to others
• Support for others

7
What does it take to make teaming happen?

• Changing perceptions
• Communication
• Sharing skills and ideas

8
What behavioral or instructional supports and
strategies have you shared with other teachers?

• Circle time visual support book
• Individual choice making opportunities with
  visual supports
• Food choice board

9
How do you approach working with the families of
your students?

• Know that families have different needs,
  priorities and resources
• Be non-judgmental
• Encourage learning
• Offer resources
• Acknowledge differences, teach to abilities

10
What are the challenges you face?

• Assessing student abilities and understanding
• Setting behavioral expectations
• Meeting the range of individual needs
• Staying energized

11
What do your students gain from their experience
in your classroom?

• Foundational skills
• Students learn from the skills and strengths of
  their teachers
• Learning will continue

12
What words of wisdom can you share?

• Love the children
• Challenge yourself to see beyond the disability