This past class period we finished up our article about siblings of kids with autism. It prompted some great discussions and I feel as though you learned a lot. But now it's time to prove that to me! Your homework assignment for this week is to finish your letter to the sibling. Remember, it is a letter of encouragement, advice, or whatever you want to make it! It must be a page long and you MUST edit it. I will be taking points off for misspellings or those little grammar mistakes. You have had two weeks to work on these, so I expect great letters.
Before class ended I gave you an information packet (really only two pages!) about behavior support and treatments. This breaks down how to work (collect data) on behavior (ABC's), and some general questions that parents might have about how to get help or work on it at home. This is a simple introduction about behavior plans- which are SO important when working with a student with autism. You guys see the behaviors every day, and this is what we as teachers, and professionals, do to help get rid of the behaviors that we do not want.
Next week I will be showing you a behavior plan for one of our peers. You will see how easy, and at the same time, difficult, it can be to follow! You will understand that more once you have it in your hands. One thing to know before we dive into this subject is that sometimes behavior plans don't work. You might follow the plan perfectly, but the behaviors continue. When things like that happen, teachers and the rest of the team (like speech therapists, occupational therapists, principals, parents... etc.) will meet again, change some things and see how that goes! It's always a work in progress! No behavior plan is ever perfect, and we work on them like crazy.
For your homework this week about behavior plans: I want you to think of a behavior that your peer has. I want you to do the ABC's of that behavior (Antecedent: what happens before or triggers the behavior; Behavior: what is the problem behavior; Consequence: what happens after the behavior). Do this in a Google Doc. Use the example given at the bottom of the first page with the dog if you are confused on this (or email me!). Then, I would like you to come up with 2 ideas on what you could do to help change that behavior. I do not want you trying these ideas, just tell me your ideas. Make sense? Also, do not tell me two things that you are already supposed to do with your peer. That's not the point of this assignment.
Finally, one last (easy) homework assignment: We will be having our Autism Awareness Week during the week of November 12-16! I need three ideas from each of you on what we can do that week to raise awareness with your friends and the teachers here at school about autism. Write it as a response to this blog post. We will be taking what you have already learned, and try to teach them. How do you want to do this? This is your baby, so any idea is a great idea! You can also make the week and activities as big or small as you want. Have fun with it! We can even set up after-school sessions to work on things if you want. I'll bring treats :-) We will talk more about this on Tuesday, during our 5th hour class.
I hope you all had a great Halloween and had an even better Thursday off (while I was stuck here at school!). See you in the morning!
-Mrs. VanLaan