Box of Happy Thoughts

Hi everyone! It has been a while, but I wanted to fill you in on what has been happening in our class. For this past Fun Friday we had a yoga class and a zumba class! The students got to relax with some yoga first thing in the morning and then dance their feet off with some zumba!

In Peter Pan all you need to fly is some fairy dust and happy thoughts. In the afternoon we discussed our own personal happy thoughts. We created our own Boxes of Happy Thoughts. On the outside is all of the things that make us happy in our lives. The inside will have our ultimate happy thought that would lift us into the air if we were in Neverland. Many of the students picked family and friends as what would help them defy gravity. I will post a picture of our boxes soon!

A Shel Silverstein Poem

 Here is a poem by Shel Silverstein I found in his collected book of poems Where the Sidewalk Ends. We will be reading it today in class and I hope it encourages an interest in poetry.

Captain Hook

Captain Hook must remember

Not to scratch his toes.

Captain Hook must watch out

And never pick his nose.

Captain Hook must be gentle

When he shakes your hand.

Captain Hook must be careful

Openin' sardine cans

And playing tag and pouring tea

And turnin' pages of his book.

Lots of folks I'm glad I ain't--

But mostly Captain Hook!

Shel Silverstein

Monroe County Fair

On Friday we went to the Monroe County Fair with Patrick Singer's class, Cicely Neri's class, and Beth Looby's class. The students enjoyed many rides such as the ferris wheel, swings, and the "orbiter." Three of our students played a ping pong toss game and all of them won twice! They won a goldfish for each time they landed a ping pong ball on top of a glass bottle.

Our first full week went great! We have just reached the point in Peter Pan where the Darling children leave the nursery. We have discussed the characterization of Peter, Wendy, and Captain Hook. We have also discussed how this is a fantasy because people cannot fly, a dog cannot be a nanny, and stars cannot speak. Everyone is enjoying the novel so far, especially because of the amazing pictures in our books!

Work Started!

Work has officially started! This summer is the first time our students will continue to go out to work for SWIP. Students were all sent home a permission slip to leave the building with their job coaches, so please make sure they come in.

Our in-house jobs are: a car wash with Patrick Singer, food services with Cicely Neri, horticulture with Beth Looby, and clerical work with Mark Pincelli. Job sites visited by my students include: Joanne's Fabrics, the Mother House, Walgreen's, and PWI. Students have been excited to continue this work over the summer. Research shows that for our students, going out into the community on work experiences is one of the leading contributors for post-school success. I am excited for the direction the SWIP program is taking to ensure the best education for our students.

We are going to the Monroe County Fair on Friday! Pictures and another post to follow at the end of the week!

Welcome Back!

Welcome Back!

It is now the end of the first week of summer and things can't be going any better! It was great to see everyone back, even though we will be missing a few of our fall classmates this summer. All of the students have been given fun "nicknames:" Alligator Allison, Sarah "Rose," Nick "Weatherman," Austin "Powers," Baba3, Nick "Biggy," Josiah "Too Sweet," Samwise the Brave, B-Rendan, Danyel "Sunshine." This was a fun way for the kids to come back and find their new seats.

We will be reading Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie this summer and watching the 2003 movie as well as Hook with Robin Williams. I am currently planning a few CBIs and will be posting them here when things are settled. Have a great weekend and I will be posting soon!