Setting Intentions for the New Year: A Functional Academics Approach

Dear Inspirational Educators,

As we bask in the afterglow of the holiday season (Whew! We made it!) and shift focus to the rapidly approaching new year, I want to extend my heartfelt appreciation for the unwavering dedication and passion you bring to your classrooms each day. At SDES, we hope your holiday break is filled with solid rest, rejuvenation, and great expectations for continuing to invest in your classroom.  

Your commitment to fostering an inclusive and enriching learning environment is truly commendable. As we usher in this season of reflection and renewal, let’s explore how Functional Academics can be a guiding light in setting intentions for the upcoming year.

In the spirit of the New Year, I’d like to share a story that resonates with the challenges and triumphs many of you may face. We heard from Kate, a devoted teacher steering a class of 13 students with diverse needs through the Functional Academics curriculum. Her quest for meaningful lessons prompted an enriching exchange that led to strategies benefiting both her and her students.

Navigating Diverse Needs: Insights for the New Year

Kate reached out seeking guidance on running a classroom that has been quite difficult to manage because of the complex disabilities and varying skill sets. Through a great email exchange, we shared how the Functional Academics curriculum by SDES became our compass, guiding us through tailored strategies to create an environment where learning is not only meaningful but also fun when creativity and generalization is explored. I know that just by sorting through some of the challenges with others who know the landscape of all that Functional Academics has to offer, collaboration can make all the difference!

Let’s delve into some of these possible strategies, which may offer valuable insights for your own journey.

Organizing Your Classroom: Zones of Regulation

Consider creating distinct learning zones tailored to different needs, from physical support to visual schedules. The Zones of Regulation framework can be seamlessly integrated into your classroom culture. This tool aids in behavioral management, self-regulation, and effective communication of emotional needs.

Managing Your Schedule: Structure for Success

Implementing a structured daily schedule is foundational for a positive learning environment. Visual cues and auditory prompts, coupled with sensory-rich transitions like lighting changes or sound effects, can significantly reduce disruptive behaviors.

Lesson Planning for Diverse Needs: A Three-Step Approach

🔺Emerging Skills: Tactile Counting Activities

• Goal: Develop foundational skills for students at the emerging stage.
• Activity: Create hands-on counting activities with tactile materials like beads or blocks.
• Modification: Adapt for students with limited mobility by using larger objects or introducing a counting song for vocalization.

🔹Developing Skills: Color Recognition Games

• Goal: Build on emerging skills and introduce more complex concepts.
• Activity: Explore color recognition through interactive games, such as scavenger hunts for specific colors.
• Modification: Enhance color perception with high-contrast visuals and provide additional prompts.

🟩Practicing or Generalizing Skills: Real-World Integration

• Goal: Encourage students to practice and generalize skills in real-world settings.
• Activity: Establish a routine of counting or color identification during school-wide activities like morning announcements or lunchtime.
• Modification: Collaborate with other teachers for a consistent approach and create visual schedules for transitions.

Recommended Lesson Plans for Individual Strengths

Counting with Colorful Creations: Leverage artistic talents by incorporating counting into drawings. For instance, have students draw a specific number of objects in different colors.

Memory Skills Challenge: Capitalize on memorization skills by creating memory games related to academic concepts.

Communication Through Art: Utilize communication devices and encourage expression through images and words, fostering individual progress.

Kate’s journey embodies the spirit of setting intentions for the new year. Small, consistent steps can lead to significant progress. Steady plodding leads to great successes! 

Remember, you are not alone on this path, and your commitment to your students is truly inspiring.

Feel free to reach out in the comment section for more specific resources or to discuss any challenges further. Let’s link arms and make 2024 a year of shared growth and achievement.

Warm regards,

Barb Beck 🌟
Creative Content Director and Fellow Teacher-Friend,  Specially Designed Education Services (SDES)
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