Hey Guys!
I created a new PDF science project for my students to try at home. We do science every Thursday, so even though all their work packets are optional, I'm trying to give them the more resources I can to stay in a routine. This is especially important for children with Autism (my whole class)

What's great is that I can multi-task! My kids get to try out the experiment before I send it off to my students! It was a hit and now you can try it too! ​

We made a prediction which pom-pom would travel further using a hair dryer. We had a regular pom-pom, and then we had one that had glittery parts that made the pom-pom "spikey" and gave it more friction. 

The girls totally wanted to sparkly pom-pom with the spikes to win, but afterwards we talked about why the "spikes" might have slowed down the pom-pom. 

You can try any object at home you want! You can compare size and shape or weight. There's lots of ways to experiment with this one and extend the lesson and the fun. We mostly stuck with just pom-poms but we experimented with using our breath vs the hair dryer vs the fan. It was a lot of fun and kept them busy for a while. Raea set up her own experiment later involving pushing colored pencils around on the floor.... that is until she wiped out with them! 

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Enjoy! 

I am going to keep these short and to the point, just go ahead and scroll down for the PDF if you want! Today we did a quick brownie baking activity. Of course I can't function without chocolate, and I'm also trying to be a little less indulgent since I've been unable to train competitively and consistently for over 2 years, so probably not necessary... It was for the kids! I swear! I'm Gluten Free these days, so I bought a premix package and just added eggs, oil (I used coconut oil) and water... I don't even know what a regular brownie mix asks you to add, so I left off any specific measurements, and just put in the basic steps. 

We went over the ingredients, and followed the instructions. It was nice that they could have a visual to help them follow along and check off each step as it was complete. As I write this, we still haven't eaten them. I'm going to make them wait until after they eat dinner! Bribery goes a long way with these things! 

Enjoy! 

Hello to whoever may be out there! Today my daughters and I did an "Ant's on a Log" activity and we had a lot of fun! I have MANY pre-made activities like this, most science related, that I can share in the upcoming few weeks, so stay tuned! I'm going to keep this as QUICK as possible so I can get back to doing the super important stuff I do while in quarantine... Sitting on the couch watching Greys Anatomy while simultaneously scrolling twitter and instastorying....

It's pretty simple, it's set up like a scientific method. 

Hypothesis: Your child can predict if they will or will not like Ants on a Log
Materials: I set up all my "science" projects to have three material: Your child can glue on all three by his or her self, or if they are young you can give them a choice between two items (one really obvious incorrect one so they get it right and can be reinforced). In no particular order: Celery, PB (or substitute) and chocolate chips 
Procedure: Same process: Spread PB, Put on chocolate chips, taste!
Observations: Did your child like it or not?
Conclusion: Was the hypothesis correct or incorrect?

Even if your child has had the snack before they can still have fun getting familiar with the scientific method for other "experiments" that I will post about more! 

In addition to learning about the scientific method, your child (if age appropriate) can practice cutting, coloring, and gluing! All great fine motor skills! In addition to the sensory experience of touching bumpy celery, smooth and sticky peanut butter, and small little chocolate chips (yay, pincer grasp!)

My daughters are 2 and 4 but I do these activities at school with 6-9 year olds and they love it too!  

Oh, and for all of you thinking “chocolate chips!? My mom made me use raisins!!!”......

Have Fun! 

I had this really great blogpost written in my brain.... But then I got a call from my school that I need to report tomorrow and need lesson plans ASAP, and I've been rapid fire producing work for my INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS! I'm Special Ed, so each student has an INDIVIDUALIZED PLAN! and so I needed to make sure everything I created or downloaded, or saved in PDF form was catered towards the individual needs of each kid and their IEP. ​

I'm tired. 

but I'm basically almost there... I at least have enough to get through this week and next...  

I promised I'd put out a schedule that you can download for your kids and I DID IT! Mostly because a picture schedule is an accommodation on all the IEP's so... Must Provide. I took your suggestions, and generalized them a bit: Example, some said "legos, blocks, games"... I did a symbol for just "play time" that can be used. If you need individuals I can put another questions box up and do a secondary piece to download when I get out from under the stuff for my real job.

Anyway...  

One of the best ways to survive this time is to keep your kids in a routine! It is OKAY if they are not doing grade level work and are just maintaining skills. It is OKAY if their ELA time is reading in their room below their grade level. It is OKAY if they are doing coloring instead of handwriting (just make sure that grasp is correct!). This is a stressful time for EVERYONE, and the last thing we need is added stress from having to suddenly work from home and be a teacher at the same time! Of course, your own district might disagree, so follow what the teachers suggest... but if you have NO guidance, that's my two cents. I've been doing this for over a decade and this is unprecedented... No one really knows the best thing to do here, but in my opinion, lowering the stress is best! Your immune system tanks when you are stressed and WE DON'T NEED THAT! 

To help you stay on a schedule, download the visual PECS I put together below. I recommend you copy or print the first page a few times and maybe cut and glue it on a poster board vertically so that you have more blank spaces extending downward. You can keep it simple, or break it into more specific parts of your day. Also, I made it black and white so that you can have your kids color it in! Keep them busy! It is geared more towards younger children since they are non-readers. Older kids... probably won't listen to a schedule anyway! ;) but you can just write it down in a list form for them. 

I want to do a list of online resources for you too, but I haven't made it to that part yet. Still emailing parents and ferociously typing plans for each kid... So, instead of getting a list from me, COMMENT BELOW if you have some to share! 

EDIT:
Here are a few websites I now have time to add. I will continue adding to them as I come across them, many you have to eventually pay for but there are free trials for most!: 

https://www.getepic.com/
https://www.education.com/
​http://web.teachtown.com/
https://www.splashlearn.com/
https://www.mobymax.com/
https://xtramath.org/
https://login.i-ready.com/
https://www.starfall.com/h/
https://www.storylineonline.net/
https://www.createprintables.com/
http://themathworksheetsite.com/
https://www.funbrain.com/
​https://www.gonoodle.com/
​https://www.storyplace.org/
https://pbskids.org/
​https://www.brainpop.com/science/
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/

I will keep adding to this as I get more from teachers and from social media etc. So check back if you need something different!