1. Welcome to SAI 1 - 3 Smiley Elementary

2. About Miss. Caprara I worked for Corona Norco Unified School District for almost 10 years as a paraprofessional. I received my BA in Liberal Arts at California Baptist University, then went on to get my Masters in Education and a minor in Special Education I am starting my sixth year teaching for Redlands Unified, in SAI moderate/severe here at Smiley Elemenatry It is my goal to provide a safe and loving learning environment for every student that walks into my classroom. Language/communication is our main focus. If a child can communicate, they can succeed in all areas. I believe that a parent is a child's first and life-long teacher. I am looking forward to another great year at Smiley and getting to know you and your child.

3. Objective As parents, you are the first teacher of your child. You help build his/her attitude, vocabulary, and personality long before they enters school. You teach your child incidentally as you care for and interact with him. You know your child’s activity level, interests, whether they are shy or outgoing, and their ability to relate to others. Just as you, we, as educators, are interested in the “wholeness” of your childs –social emotional(personal growth, work habits, social growth), perceptual motor (sensory development, gross motor development, fine motor development), language (receiving language, producing language, communicating language), cognitive (logical thinking, mathematics, science, reading), and fine arts (art, music).

4. ABC’ s Of SAI 1 - 3

5. Arrival/Dismissal Arrival times School begins at 8 am Smiley doors open at 7:30 and ends at 7:50 for breakfast. Students will be marked tardy after this time, unless the buses are running late. Dismissal times The school day ends at 2:00 pm.

6. Backpacks Backpacks come really handy for many reasons: To receive notes from the teacher (and notes from the parents to teacher) To carry the students lunches/snacks, motivators, PECs books, and an extra pair of clothes (incase of an accident) To carry diapers and wipes

7. Birthdays Please contact me a few days in advance if you are planning to bring or send in a “special snack” to our class for your child’s birthday. This will take place during our third recess time. Recess is at 1:00. For those student’s with special diets or food allergies, I will contact you to see if they can eat what is provided or if you would like to provide a treat that your child can eat.

8. Change of Information Please notify me IMMEDIATELY if any information changes during the year. (pick-ups, phone numbers, addresses, etc.) I MUST have a current emergency contact number at all times.

9. Breakfast Paid: $1.00 Reduced: Free Breakfast is served every morning from 7:30-7:50 am Calendars will go home every 2 months with breakfast and lunch options. Snack time is provided during class if you would like to bring breakfast/snack for your child.

10. Classroom Rules 1.Listen to Teacher 2.Sitting Nicely 3.Quiet Mouth 4.Nice Hands Consequences for inappropriate behaviors/language are as follows: 2 verbal warnings Loss of privileges (recess, free time) Note/phone call to parents

11. Cooking As a part of our class, we will be participating in domestic skills like cooking or other food preparation activities. Cooking will be taught either weekly or every other week. Students will learn how to measure, stir, use utensils, take turns, and try new edibles. A food allergy and/or dietary restriction sheet will be sent home, to enusre safety within the classroom.

12. Conferences Parent/Teacher conferences are held after school in mid November. We will discuss your child’s accomplishments, strengths and overall progress on their IEP goals. Please feel free to schedule additional conferences (IEPs) at anytime through the year if the need arises.

13. Email You can contact me via my email address: eryne_caprara@redlands.k12.ca.us I will check my email on a daily basis. If you need to discuss something urgently, please call me at school instead. Smiley Elementary (909) 307-5580 Rm 2

14. Field Trips Our class does go on quite a bit of field trips through out the year. Many of our field trips are for Adaptive P.E. Throughout the year we will be going bowling at Empire bowling alley hikes YMCA we will be performing at the APEALs luncheon Christmas at the YMCA Optimist games ROPES (at the U of R) Permission slips will be sent home for each field trip we will be going on, parents are always welcome to join us on our outings.

15. Hands on Learning I feel that the best way to help children learn is to make learning fun. Important concepts can be learned by doing meaningful hands-on activities. There are times when seat work is required and necessary, but for the most part, our classroom will be an active learning environment.

16. Homework Homework is not required, however if you would like me put together a pack for your child I would be more than happy to do so. Homework that will be given will be activities that directly apply to their IEP goals. This may include worksheets, flash cards, coloring and cutting activities, and the use of manipulatives.

17. Illnesses The question of when to keep your child home from school is often a difficult one, especially when decisions must be made first thing in the morning. It is important, however, to keep your child home if he/she is ill. This helps to make them more comfortable and prevents others from becoming ill. Children function more effectively in the classroom when they are healthy.

18. Lunch Paid: $2.10 Reduced: Free Please send money in an envelope labeled: “LUNCH” With your child’s name, teacher name, amt. of money Or you may pay online Lunch calendars are good for 2 months and is on the back of the breakfast calendar

19. Mainstreaming During our school day we have several opportunities for mainstreaming with our students. First recess, lunch recess, and third recess we go to the first and second graders play ground ( paraprofessionals are out monitoring for the students safety) We go to lunch with the first and second graders If academics allow, mainstreaming in another classroom (gen. ed.) will be considered

20. Medication If your child requires prescription medication during school hours, please let me know and I will send home a medical release form. Your child doctor must sign it and returned to school with the original box the medication came it (stating when to take the medication and how often your child needs to take it)

21. Music Music is a huge part of my curriculum. In my experience, music not only captures students’ attention but is a powerful memory aid and effective way to help organize communication and movement. Tuned into Learning is a comprehensive music- assisted learning curriculum for special education, designed to help children and with autism, Down syndrome, brain injury, learning disabilities, speech disorders, orthopedic impairments, and other learning needs.

22. Newsletters Look for a monthly newsletter at the beginning of each month in your child’s backpack. This will include activities going on in the classroom such as field trips, activities at school (i.e. camping, skate night), themed lessons being taught, math skills, literacy skill, fine motor skills, classroom rules, and all my contacts.

23. Parent/Teacher Communication I am more than happy to answer all questions you may have about anything that goes on in the classroom, goals, behaviors, ect. However, my paraprofessionals are NOT allowed to answer any specific questions you may have about your child. Even if your child has a one- on-one, this rule still applies.

24. Parent Involvement Your support of school activities makes your child feel important and sends the message that you value school! We are always happy to have your help for special activities in the classroom. Events will be in the monthly newsletter. I hope that you can come and join in the fun! Redlands district requires parents/family members to be cleared through Megan’s Law to be able to help/volunteer in the classroom.

25. Restrooms Bathrooming is another huge part of my program We do have a bathroom in the classroom, each student has their own drawer for diapers, wipes, extra clothing Bathroom occurs during major transitions, when a student asks (or walks into the restroom, or if the student is dirty. We also teach and encourage many of our students to use the restrooms on the play ground, to learn to be independent and avoid accidents.

26. Science The focus of science curriculum is on developing an awareness of the world in which we live. Through scientific inquiry, concepts will be presented in the life and earth sciences, including the study of animals and plants, the five senses. General health and the four seasons. These areas will be explored utilizing a literacy based, hands-on approach. We will be learning: Life cycle of a frog Plants Life cycle of a butterfly Life cycle of a pumpkin 5 senses

27. Snack Incorporated in my program is a snack time. This gives the students an opportunity to eat breakfast and/or finish breakfast. I understand sometimes they don’t eat early in the morning or are just not hungry. Snack time gives your child an opportunity to eat a snack, please feel free to pack one in their backpack.

28. P.E. Our adaptive P.E. teacher is Martha Mendoza, tenatively our P.E. time is Mondays and Wednesdays from 10 to 10:30. She will usually do a whole class activity and then pull the students who have A.P.E. specific goals.During P.E. we do reverse mainstreaming with a first grade class. These students will demonstrate and help our students out with the activities. My students really enjoy this.

29. Social Studies Social studies curriculum focuses on the students and how they relate to others in their families, classroom, school, and community. Holiday celebrations will also be highlighted. Activities will help the children engage their natural curiosity for the world around them. Some aspects we will be learning about: Constitution Martin Luther King Jr. George Washington Abraham Lincoln

30. Speech Our speech pathologist is Heather Strausberger, she introduces the letter of the week every Tuesday. She also provides speech activities for the rest of the week. We will collaborate as soon as possible to organize a schedule for individual and group sessions for students who require speech sessions. When we come up with sessions I will let you know as soon as possible.

31. Speech (In class) The classroom is a very language rich environment, the main focus is speech and language. In my program I incorporate PECs Communication devices Sign language Verbal communication Work on beginning and ending sounds of words Articulation Model and imitation of speech sounds

32. Transportation Please let me know how your child will be picked up and being dropped off from school. This will help my staff and I to be on the same page, for a smooth transition. If your child is going to go home different from normal (temporarily), please send in a note, call, or email to let me and my staff know. Your child will be sent home the normal way unless a note is sent in.

33. Visitors Redlands district has a policy that ALL GUESTS (including familiar faces) are required to check in (AND OUT) at the school office, when staying. Smiley welcomes and encourages family involvement. It is important to remember that while this may seem inconvenient to frequent visitors, it is the goal and responsibility of the school to create a safe learning environment. If you would to help or observe I need at least a 24 hour notice.

34. Wish List If you wish to donate items needed in our classroom, we can always use Kleenex Baby wipes Hand sanitizer You may also send any of these items throughout the year. Your help and donations are greatly appreciated.

35. Daily Scedule 7:45-8:15 Arrival/Snack 8:15-8:45 Morning Circle 8:45-9:25 Math Center 9:25-9:35 Recess 9:45- 10:35 Circle: Mon. and Wed. A.P.E/Tues. and Thus speech 10:35-11:05 Fine Motor Center 11:05-11:45 Lunch/Recess 11:55-12:15 Themed Lesson 12:15-1:00 Language Arts Center 1-1:15 Recess 1:25-1:40 Grooming/Tuned into Learning/Reverse Mainstreaming/Cooking/Imitation music 1:45-2:00 Backpacks/Buses/ Pick up

36. Language Centers During literacy centers, children practice language skills while the teacher and paraprofessionals works in small guided groups. The center activities are designed to strengthen letter/sound knowledge, listening skills, oral language expression, and cooperation. We also work with the Hand Writing Without Tears program.

37. Fine motor Center Coloring Cutting – With modified scissors or reg scissors – With play dough Different shapes Writing – Tracing highlighted shapes/forms – Tracing shapes/letters in play dough, shaving cream, whipped cream

38. Fine motor Center – Finger painting shapes – Tracing names with highlighted letters or from a model – Tracing sentences with highlights to learn correct letter formation and spacing Using letter stamps String beads Clothes pins open/close and place on edge of a container/ cross midline Rice box, have student pick objects out and identify them Students pick beads out of play dough/ putty String little beads on pipe cleaners

39. Math Centers Math: colors shapes puzzles patterns 1 to 1 correspondence Simple addition Touch math Numbers Dot to dots Prepositions Matching Sorting Counting in the classroom and in the environment Rote counting through song

40. Center Groups Centers are taught by my paraprofessionals and myself – I have trained them on what I expect ABA principles are used when teaching all students – it is just good teaching Center groups are formed by students levels and goals All centers are goal based – we focus mainly on students goals. Themes will be incorporated Many goals are taught by using manipulatives – hands on All center goals are modified for student success

41. Skills Taught Throughtout the Day Speech and language: Work on beginning and ending sounds of words Articulation Model and imitation of speech sounds Social skills: Requesting Initiating Responding Turn taking Greetings Joint attention

42. Continued… Self help skills Using the restroom independently Washing hands independently Using a fork and spoon when eating lunch and snack Open containers and zip lock bags independently Use napkin to wipe face when eating Use a tissue to clean their nose When crossing the street to look both ways Clean up their own messes or activities

43. ABA principles used… ABA principles/behavior: (Antecedents, Behaviors and Consequences) A Antecedents are the events that happen before the behavior occurs. B Behavior is the specific way the child acts. C Consequences are the events that happen to the child immediately following the behavior

44. ABA continued… Learning to learn skills – Attending – Compliance – Staying on task – Sitting in their chairs – Waiting – Imitation – Remaining calm – Understanding contingency – Consistency – Returning reinforcements – Positive praise Data collection functional assessment Charting behaviors to find a pattern/time/activity/person that is a problem in the day (frequency/duration/and latency) Discrete trial training-breaking a skill into small parts Prompting-verbal, physical, vestibular, gestures Cues

45. ABA continued… Generalization 1 to1 discrete trial Group discrete trials Taking data Probe sheets

46. Peer Tutors Students who are more mature Helping nature Responds to instruction Interactive play Modeling Engaging