And We're Done!

Well, this week was a big one for me. I just got back from the Georgia Autism Conference in Atlanta, I had training for the new SEAS program that we just started using in our district, and my GAAs were due! I am so relieved to be finished with those assessments. I feel like I have learned so much over the past 6 months or so and I definitely want to remember a few tips for myself *if* I have to do them again next year. Here are my top three things that I learned to help me:

1. Plan, Plan, Plan. Since I had never completed GAAs before and wasn't very familiar with what the finished products would look like, I looked at each activity in each standard in each content area in each collection separately. At the end I was able to see how it all fit together. Next time, I would sit down and and plan out EVERYTHING using a graphic organizer. I think if I started earlier and took more time in the beginning, I would not feel as stressed throughout the process. I like the tables included in the manual but I think I would prefer to create my own.

2. Write it up ASAP. This go round, I completed all-or almost all- of my activities before beginning on the writing/documenting process. Next time, I hope to immediately write up the activities after the assessments. Not only will I be able to stay more organized but I won't have to take as many notes on the activities while implementing them because the details will be fresh on my mind.

3. Use my info chart from the beginning. I started using a color-coded chart that included all of my activities for each student. Between creating, implementing, writing, printing, and filing all of the activities, things got a little confusing. For the second collection period, I created the chart and color-coded each activity to remind myself where I was. If it was highlighted green, it was created and ready to implement, red meant it was written and ready to print, yellow meant it was completed finished and filed, etc. The chart included the student name, the content area, the full standard, and each activity. This was so helpful, given my inability to remember anything!

Now that I am finally finished and have tons of free time (ha!), I plan on finishing up a few products I've been slowly working on and getting those over to my TPT store. Hopefully I'll be able to update more often- stay tuned!

Great resource for GAA & Instruction

Happy MLK Day Y'all! I wanted to share a new resource that I just began using & am super excited about. A fellow teacher has been telling me about the Sounding Board app that she uses on her IPad with her kiddos (Thanks Rachel!). I finally decided to check it out last week & LOVE it! It is great to use after reading a text and asking student if they liked the text, why they liked it, and about their favorite part by allowing them to select pictures. This would align perfectly with the CCGPS standard: ELACC4W1- Write opinion piece on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons (a. Introduce a topic or text clearly, state an opinion, and create an organizational structure in which related ideas are grouped to support the writer's purpose.)

I loved using the Sounding Board app because I could quickly create the tasks just a few minutes before actually implementing it. This is great for someone like me who feels like they never have enough time. All I had to do was open up the app on the IPad, take a few quick pictures of scenes in the book and of some opinion pictures that I already had printed, record a few prompts,  and that was it. Easy Peasy! I have so many plans to use this app during instructional times so that my students with severe communication needs can express themselves. If you haven't heard of it yet, you should definitely check it out!

Have a great week!

"If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as a Michaelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, "Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well."
MLK

Alternative Assessment

Tomorrow will be our first day back after Christmas holidays and will mark the beginning of the second collection period for the Georgia Alternative Assessment. I was able to find premade items for most of the activities used during the first collection but am now in need of more similar items to be used in the second collection period.

This Penguin Number Match activity was designed to be used with the CCGPS standard MCC4.NBT.2: Read and write multi-digit whole numbers using base-ten numerals, number names, and expanded form. Adaptations can be made for the student to physically match the numeral and number name cards and with the use of the numbers 0-9.

Head on over to my TPT store to pick up this freebie!