Category Archives: Personal Development

Earth Day Organic Smoothie Lesson Plan

Posted on by

Today marks the 50th anniversary of celebrating Earth Day. Earth Day was the response to an environment in crisis including oil spills, smog and rivers that were heavily polluted. It is a way to help protect and restore our planet.

I created a lesson plan on creating an organic smoothie as a way to contribute in protecting the earth. Organic farming promotes an ecological balance by reducing pollution, conserving water and reducing soil erosion.

The lesson plan works on the following skills:

  1. following directions
  2. measuring
  3. task initiation
  4. math skills (counting, id numbers)
  5. reading skills

Lesson: Make an Organic Smoothie

Smoothie- Mystic Mango Smoothie

Time: 15-20 Minutes

Materials:

  • Blender
  • Knife
  • Measuring cup
  • Measuring spoons
  • Organic Mango
  • Raw or organic honey
  • Lime juice
  • Spoon
  • Organic yogurt
  • Cups
  • Fresh organic spinach

Introduction:

The instructor will explain to the group the activity to help the environment by using items that are healthy and does not require anything to be recycled.

The instructor will give assignments to the group and allow individuals an opportunity to understand.

Step 1: The instructor will first make sure all individuals wash their hands.

Step 2: The instructor will pick up the mango and ask, “What type of fruit is this.”  The instructor will then ask the group “What color is the mango?”

Step 3: The instructor will instructor the group to cut the mango in small pieces. Provide hand over hand assistance for those requiring extra assistance.

Step 4: Once completed, the instructor will ask individuals to place the mango in the blender.

Step 5: The instructor will have members of the group to measure the orange juice. The instructor will say, “where is ½ on the cup?” Once answered correctly, the instructor will instruct the individual to pour into the measuring cup.

Step 6: The instructor will say to the individual “good job, now pour into the blender.”

Step 7: The instructor will ask the group to point to the honey. The instructor will ask the individual to show 2 tablespoons on the measuring spoons.

Step 8: The instructor will ask the individual to measure 2 tablespoons of honey and to pour into the blender. Provide hand over hand if necessary.

Step 9: The instructor will ask the group to point to the lime juice. The instructor will then ask the group” show me 1 tablespoon on the measuring spoon.”

Step 9: The instructor will tell the group to pour into the blender.

Step 10: The instructor will ask the group to point to ½ cup on the measuring cup. Once pointed correctly, the instructor will have the individuals pick up the organic yogurt and put ½ in the cup

Step 11: With assistance, the individuals will wash out the organic spinach. The instructor should first place the spinach in a cup.

Step 12: With assistance or as needed, the instructor will have the individuals turn on the water.

Step 13: The instructor will ask the group to take a handful of organic spinach and place in the blender.

Step 14: Once all the items are placed in the blender, the instructor will someone from the group to hit the blended on the button blender.

Step 15: The instructor will allow 3-4 minutes for the smoothing to blend. Once completed, the instructor will ask an individual to hit the stop button.

Step 16. The instructor will ask an individual to place the cups on the table

Step 17. The instructor will continue with the activity until a smoothie has been made enough for everyone.

Step 17: The instructor will ask an individual to pour into each cup.

Download PDF Here: organic smoothie for Earth Day

 

 

 

 

 

Coloring and Tracing Activity

Posted on by

Did you know that the Easter bunny and Easter eggs dates back to the 18th century in the United States when Protestant German immigrants in the Pennsylvania Dutch area  brought the European folklore of the Easter bunny giving gifts of colored eggs to “good children” before Easter.

This activity is both a coloring and tracing activity focusing on strengthening fine motor skills of children and adults. Green was the color chosen since it is a spring color and also  helps to reinforce colors. Any shade of green will work in the color and additional colors should be added as well allowing for individual creativity.

Once completed the bunny can also be cut out and pasted on construction paper.

DOWNLOAD ACTIVITY BELOW:

color and tracing activity

2020 Special Needs Conferences and Seminars for Professionals and Families

Posted on by

The following are upcoming special needs and developmental disability conferences and seminars for the year. The conferences include annual meetings, specialty conferences and professional development courses. Click on the highlighted title to get further information.

January

27th Annual Florida Statewide Card Autism Conference
Date: January 17-19, 2020
Location: Orlando, Fl.

Annual Autism conference for families, educators, professionals and autistic adults.

ICADD International Conference on Autism and Developmental Disorders
Date: January 30-31, 2020
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

CASP The Council of Autism Service Providers Annual Conference
Date: January 13-14, 2020
Location: Scottsdale, AZ

7th Annual Conference on Depression, Anxiety and Stress Management
Date: January 20-21, 2020
Location: Barcelona, Spain

Autism Spectrum Disorder Across the Life Span
Date: January 11, 2020
Location: Boston, MA

DADD 21st International Conference on Autism, Intellectual Disability and Developmental Disabilities
Date: January 22, 2020
Location: Sarasota, FL

Future Horizon
An Evening with Temple Grandin
Date: January 28, 2020
Location: Atlanta, GA

Features Renown Dr. Temple Grandin who will give insight backed by research evidence and own experience.

February

Council for Exceptional Children
February 5-8, 2020
Portland, Oregon

DFW Autism Conference
Date: February 6-7, 2020
Location: Hurst, TX

Autism Conference and Training
Date: February 7-8, 2020
Location: Vancouver, BC

Special Needs Planning Symposium
Date: February 7-9, 2020
Location: Napa, CA

Future Horizon
An Evening with Temple Grandin
Date: February 11, 2020
Location: Oklahoma City, OK

Features Renown Dr. Temple Grandin who will give insights backed by research evidence and own experience.

Future Horizon
An Evening with Temple GrandinDate: Lubbock, TX
Location: February 17, 2020

Features Renown Dr. Temple Grandin who will give insight backed by research evidence and own experience.

Learning Disabilities Association 57th Annual International Conference
Date: February 17-20, 2020
Location: Orlando, FL

National Autistic Society- Autism Professional Conference
Date: February 27-28, 2020
Location: Birmingham, London

19th Annual Alabama Autism Conference
Date: February 28, 2020
Location: Tuscaloosa, AL

2nd European Autism Congress
Date: February 28-29
Location: Budapest, Hungary

March

Professional Development and Parent Seminars
Date: March 5, 2020
Location: Albany, New York

Autism Conference and Training
Date: March 5-6, 2020
Location: Edmonton, AB

Southern Maine Autism Conference
Date: March 7, 2020 8am- 4pm
Location: South Portland, ME

2020 Autism Matters Conference
Date: March 20, 2020
Location: Orange Beach, AL

Autism Through the Life Span
Date: March 21, 2020 8:45-4:30
Location: Li Ka Shing Conference Center
291 Campus Drive, Stanford University

Autism Society National Conference
2020 Disability Policy Seminar
Date: March 23-25, 2020
Location: Washington, DC

11th Annual Honestly Autism Day
Date: March 28, 2020
Location: Hunt Valley, MD

April

Autism Conference and Training
Date: April 2-3, 2020
Location: Ottawa, ON

Nebraska ASD Network State Conference
Date: April 2-3, 2020
Location: Lincoln, NE

Autism Conference and Training
Date: April 16-17, 2020
Location: Halifax, NS

International Conference on Physical Disability Treatments and Therapies
Date: April 23-23, 2020
Location, New York, NY

Autism Converge Autism Summit 2020
Date: April 23-25, 2020
Location: Greenville, SC

Autism Society of Greater Wisconsin 31st Annual Conference
Date: April 30- May 2, 2020
Location: Wisconsin Dells, WI

May

International Society for Autism Research
Date: May 6-9, 2020
Location: Seattle, Washington

Autism Conference and Expo Georgia
Date: May 13-14, 2019
Location: Georgia State University
Atlanta, GA

June

American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Date: 1-4, 2020
Location: Pittsburg, PA

Autism Research Conference
Date: June 4
Location: New York, NY

National Autism Conference
Milestones Autism Resources
Date: June 11-12, 2020
Location: Cleveland, OH

European Academy of Childhood Disabilities
Date: June 17-20, 2020
Location: Poznan, Poland

48th Annual National Down Syndrome Congress Convention
Date: June 25-28, 2020
Location: June 25-28, 2020

August

National Association of QDIP’s Annual Conference
Date: August 4-7
Location: New Orleans, Lousiana

September

American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine Annual Meeting
Date: September 22-26, 2020
New Orleans, Louisiana

October

Autism New Jersey Annual Conference
Date: October 15-16, 2020
Location: Atlantic City, N.J.

Council for Learning Disabilities
Date: October 15-16
Location: Richmond, VA

November

Annual 32nd International Conference on ADHD
Date: November 5-7
Location: Dallas, Texas

December

2020 CPISRA Conference on Physical Activity and Health for People with Cerebral Palsy or Acquired Brain Injury
Date: December 4-6, 2020
Location: Sydney, Australia

How Reflective Supervision Sessions Help Teachers Cope with the Stress of the Job

Posted on by

Source: KQED News

It was a Friday morning in early May, just before Mother’s Day, when a group of preschool teachers settled onto oversized pillows and colorful beanbags for a conversation that would lead to tears, frustration and — eventually —  a sense of clarity on a delicate matter involving a child.

Karen Massingille, a preschool behavioral health therapist, sat on a tiny child’s chair, looking at the nine women seated around her in a cozy, carpeted corner of the sunlit room.

She took a few deliberate breaths, then started to speak.

“It’s Mother’s Day,” she said. “Anybody have any plans?” Click here to read the rest of the story.

Exercise and The Special Needs Professional

Posted on by

Working in the special needs profession often leaves little room for self-care and developing a healthy lifestyle including exercising, which why it is vital that you take the initiative and create an exercise plan that will work well for you.

Why Exercise?

Exercise is essential for your health and well-being for many reasons.  For one, it helps to prevent disease. By moving one’s body daily, we reduce the risk of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. A second reason is that it helps us control our weight. As we get older, we tend to slow down which causes us to burn fewer calories. Working in a profession which can take an emotional and mental toll, causes one to just want to go home and relax. However, exercising less and burning fewer calories can lead to obesity.

Benefits of Exercising

There are many benefits to exercising

  1. Improves memory and thinking skills. Research shows that working out on a regular basis boost the size of the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for memory and learning. This is done through aerobic exercises.
  2. Relieves stress. Although not fully understood, regular exercise reduces anxiety and depression disorders. It is known however that  aerobic exercise is associated with the lower sympathetic nervous system which is responsible for accelerating the heart rate and raising the blood pressure.
  3. Boost energy. While little is known on the relationship between exercise and energy, studies show that people who exercise on a regular basis, are more likely to feel more energy than those who do not.

Four Types of Exercises

  • Endurance. includes aerobic activities which focus on your circulatory system and helps to build your endurance. exercises include walking, jumping, and running.
  • Strength. Also known as resistance training, serves the purpose of strengthening and toning your muscles. Exercises typically include weight lifting.
  • Balance. Helps to improve balance and strengthen your core. Exercises include tai chi and yoga.
  • Flexibility. Used for stretching your muscles and improving your range of motion. Stretching exercises are usually part of a warming up and cooling down routine.

Here are following at exercises that include the four types of exercises:

  • Running
  • Walking
  • Spinning
  • Yoga
  • Tai Chi
  • Bike
  • Dancing
  • Swimming
  • Lifting weights
  • Stretching
  • Cycling
  • Strength Training
  • Hiking
  • Jump rope
  • Bowling
  • Horseback Riding
  • Bowling
  • Handball
  • Ice Skating
  • Jumping Jacks
  • Jai Alai
  • Kick Boxing
  • Martial Arts
  • Pilates
  • Roller-skating
  • Scuba Diving
  • Skateboarding
  • Skydiving
  • Snorkeling
  • Tennis
  • Yardwork
  • Zumba

Save