Happy Friday Everyone!

Miss Ryder and Mrs. Noyes’ Classes

Today we continued our read a loud: “Rules” by Cynthia Lord

Twelve-year-old Catherine just wants a normal life. Which is near impossible when you have a brother with autism and a family that revolves around his disability. She’s spent years trying to teach David the rules from “a peach is not a funny-looking apple” to “keep your pants on in public”—in order to head off David’s embarrassing behaviors.
But the summer Catherine meets Jason, a surprising, new sort-of friend, and Kristi, the next-door friend she’s always wished for, it’s her own shocking behavior that turns everything upside down and forces her to ask: What is normal?

Twelve-year-old Catherine has conflicting feelings about her younger brother, David, who is autistic. While she loves him, she is also embarrassed by his behavior and feels neglected by their parents. In an effort to keep life on an even keel, Catherine creates rules for him (It’s okay to hug Mom but not the clerk at the video store). Each chapter title is also a rule, and lots more are interspersed throughout the book. When Kristi moves in next door, Catherine hopes that the girl will become a friend, but is anxious about her reaction to David. Then Catherine meets and befriends Jason, a nonverbal paraplegic who uses a book of pictures to communicate, she begins to understand that normal is difficult, and perhaps unnecessary, to define. Rules of behavior are less important than acceptance of others. Catherine is an endearing narrator who tells her story with both humor and heartbreak. Her love for her brother is as real as are her frustrations with him. Lord has candidly captured the delicate dynamics in a family that revolves around a child’s disability. Set in coastal Maine, this sensitive story is about being different, feeling different, and finding acceptance. A lovely, warm read, and a great discussion starter.

The kids love the book!

Miss Hebert’s Class

Today we finished our read aloud: “Granny Torrelli Makes Soup” by Sharon Creech

Twelve-year-old Rosie and her best friend, Bailey, don’t always get along, that’s true. But Granny Torrelli seems to know just how to make things right again with her interesting stories and family recipes. It’s easier to remember what’s important about love, life, and friendship while Granny Torrelli makes soup.

Rosie’s story unfolds first, over making and eating zuppa, and then Granny Torrelli tells parallel stories from her own childhood to help Rosie with her current predicament. Granny Torrelli’s tales are laced with endearing, fun-to-say Italian: “I didn’t like it, not one piccolino bit,” as is her attempt to help Rosie mend her rift with her best friend Bailey (“That Bailey boy!”), for whom she’s starting to feel more-than-friendship feelings. The details of both Rosie’s and Granny Torrelli’s respective stories are often quite funny (from Braille jealousy to secret guide-dog training for the legally blind Bailey). But, as usual, what Creech does best is slyly proffer small, nourishing morsels of wisdom–not unlike the cavatelli, the “little dough canoes,” that Rosie, Granny Torrelli, and that Bailey boy labor over in the book’s sweet second half.

The kids love the book and also are enjoying learning some new Italian words! Next week we are going to experiment with Braille!

3rd Grade Boys’ Group

Mr. A. took the boys outside for some collaborative soccer!

3rd Grade Girls Group and 4th Grade Girls Group II

Today we played “Apples to Apples” everyone got along and had fun!

Happy Weekend To All!

What a fast day! We had a visit from Miss Esposito!  The kids were thrilled!

5th-6th Grade Social Thinking

Today we worked on expected and unexpected behaviors in response to frustration.  The boys did a fabulous job!

8th Grade Boys

Another lovely lunch with my boys! They really are growing up!

5th Grade Girls

Oh the excitement of this group! I cannot get a word in edgewise! Lots of stories and Happy Happenings about vacation!

6th Grade Girls

The girls shared a million Happy Happenings and we did some problem solving around girl drama!

7th Grade Social Thinking

Trying to get back on track!!!  Finally made it to Rule #5 of “The Unwritten Rules of Social Relationships”

Being Polite is Appropriate in Any Situation

Being polite and have good manners gains you entry into group social interactions – whether the interaction is personal or professional

Even before uttering a word, exhibiting polite and appropriate physical manners demonstrates to others that you understand the boundaries of group behavior and gains you Level 1 acceptance

Differences exist among people, in their thoughts, feelings and actions, and yet accept that group guidelines are necessary in order for people to exist together in a civilized society

HAVING AUTISM IS NOT AN EXCUSE FOR BAD MANNERS or RUDE BEHAVIOR

Apologizing is valuable for many reasons: It makes you attractive to other people; If you have done something wrong or hurt another person, saying you are sorry is the quickest way to make it right

Once you become an adult, impolite ways of treating people, bad manners or lack of manners is much less tolerated; the expectation is that once you become an adult, you should know how to act appropriately

Good manners make people feel comfortable around you; they are a nonverbal signal that you understand the boundaries of the social group

Once Upon A Mattress….Excellent rehearsal today!!!!!!

FYI:  Family University is next Wednesday April 25th!!!!  Check out the Stonington Public Schools Website for details.
REGISTRATION CLOSES THURSDAY APRIL 19TH SO HURRY!!!!
5th Grade: Mrs. Pescatello and Mrs. Crahvino’s Classes

Welcome back Mrs. Crahvino!!!!!!

Today we started a new book: Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key by Jack Gantos

Today I was out of district visiting placements -

Mr. Andruchuve was in charge and did a FABULOUS job!

FYI:  Family University is next Wednesday April 25th!!!!  Check out the Stonington Public Schools Website for details.
REGISTRATION CLOSES THURSDAY APRIL 19TH

Welcome Back!!!!!

New 8th Grade Girls Breakfast Club!

Not everyone remembered today!!!  The girls that came were full of vacation stories!!!

Anxious Girls’ Group

Today we chatted about vacation and easing back into school  The girls are doing so well!

5th – 6th Grade Social Thinking Group

Today we played “Apples to Apples”…..

The boys did a great job! No Destroyers of Fun anywhere!!!

7th Grade Girls’ Group

Mr. A. was in charge today!!!!!

8th Grade Girls’ Group

No group today.

Pfish Class

We continued our read aloud:  Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine

Caitlin has Asperger’s. The world according to her is black and white; anything in between is confusing. Before, when things got confusing, Caitlin went to her older brother, Devon, for help. But Devon has died, and Caitlin’s dad is so distraught that he is just not helpful. Caitlin wants everything to go back to the way things were, but she doesn’t know how to do that. Then she comes across the word closure- and she realizes this is what she needs. And in her search for it, Caitlin discovers that the world may not be black and white after all. From inside Caitlin’s head, readers see the very personal aftermath of a middle school shooting that took the life of the older brother she adored. Caitlin is a bright fifth grader and a gifted artist. She also has Asperger’s syndrome, and her brother, Devon, was the one who helped her interpret the world. Now she has only her father, a widower who is grieving anew and whose ability to relate to his daughter is limited. A compassionate school counselor works with her, trying to teach her the social skills that are so difficult for her. Through her own efforts and her therapy sessions, she begins to come to terms with her loss and makes her first, tentative steps toward friendship. Caitlin’s thought processes, including her own brand of logic, are made remarkably clear. The longer readers spend in the child’s world, the more understandable her entirely literal and dispassionate interpretations are.

The kids love the book!

The kids took the ‘moan” out of Moan-day!!

A Crazy Thursday!

5th-6th Grade Social Thinking

Today we worked on what to do in different common social situations!  The boys did a fabulous job!

8th Grade Boys

Mr. A. had the honors today – heard the boys had a nice discussion at lunch!

5th Grade Girls

Oh the excitement of this group! I cannot get a word in edgewise! Lots of stories and Happy Happenings to share!

6th Grade Girls

The girls shared a million Happy Happenings today and wanted to go outside!  Thanks, Mr. A. for taking the girls outside!

7th Grade Social Thinking

Didn’t want to start anything new before vacation….!  So, I let the boys choose activities! They really did a nice job!

Once Upon A Mattress….Wonderful rehearsal today!!!!!!

Happy Vacation Everyone!

A Wonderful Wednesday!

Mrs. Pescatello and Mrs. Temel’s (Mrs. Cravinho) Classes

Today we celebrated Autism Awareness Month and read a new book called “Zack The Prairie Dog” – A prairie tale to promote autism awareness and the acceptance of differences, in yourself and in others.  The kids loved it!

5th Grade Girls Social Thinking

Today I turned the girls into social detectives and we started a book called: “Diary of a Social Detective: Real-life Tales of Mystery, Intrigue and Interpersonal Adventure.”

Detective agencies come in many shapes and forms, but never before has there been a one-man social detective agency! Johnny Multony, himself transformed from a social misfit to a socially savvy kid, starts the first-ever social detective agency and is hired on by other students in his school for help with common interpersonal dilemmas such as cliques, dealing with disappointments, bullying, personal space, friends, body language, and much more.

With titles such as Too Close for Comfort: The Case of Back-Away Bobby, Accidentally Funny: The Case of the Incidental Straightman, Summer’s Bummer: The Case of the Huffy Girlfriends, Drowning in the Details: The Case of Monologuing Mona, etc., cleverly developed chapters allow readers to use their own social detective skills to solve the mysteries. Each chapter ends with a section called Cracking the Case, in which Johnny solves the social mystery and offers practical solutions to the social dilemmas. Foremost a detective/mystery story for readers ages eight and older, the book delivers insights, tools, and solutions in an engaging storyline that kids can relate to.

Today’s case: Summer’s Bummer: The Case of the Huffy Girlfriends

Otters Class

We continued our read a-loud!!!  Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper

Eleven-year-old Melody has a photographic memory. Her head is like a video camera that is always recording. Always. And there’s no delete button. She’s the smartest kid in her whole school—but no one knows it. Most people–her teachers and doctors included–don’t think she’s capable of learning, and up until recently her school days consisted of listening to the same preschool-level alphabet lessons again and again and again. If only she could speak up, if only she could tell people what she thinks and knows . . . but she can’t, because Melody can’t talk. She can’t walk. She can’t write.

Being stuck inside her head is making Melody go out of her mind–that is, until she discovers something that will allow her to speak for the first time ever. At last Melody has a voice . . . but not everyone around her is ready to hear it.

She is smarter than most of the adults who try to diagnose her and smarter than her classmates in her integrated classroom—the very same classmates who dismiss her as mentally challenged, because she cannot tell them otherwise. But Melody refuses to be defined by cerebral palsy. And she’s determined to let everyone know it…somehow.

Readers will come to know a brilliant mind and a brave spirit who will change forever how they look at anyone with a disability. From multiple Coretta Scott King Award winner Sharon M. Draper comes a story full of heartache and hope. Get ready to meet a girl whose voice you’ll never, ever forget.

The kids were rooting Melody on today!!! They love this book!

Bravo cast of Once Upon a Mattress!  Great rehearsal!

Happy Tuesday!

Miss Lubs’ Class and Mrs. Enoch’s Classes

Today we celebrated Autism Awareness Month and learned all about Autism and what we can do for our friends who may have autism. The kids were so insightful and empathetic!

4th Grade Girls Group 1

We read the book “I Am Utterly Unique” and then the girls came up with descriptions of themselves for each letter of their names! Very creative today!

3rd-4th Grade Social Thinking Group

Apparently I promised the boys they could play with Legos today!  We worked on playing together!

Mrs. Dudda’s Class

Today we continued our read aloud: “Granny Torrelli Makes Soup” by Sharon Creech

Twelve-year-old Rosie and her best friend, Bailey, don’t always get along, that’s true. But Granny Torrelli seems to know just how to make things right again with her interesting stories and family recipes. It’s easier to remember what’s important about love, life, and friendship while Granny Torrelli makes soup.

Rosie’s story unfolds first, over making and eating zuppa, and then Granny Torrelli tells parallel stories from her own childhood to help Rosie with her current predicament. Granny Torrelli’s tales are laced with endearing, fun-to-say Italian: “I didn’t like it, not one piccolino bit,” as is her attempt to help Rosie mend her rift with her best friend Bailey (“That Bailey boy!”), for whom she’s starting to feel more-than-friendship feelings. The details of both Rosie’s and Granny Torrelli’s respective stories are often quite funny (from Braille jealousy to secret guide-dog training for the legally blind Bailey). But, as usual, what Creech does best is slyly proffer small, nourishing morsels of wisdom–not unlike the cavatelli, the “little dough canoes,” that Rosie, Granny Torrelli, and that Bailey boy labor over in the book’s sweet second half.

The kids love the book and also are enjoying learning some new Italian words!

Thank you Autism Parent Support Group! Always enjoy spending time with you all!

A Terrific Tuesday!!!!!!

Happy World Autism Awareness Day!

It’s finally here: World Autism Awareness Day is today! All around the world people are wearing blue, buildings are lighting up and there are blue events going on everywhere, all to raise awareness. Thank you so much for being a part of it.

And don’t forget, the whole of April is Autism Awareness Month! Thank you again for being a part of it.

New 8th Grade Girls Breakfast Club!

It’s that time of the year when Mrs. Agins and I invite the 8th grade girls to a weekly breakfast chat. We had a nice group of girls show up and served hot cocoa, donuts and cereal treats!  The group is expanding!

Anxious Girls’ Group

Today we used the “Choices” cards for our discussion! It was great!

5th – 6th Grade Social Thinking Group

Excellent group today! Out topic today was matching a reaction to the size of the problem! The kids did an awesome job!

7th Grade Girls’ Group

Lots of chatting today! A little hangman, too!

8th Grade Girls’ Group

Everyone did a wonderful job in group today – a quiet and kind lunch!

At the end of the day the 5-6 Panther Pause Groups got together to show off their Safety and Self-Control skits. It was a great time!!!

The kids took the ‘moan” out of Moan-day!!

Let’s Light It Up Blue!!!!!