Accommodations in the Classroom

In order to accommodate some of the needs of children and staff, some simple adaptations have been made in the classroom and throughout the building.

• Picture Schedule - The classroom schedule is visually posted on the wall in the classroom using line drawings that some St. Ben's teachers had drawn for the children to be reminded, to anticipate what will happen next, and to emotionally & physically prepare for the next step. Also, sometime you may be able to avoid unnecessary "power struggle" with a child by showing the picture schedule and saying "This picture says ..." rather than "I say ...".
  Here you can download and print out some of the line drawings that may depict part of the daily schedule in your classroom. Feel free to use them as they are or to modify them so that pictures will more accurately represent your classroom situations.
  Those are PDF files. You need Acrobat to view those files You can download Free Acrobat here
  
  
  • "Hang bag in your place"
  • "Use the bathroom and wash hands" & "Time to eat"
  • "Brush teeth" & "Sitting all together"
  • "Music" & "Table Centers"
  • "Computer" & "Listening Station"
  • "Housekeeping" & "Clean Up"
  • "Gym" & "Naptime"
  • "Field trip"
    

• Children's jobs - The classroom job chart is also represented with drawings in a prominent place for children to use.
  
  
• Social Stories - These are line drawings that describe two socially conflicting situations a child may encounter in the classroom. With those social stories, more socially appropriate behaviors can be offered for a child to stimulate in advance, as well as a consequence or what a child will have to do if the child uses an inappropriate method to solve a problem that the child faces. (*The consequence of using inappropriate behaviors will vary situation by situation, and a classroom by a classroom)
  Here you can download and print out those two kinds of social stories that have been made at St. Ben's.
  Those are PDF files. You need Acrobat to view those files. You can download Free Acrobat here
  
  
  
  • Social Story I: "Can I use it after you're finished?"
  • Social Story II: "Stop saying that! I don't like it!"
  • Social Story Consequence: "You have to stay here entail you're calm down."
    
    

  Learn More about Social Stories
  

• Language Aprons - All staff members have an apron which is equipped with pictures so that everyone can assist children with speech and language delays through the use of pictures.
  
  
                                            
• Lowered Handrails- A second, lower set of handrails were added on the stairway so that children can reach them comfortably.
  
  
• Stair Guides - Yellow tape was placed on each step to show the children to walk single file on one side of the stair case.
  
  
• Rail Guides - Green tape was added to guard rails to show the children where to hold on when moving up and down the stairs.

• Computer Mouse - The computer mouse was replaced with a ball for easier computer use.

• Classroom area marking - A visual story book line was added to define play area boundaries.

• Color coded chairs - Chairs have been color coded to help children know which tables they belong too and so children can be asked to move to a certain color chair or table.