Ms.

Toms Syllabus
Welcome to the 2013-2014 school year! TMD Neuro Classroom K-5 My instruction will be focused on your childs individual education plan as well as functional academics and life skills. Your child will be learning math, reading, writing, and social studies/science, as well as daily life skills. We will investigate and explore our learning material and concepts through hands on activities, songs, and concrete examples. ACADEMICS Listed below is an overview of the core skills we will be learning in each area. However, these skills will vary for each child depending on his or her IEP goals and present strengths and areas of concerns. **Reading: Alphabet recognition Letter sounds Vocabulary skills (Ex: identifying foods, animals, school supplies, etc.) Print awareness Learning to track words in a sentence and read from top to bottom/left to right Sight word identification Reading comprehension skills **Math: Number identification Rote counting Counting using 1 to 1 correspondence Basic shapes and colors Making comparisons and sorting (size, shape, color, etc.) Patterns Telling time Adding/subtracting using objects/pictures

**Writing: Fine motor activities (working on hand strength) Tracing and copying letters, numbers, lines, shapes, etc. Correct letter formation and the size/spacing of the letters

**Daily Life Skills Practicing correct steps and sequence to wash hands Practicing correct steps and sequence to brush teeth

Learning how to greet people appropriately (looking at people in the eyes, saying hello, etc.) Communicating a need, want, or help (orally, using a picture, or an augmentative communication device) Practicing dressing skills such as zipping, snapping, buttoning, etc.

UNIT TOPICS We will be using a specialized curriculum this year called Unique 2 You. This program was designed for children with special needs, and covers various topics while incorporating functional academics and life skills. August/September: School rules and procedures Meet My Family and Friends Apples October: Seasons change- The Changing Tree Fall leaves and Pumpkins November: Construction: Lets learn about building Thanksgiving December Holidays: Kwanza, Hanukkah, Christmas Using gingerbread men to learn about our five senses: taste, touch, smell, hear, see January: Winter/Snow Make Believe The Three Little Pigs: Learn about homes for people and animals February: Dental Health Friendship/hearts American Leaders March: Butterflies and Caterpillars Rain/Rainbows April Space: Well travel into Space to learn about the sky Spring is here! May

 Zoo/Wild Animals Plant Needs/Flowers

June End of the year and Summer related activities CLASS SCHEDULE

7:15-8:00 Bus arrival, Unpacking, Breakfast 8:00-8:45 Brushing teeth, Bathroom, Calendar activities 8:45-9:25 Washington Center and Group Reading Activity Monday: Adapted PE Tuesday: Adapted Art Wednesday: Read aloud and activity Thursday: Read aloud and activity Friday: Adapted Music 9:30-10:10 Work-time Centers 10:10-10:25 Movement/Music and bathroom 10:30-10:55 Lunch 11:00-11:45 Bathroom/Recess 11:50-12:40 Group lesson/ Related Arts (Jaylin, Diquaris, Alen)
*Ms. Boseman and Ms. Smoak will take students with Ms. Jones class

Monday: Unique group lesson Tuesday: Unique group lesson Wednesday: P.E. and individual work with remaining students Thursday: Music and individual work with remaining students Friday: Unique group lesson 12:40-12:50 Bathroom 12:50-1:35 Work time Centers/Related Arts (Adriana, Kamya, Hunter, Ty)
*Ms. Boseman and Ms. Smoak will take students with Ms. Beeks class

Monday: Work time centers Tuesday: Work time centers Wednesday: P.E. and individual work with remaining students Thursday: Music and individual work with remaining students Friday: Work time centers

1:35-1:50 Snack 1:50-2:30 Bathroom/promethean board activities 2:30 Pack up and get on bus

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Classroom expectations
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Listen and follow directions Take turns and share Keep your hands and feet to yourself Stay in seat during instruction Use a quiet and nice voice

Classroom Behavior Monitoring System We are using a positive behavior system in our school and in our classroom. Every day, your childs name will begin on the green smiley face (good behavior). If your child is not listening and following the classroom expectations, he will be given a verbal warning and he will be told to move his name to the yellow smiley face (warning). Your child has the opportunity to turn his behavior around and start making good choices. If your child acts appropriately, he can move his name back to the green smiley face. However, if your child continues to not follow the classroom expectations, his name will be moved to the red smiley face (inappropriate behavior). At this time, your child will take a break and sit at the quiet table. We will set a visual timer for your child to monitor his or her break. If your childs name is next to red smiley face he will not participate in fun activities or get special privileges at that time. However, if your child stays on green or works back to green he can pick a prize from the treasure box or participate in a fun activity such as using the bubble machine at the end of the day.

Eagle Bucks In addition, your student has the opportunity to earn Eagle Bucks which earn prizes from the school Eagle Mart. Students can earn Eagle Bucks throughout the day by making good choices such as listening to a direction, sitting quietly during group time, helping a friend, working hard on an activity, etc. When the Eagle Mart is open our students can exchange their Eagle Bucks for various prizes depending on how many bucks they earned.

Golden Eagle Eggs Our students can earn Golden Eagle Eggs for being good citizens throughout the school. For instance, if our class exhibits good behavior during Music or P.E. the instructor may give the class a Golden Eagle Egg. Once we earn 20 eggs we can turn them in for a class incentive.

Token Board During work time, we will be using a token board at each work center to help your child stay on task and complete his or her work. The students will pick a prize they want to earn such as a skittle, playing with a toy, listening to music, etc. If they earn 3 stars during the work task, they can earn the selected prize. Grading Policies: We do not use the standard grading procedures in this classroom, as they do not best meet your childs needs. I will send home progress reports twice every nine weeks, which will outline your childs strengths and areas of need for each of his or her IEP goals.

Homework: Every Monday, I will be sending a take home book with your child. Along with this book, there will be a reading log and a description of the activities to complete with your child each night. Please return this log with your signature each Friday and your child can earn an Eagle buck to use toward a reward for the Eagle Mart. In addition, I will periodically send homework to review other skills we have been learning in class.

CONTACT INFORMATION Elizabeth Toms, M.A.T. Special Education Teacher: TMD Neuro (K-5) Phone number: 355-1036 Email: etoms@greenville.k12.sc.us

24 Hour Rule The staff of Alexander Elementary responds to all written or oral parent concerns, problems, recommendations, or commendations related to the Title I school program within 24 hours or by the next school day, whichever comes first. If needed or requested, school officials also inform parents or other interested parties of the issues disposition. All issues related to Title I compliance submitted by parents or other interested parties are filed with the principal and with the Federal Programs Office.

Parent Signature: _____________________________________ Date: ________