Special Education Today

What you’ll need:

How to make it:

1. Print the pattern onto plain copy or printer paper.
2. Cut the square pattern out, cutting on the solid lines.
3. Lay pattern on top of colored paper and trace the square. Cut out the square from the colored paper.
4. Keep the pattern square on top of the colored square. Either hold it in place with your fingers or tape it down lightly on two of the sides.
5. Cut through the pattern and the colored paper along the dotted lines but do not cut in to the center circle.
6. Use a thumbtack or stick pin to poke out the holes in every other corner as indicated on the pattern. Set the pattern piece aside.
7. Take one corner (one with a hole) and fold it toward the center of the square. Fold the next corner that has a hole and fold it toward the center on top of the first holed corner. Repeat with the other two corners with holes until all four are folded into the center. Glue the folds to each other and to the center. Hold together until dry.
8. Push the thumbtack through the center of the pinwheel and into the eraser of the pencil. Make sure the pinwheel isn’t touching the eraser or it won’t spin.
9. Glue some sequins to the flaps of the pinwheel and let dry.

Tips:

• You can use plain white paper and have children color with crayons or markers to decorate before cutting out the pinwheel pattern.
• Decorate with lightweight items such as sequins and stickers or glitter glue. Items like buttons and craft jewels are too heavy.
• If the pinwheel isn’t turning properly, try using a longer stick pin rather than a thumbtack to allow more room between the pinwheel and the eraser.

Necessity truly is the mother of invention. While I am grateful for L.A. Parent magazine, all of the happenings are in the outerlying areas of L.A., like Torrance to Pasadena, even as far away as LaCañada Flintridge. I don’t mind traveling sometimes, but LaCañada Flintridge is way too far for a 2 hour event that I could find closer in.

That’s why I’m going to put out a weekly or bi-weekly newsletter (I haven’t decided yet) for those who want something a little closer than Torrance, Pasadena or LaCañada Flintridge. I will compile a listing of things in the surrounding areas of free or very low-cost activities to do with your children and family this summer. I wish I would have thought of it sooner. I know it’s because I have more time. Last year at this time the only things I wanted to do was sleep and absolutely nothing. That is not the case now. I’m so less stressed now. I am very, very near to completing my Master’s/Credential program, so my mind is clearer. I’m adjusting to life with much more time on my hand. Something I haven’t had a lot of these past couple years. Now that I have the time, I plan on using it wisely.

Here’s to the summer and having fun with your family! Bye for now!!!

I wouI would like to offer my apologies to several people who e-mailed me and requested a copy of my OCR lesson plan template for Special Education students. There were many things that happened. First, I took a two month leave, the laptop with the lesson plans were on the laptop, I was swamped with school and my family, etc. Everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. However, I would like to correct that. I offer my apologies to: Elona D., Candace T., Jennifer Y., & Cindy W. I will get the lesson plan off the school laptop and e-mail it within the next day or so.

Sorry guys!

Leila

Well, it’s that time again- Book Club time! I will start tomorrow. As of now I have my own children, David & Phillise, and 5 other neighborhood children. I am planning activities for them as we speak. We are going to:

• Make & decorate the cover for the Memory book before I laminate them.
• Take pictures for their library card.
• Visit the library to get library cards for those who don’t have them.
• Check out books from my library or the public library and explain the rules of the book club regarding behavior and participation.

That’s all I got for now. Will post pics tomorrow before the weekend. Bye for now!

Keeping it to a clap! Well, what does that mean? It means that I will keep the noise down, as far as my thunder thighs are concerned. They used to make so much noise. I’m embarrassed to admit this but, before I started exercising, they used to rub together. Now, they do not. My inner thighs have toned up so much from walking 3.6–5.2 miles/day. Plus, I’ve added the Sand Dunes in Manhattan Beach to my exercise regimen. Oh, the Sand Dune!

So, dear readers, I am going to keep it to a clap! No more thunder! Only the thunderous applause when I reveal the thinner, inner me that’s been waiting to get out for years!!!

Ellen’s 11 Star Spectacular Super Deluxe Hotel, written by Larry Schwartz & illustrated by Kelly Denato, is the perfect little book to use with the Open Court Imagination Unit. I guess everyone’s feeling the crunch, ’cause this book is my most recent purchase from Barnes & Noble. It was a great buy: $3.99 for a hardcover book.

On to the review. I would say this book is for someone as young as 3-4 years old. It is the cutest little book. The young heroine, Ellen, lives in an 11-Star spectacular, super deluxe hotel. Her life is fabulous. She has a pet monster who she feeds. She’s a world famous detective who foils jewel heists. That’s a pretty tall order for an 8 year old.

Her life is so exciting. Well, not really. It’s actually a motel outside of Las Vegas, Nevada. She experiences  a series of adventures. Or does she? I guess you’re going to have to read it and find out what happens?

I really like this book for use with the 3rd grade OCR Imagination unit. Check it out!