Self-contained, Life Skills at High School level

[Renea]

Are there others on this list who teach at high school level a self-contained or life skills or community based curriculum class? Most of my students are with me all day except for choir, art, or PE. We work on academics, but also organization, personal hygiene, cooking, socialization, etc.

[sweetsass]

I wish to god they'd do something like that at my school.

[bella mundi]

Yes, I do just that. I have been in a low-functioning self contained classroom of 16-21 year olds. They are on the autism spectrum, and we are a community-based program with an emphasis on life skills.

What are you looking for?

[FrazzleDazzle]

I also teach in a self-contained classroom i na high school. We do life skills, vocational skills, and everything else. Some kids are with me all day, some are out for a few periods, and some are only in for a couple periods.

[Torrance]

I do that too. I have a group of students that are with me all day and then they go out for PE and Health or Computer Class.

[avid reader]

I also teach a self-contained high school teacher. I have students that range in age from 15-21. I try to teach academics and life skills. It can be very difficult because the class is so varied in aacademic and cognitive levels.
They also leave the class for art and gym.

[FrazzleDazzle]

What kind of art and gym? Do they go to regular classes? I find that finding planning time is one of the hardest things because there are kids with me all the time-- it would be awesome if they all went out to art or gym together.

[avid reader]

My students all leave for adapted gym together. Art is also together. we managed to find an art teacher in the building willing to teach my students. She gets out of monitoring a study hall class. She takes them for 40 minutes every third day. It also helped that I had a parent who demanded her son get to take the same classes as everyone else, (last year we had music). she threatened to call the state or whomever was needed to ensure it happened.

I agree planning time is tough to find. Quite often I end up dealing with a student who misbehaves and just leaves the room during these times.

[mopar]

A short story on tape or novel on tape may offer some planning time because the students are listening for a few minutes. If the students can't participate in music class, bring in music for them to listen to a few times a week. It may also allow a little more down time for the teacher. Or ask for parent volunteers or community members to share a hobby. This may not really be downtime but one less thing that you must plan for the day. Our students with special needs need time to learn hobbies and to try them out. Especially the students in the older sectors.

[avaroe]

the school i work with integrate life skills outcomes in 'regular' class. for each subject we have, the syllabus also states the life skills outcomes in order to integrate all abilities in the one class.