Well, we are already growing. We welcome Ryan to our class. He is already contributing to our class by setting up, joining group work, and working independently. Andrea who works with us one day per week has already proved to be an integral part of our team. Kerri and Deb are working together for the first time, and this is proving to be a solid partnership.

We have been focusing on Zones of Regulation to help us (staff included) recognise our feelings and emotions to self-regulate and respond appropriately. We are using the ‘Inside Out,’ characters to help us to understand what this looks and feels like.

Our English unit is proving to be a lot of fun with Evie showing us her sense of humour. Mason is using his ALS board to show rhyming words and characters in the text. All the students enjoy the lesson more when we involve our buzzers to point out the rhyming words during our ‘quiz-like’ readings.

We are lucky to have Declan, Tyson and Shyanne, our year 8 students, to help the year 7 students to understand the expectations in the classroom in secondary school where we promote more independence. The year 7 students are learning to look after resources and put them away independently with guidance from their older peers.

I did not realize we had a class full of Maths whizzes! During Maths, the students work independently when they understand a new concept, and they photograph their own work. We include several Maths games weekly and I am happy to say we have a class that enjoys working in groups and helping each other.

Swimming is proving to be a highlight of the week with students joining a swim coach, Coach Tim, and Mr Dale at the pool. I have already noticed a progression with all students increasing their abilities to kick, float and use their arms. Evie is swimming the length of the pool.

Hayley is helping us to stay on track with verbal reminders and Declan and Shyanne have Friday checklists to setup class for the following Monday. At this rate, Kerri and I will be out of a job! It is fantastic to see the growth of each student, especially as they develop opinions and independence.

That’s it for now,

Declan, Tyson, Shyanne, Ryan, Mason, Evie, Hayley, Kerri, Andrea and Deb.