Lemonade, Cookies, and Laughs

The ECC (Expanded Core Curriculum) for students with visual impairment includes social interaction skills and independent living skills. My caseload this year consisted of several middle school students at the same middle school who had IEP goals related these aspects of the ECC.

Social interaction skills can be a challenge when considering each student's needs and how they best communicate. Some students are boisterous and outspoken, while others have processing delays and other disabilities such as autism. Conversations may take longer as I lead by example and prompt students with appropriate questions and responses to share fun information about the past weekend or upcoming summer break. For one student, it is important to structure the conversation and the way the answers are provided in the same format each time. For another, it teaches patience, as she waits for her friend to respond to the question.

Both students also have daily living skills goals. On one particular lesson, we worked on spreading icing onto cookies, then using sprinkles and toppings to decorate them. When thinking about frosting cookies, the task seems fairly easy, simple, and quick. But the lesson plan shows otherwise!

When broken down into a task analysis, one must consider:

·         taking off the lid and foil seal off a tub of frosting

·         using a butter knife and hold it properly to scoop down into the tub of frosting and get enough onto the knife

·         transferring the icing onto the top of the cookie (without it dripping or falling off!)

·         spreading the icing

·         opening the sprinkle and candy containers

·         putting an appropriate amount of toppings onto the icing!

In the same lesson, the students also learned how to make a single serving of lemonade by using bottles of water and adding a single serve packet of powdered lemonade. Again, the task analysis one must consider:

·         getting the bottle of water from the classroom fridge (and finding it in the fridge!)

·         taking off the cap

·         tearing the packet of lemonade across the top

·         pouring all the powdered mix into the bottle of water without spilling it

·         fitting the cap back onto the bottle correctly

·         shaking the powder and water until the powder has dissolved

All in all, the students were proud of their accomplishments and got to eat their own decorated cookie, wash it down with some sweet lemonade, and enjoy getting to know one another on a different level than just attending classes together.

***Please Note: it is extremely important to consider any food allergies for each student.

Enjoy!
~Kristen