Welcome to Rowan

Teacher - Rowan Victoria Gotts
Photo of Victoria Gotts

 

Welcome to Rowan!
We are a lovely class of 6 pupils.

We have 6 adults supporting us each day.

We love a bit of silliness and fun!
In Rowan class we are working within the Engagement Model.  We follow a very multi sensory, topic based curriculum, focusing on the 5 areas of engagement (exploration, realisation, anticipation, persistence and initiation). We do lots of sensory stories, music, communication work, exploring and fine motor skills activities to help us make progress with our own individual EHCP outcomes.  We use a total communication approach including on body signing, photos, symbols and Objects of Reference. We also work hard on our physical skills in our physio sessions, weekly rebound and twice weekly hydrotherapy.

Rowan Timetable – Spring Term 2 – 2024

 

 

 

Curriculum Information for parentsSpring term 2 23/24Topic - Space
SubjectProfilesIdeas for home
CommunicationWe will be working on personalised activities linked to our EHCP and SaLT (Speech and Language Therapy) outcomes.Offer choices to your child during daily routines by holding real objects up for them to eye point at or reach for or take their chosen item – What do they want for breakfast? Which top do they want to wear? Which toy would they like to play with?
Problem Solving We will be doing Space themed parachute games and songs, including the number songs ‘5 Little Men’ and ‘Zoom, Zoom, Zoom’.You could find some interesting looking rocks and an empty egg box. Support your child to explore the rocks. Your child might be interested in taking the rocks out of the egg box or maybe even putting them in, one in each section. You could help your child to form a pointed index finger to touch each rock in turn and count aloud to see how many you’ve got.
Phonics/ listeningWe will be working on our listening skills in one-to-one and small group sessions.You could sing ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’ to your child. You could sing it in different ways - softly and quietly, loudly, high pitched and low and see how your child responds! (Links to music).
ExplorationWe will be exploring lots of different toys, resources and messy play linked to space. This includes lights and switches, space blankets, moon sand, interactive floor, A frame and sensory block rockets on the light panel and mirrored tray. You could put some atmospheric space music on YouTube and explore some space-themed water play with your child. Try adding some black food colouring, glitter and tin foil balls to a tray of water.
Stories and Books Our sensory story in the sensory room this half term will be ‘Galaxies’ – a journey into space and home again. We will explore various different sensory props along to the space-y music while our sensory room lights change to enhance the story. We will be reading a range of books together in the library each week, also doing 1-1 reading with each pupil. You could visit your local library and ask the librarian if you can borrow or reserve books, story sacks or audiobooks of stories featuring space – for example – - Whatever Next - Smeds and the Smoos - Look Up! - Look Inside – Space - Man on the Moon (A day in the life of Bob)
Orientation, Movement and Mobility: Physio We will practise our physical skills using walkers, A frames, reaching out and exploring or moving ourselves around the classroom and school. We will be doing hydrotherapy, rebound therapy and physio stretches and exercises. You could do some physio exercises with your child at home. Write a note in the home/school book if you would like a copy of the physio exercises we do with your child in school.
ICTWe will be using switches, iPads, touch screen and the Interactive Floor to work on our cause and effect skills. You could explore some cause and effect toys at home with your child
MusicIn our music sessions this half term we will using the switches and beams on our Soundbeam, the Skoog electronic musical instrument and the ‘echo’ function on the microphone to make space-y sounds. You could sing ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’ to your child. You could sing it in different ways - softly and quietly, loudly, high pitched and low and see how your child responds! (Links to Phonics/listening)
Social and Emotional We will join with Alder class for some social play time on a Tuesday morning. On a Friday afternoon, we will be doing space themed massage with props and sensory lights. You could search YouTube for a space-themed guided meditation for kids, such as one called ‘Spaceship to the Moon’ by New Horizon.