Our classroom highlight this spring is the Life Skills program at Riverbend Elementary in Springfield, Oregon. Emily Minnis, teacher in the classroom, has been teaching at the site for 10 years. For many of those years her classroom has been an active OrPATS training site. Emily's classroom serves students in grades K-5 and is masterfully structured to provide individualized levels of support to students as they progress through goals and gain independence. Young students, especially kindergartners, can be observed learning basic school routines and skills through highly structured activities including DT, PRT and independent work systems. Their instructional environment is supportive and helps set kids up for success. As students get older they transition to small group instruction and begin to self- manage their supports. Students, as young as 1st grade, learn to independently use notebooks that contain both their daily schedule and their reinforcement system (a classroom "money" system used throughout the day). 

 

Emily and her staff use a combination of the STAR program and other evidence-based practices, including clear visual supports, schedules, and a variety of daily opportunities, for students to learn and practice new behaviors and skills. PRT targets and other visual cues for adults (such as how to encourage positive behavior) are posted throughout the room. Making it clear to all who enter what the expectations are.  Emily and her classroom can be seen in several Level 3 STAR training videos!

 

If you are interested in visiting Emily's classroom go to the OrPATS website for more information or write us at information@orpats.org.