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White boards? Good question
Art projects build fine motor skills needed for writing in a composition notebook!
My first response is to ask your principal to model this process for you so you can see how it is done, and better understand what she wants. I don’t know your principal though or her background in the classroom, so that may not work. The next thing would be to query your colleagues and problem solve this together. Whiteboards might work, sand tracing (depending on what you’re comfortable with), it’s hard to say. Every school is different and you know your situation best. This isn’t much help I’m sorry. Good luck to you!
Take the issue to your district sped office. Many principals have no clue about special Ed needs. Get district office backup & do whatever you need to do for your students’ best interests.
Playdoah, chalkboard,
Your principal sounds like a completely ignorant moron who is more interested in optics than actual education. She has obviously never heard of arts integration. You need to take this issue to your union/teachers association. My local has a very active special education committee. Don’t try to tackle this issue on your own — you need help to make this principal/micro-managing control queen see the light. I would also get in contact with the principal’s supervisor. No one knows your students better than you, so don’t let this principal bully/push you around; if not for yourself, then for your students, who truly need you.
Have you asked your principal why no art? Use the developmentally appropriate practice statement by NAEYC on art to argue for art but make sure the art is creative and not a lot of cursive copy cat stuff. Worksheets are really not the best practice for that age especially with cognitive delays. That age does best with using multiple senses, movement and manipulative when they learn. It does require more work than a worksheet but the children enjoy and retain more info. Google teaching _______ without worksheets or no more worksheets for ideas
Sorry was saying cutesy stuff not cursive
Wouldn’t the worksheets and projects be considered an accommodation for your special Ed students?
Get parents to advocate for their children on your behalf!
Been there, done that… as a SPED teacher of students on Autism Spectrum and cognitive deficiencies, I needed worksheets (downloaded or self-made ) to meet my students’ needs. We use a curriculum called Unique Learning Systems in our self-contained Access Points classes. Administration left me alone to conduct my class as I saw fit. I think that’s how it should be— let us professionals do our jobs! I sincerely wish whoever is making these ridiculous mandates would come and spend time in our classrooms… see how they would manage 12 students in grades 3-5- all levels and all subjects without worksheets 👀
Our schools usual copy budget is $75,000 a year. Sometimes decisions are made not in the best interest of students but for monetary reasons. Ask the hard question in the middle of your staff meeting about the copy budget.
Rising Star
Hopefully as the school year gets busier your principal will find bigger fish to fry!
Add a writing element to the art project. For example, the steps in completing the project, thoughts on how the student felt before, during and after the project.
Oh and here is the big one: what did you learn by doing this project. You could even create a worksheet template to fulfill the principal’s requirements.
Good luck!!
Rising Star
I agree! Use a kid friendly rubric and self reflection.
Sand trays
In special education it’s the Individualized Educational Program which drives the academic content (Goals &Objectives ) as well as the instructional techniques ( Modifications & Accommodations) not some Neanderthal Administration.
If that’s not the case in Delaware , more’s the pity.
Pro
That is so upsetting on so many levels! I am sorry you have to deal with that! Always continue to advocate for your students!
Chief
Is drawing numbers and drawing or gluing their corresponding units an art project? I say nah.
Can you use laminated pages with wet erase markers (usually work better than dry erase on laminated pages)?
I use a lot of glue in organizers and activities inside of composition notebooks as an interactive learning tool. They still have to write a lot down, but you can print 2 per paper (cutting down if it's a copy number issue) and they have a guiding hand during the process. It's also a great tool for case conferences to show how they follow along and complete work both guided and on their own.
Maybe an interactive notebook could be a compromise option?
Allow students to illustrate their writing, or label the images. If someone questions it say it is scientific illustration not art! I think the earlier suggestion about having students glue in aides would work really well. I have a feeling that your principal has decided they hate crafts, think holiday decorations, that are unrelated to the lessons being thought. (Either that or it is a budget thing) While I understand that reasoning I don't really think I've seen art in the halls that were not accompanied by student writing or in some way illustrating something they had learned.
Chief
I say invite her to visit your classroom. That is asinine. I wouldn’t do that to my high school students. How boring.
In ECE/pre-k, I have started using apt more file folder games and clip cards (use clothes pins [fine motor] to mark the correct answer). I can have different kids working on different levels this way and rotate tasks. I began using them more last year as time fillers since we couldn't share materials (thanks Covid). You can find free ones on Pintrest and some free or cheap sets on TpT.