Welcome to our student supports page! This page aims to share some useful and relevant resources with our school community. We are hoping that you find these resources useful, especially parents who are supporting students with additional needs.
Zones of Regulation App
The Zones of Regulation is a fantastic program that teachers use to help students develop emotional awareness and provide tools to help with self-regulation. It has been very successful in our Rainbows Class in Coisceimeanna and I would strongly recommend it for any students who are becoming stressed and finding it difficult to manage their emotions. Click on the video below for further information.
Social Stories to help with Covid-19
Autism Little learners have a wide range of resources that parents may find helpful. Not only have they created their very only social stories to help with current issues arising from Covid – 19 but they also provide Speech and language resources and much more. Here are some of their most recent posts.
As we all navigate through distance learning, we are discovering things that we all need to work on and get better at. This little story talks about the best way to video chat with others (teacher, classmates, friends and family).
CLICK HERE FOR “HOW TO VIDEO CHAT WITH OTHER PEOPLE ONLINE” STORY
This story is for young children. It can help familiarize them with masks during this time of COVID-19 with a little story about putting a mask on stuffed animals, dolls and toys and playing peek-a-boo with them. It also talks about playing peek-a-boo with family members with a mask. In addition, there is a teddy bear, bunny, doll and car that can be cut out along with a mask to cut out and put on those “toys”. There are 5 coloring pages with pictures/scenes with masks being worn.
CLICK HERE FOR “PUTTING A MASK ON MY TOYS” STORY
There will definitely be some changes that will be different for our students/children. This book talks about some things that might be different when kids go back. As we have learned throughout this pandemic, nothing is certain. So, the book talks in language like “might” or “probably” since we just don’t know for sure what things will look like. This book can help kids understand what to expect when thinking about going back into the classroom
CLICK HERE FOR “BACK TO SCHOOL” STORY
Useful App - ‘Breathe Think Do’ for Younger Children
This is a FREE app for you to share with your child to help teach skills such as problem solving, self-control, planning, and task persistence. Children can laugh and learn as you help a Sesame Street monster friend calm down and solve everyday challenges. The app is part of Sesame Street’s Little Children, Big Challenges initiative, which aims to provide tools to help children build skills for resilience, and overcome everyday challenges and more stressful situations and transitions. You can access other Sesame Street resilience materials online, at sesamestreet.org/challenges. Meet the Sesame Streeet Monster in the video below.
The app is FREE in app stores for IPhones and Androids.
Energy Levels & Regulat
NCSE Resources for Parents
The National Council for Special Education are now updating their website weekly with online resources for parents. They will have a theme a week, and will highlight a useful app each week. You can access these resources at www.ncse.ie.
NEPS Guide for Parents on Daily Routines
The National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) have released a guide for parents with Top Tips for supporting children and young people with routines during the school closure.
Please click HERE to download
Middletown Centre for Autism Webinar - Promoting Leisure, Fun and Happiness
WEBINAR HOSTED BY PETER VERMEULEN
Peter Vermeulen, MSc and PhD in Psychology and Educational Sciences, has worked with people with ASD and their families for more than 30 years. Peter is an internationally respected lecturer/trainer and he presents all over Europe and beyond. Peter has written more than 15 books and several articles on autism, some of have won several awards.
Below is an excellent webinar that he hosted for Middletown Centre for Autism, on the topic of Promoting Leisure, Fun & Happiness.
Enjoy 🙂
Did you miss our webinar by Dr Peter Vermeulen on the topic of Promoting Leisure, Fun & Happiness? Don't worry you can now watch it here…#MCA #Webinar #Free #PromotingLeisureFunandHappiness #LearnGrowDevelop #dontmissout
Posted by Middletown Centre for Autism on Friday, April 24, 2020
Coronavirus Reading for Children
Axel Scheffler, the illustrator of ‘The Gruffalo’ has illustrated a digital book for primary school age children, free for anyone to read on screen or print out, about the coronavirus and the measures taken to control it. Published by Nosy Crow, and written by staff within the company, the book has had expert input from medical professionals, two head teachers and a child psychologist.
You can download a copy of the book or watch a video of it by clicking HERE
Autism Awareness
Click HERE for a link to a blog on ‘How to Talk to Kids About Autism’, and some different books and resources on this topic.
Useful Apps
The National Council for Special Education have highlighted two FREE apps which might be useful to parents and children during this emergency school closure.
MINDFUL GNATS
This app is designed to teach young people simple mindfulness and relaxation skills. During this time of uncertainty it may be a useful support.
It can be used to help mindfulness practice when playing the Mindful Gnats computer game (see www.peskygnats.com for details) or on it’s own to mindful practice.
Download HERE on Iphone
Download HERE on Android
OUR STORY 2
This app makes it easy for the user to create picture books with voice and/or text. It links directly to the photos taken with the phone or tablet.
It’s very easy to use and the story books can be saved in the app or shared through email. NCSE advisors recommend this app to class and SET teachers in all school settings. It is useful for developing literacy and communication skills.
Download HERE on Iphone
Download HERE on Android