| Posted By |
Message |
|
|
Ideas (sort of teaching related)
Hi ladies. While I am not a teacher, I recently started a new job where I am going to be leading groups for adults who have significant brain damage.
It's a pretty laid back place and they have the same things they have been doing for years.
I want to keep everything fresh and interesting though, and especially, I want to introduce some new things.
When they hired me, they knew this is something that will be really new to me, and seemed okay that I will be learning as I go along too.
Do you have any suggestions of books, websites or just ideas in general I can look into to keep everyone stimulated?
Most things we do are focused on improving memory and communication.
I would also like to throw in some kinds of physical activity, but nothing too crazy since a lot of them have balance issues. (Yesterday we threw a ball around and they had to remember names of different fruits and veggies).
Funds are also very limited. I don't mind purchasing OOP if needed but can't afford to spend tons of dough.
TIA!!!!
ETA: I am not looking for anything specific to brain injury, but just some ideas in general that could be fun and useful, especially if you work with higher needs students.
Message edited 5/24/2013 5:36:49 AM.
|
Posted 5/24/13 5:27 AM  |
| |
|
ashap215
LIF Adult
Member since 8/09 1283 total posts
Name:
|
Ideas (sort of teaching related)
I teach special ed and most of my students have autism. I do a lot of file folders as filler activities/busy work.
check out filefolderfun.com. It's free
Try to keep it simple. You can do craft projects and more life skills related things like weather/appropriate dress and shopping lists and/or budgeting.
As far as for memory, simple matching tasks and memory card games (like the ones for kids), You can also read and book and ask "wh" questions that apply to the story (who what when where how)
Feel free to FM me if you have any more questions
|
| Posted 5/25/13 6:38 PM |
| |
|
|
|
Re: Ideas (sort of teaching related)
Thank you so much for responding. I will definitely check out your suggestions.
I want to set up daily lesson plans, like teachers do.
Right now I feel like the program is too relaxed and the lady who runs it, who is a doll, is retiring, so she kind of just goes in with nothing major planned, and picks out stuff to do on a whim.
I have a notebook that I am writing ideas in as well.
|
| Posted 5/26/13 12:04 PM |
| |
|
sfp0701
Liam's Mommy!
Member since 1/07 9764 total posts
Name:
Tricia
|
Re: Ideas (sort of teaching related)
Check out teacherspayteachers.com In the subject area go to speciality and click on speech. There are TONS of speech therapy activities and games for high school students (problem solving etc) that may be relevant or adaptable.
|
| Posted 5/30/13 1:23 PM |
| |
|
|
|
Re: Ideas (sort of teaching related)
Thank you!
I completed my second week on Friday, and my supervisor has since had me sit in to observe some groups that the Neuropsychologists and some of the psychology/speech interns have lead.
I have gotten some great ideas from just observing them and feel a lot more confident now.
I did use the filefolderfun website already for one visual related activity.
|
| Posted 6/1/13 8:14 AM |
| |
|
|
|
Re: Ideas (sort of teaching related)
Just bumping this up again.
I have been there now for more than a month and feel a lot more confident in my role.
I have found a ton of websites with free printables and while I have different people every few days, they sometimes still complain that stuff is "boring".
I am wondering though if that's normal part of the job and them not always wanting to be there and/or doing "work".
TIA!
|
| Posted 7/3/13 9:34 PM |
| |
|
twicethefun
Loving life
Member since 7/06 4088 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Ideas (sort of teaching related)
Are these mandatory groups? Because if they are voluntary I fear you will lose clients if they are complaining of boredom. How low functioning are they?
My family member is adult senior with very low intelligence. His parents were told to institutionalize him when he was young but they didn't.
He would need activities that are fun or relevant to his life such as:
Balancing his checkbook.
Reading a map of the the subways
Finding change or adding money.
Daily hygiene, inventory and instructions. playing wii
listening to music
Dancing.
If you are an educational facility maybe try to end it on a really fun, positive note so they want to come back.
|
| Posted 7/4/13 8:41 AM |
| |
|
Sweetlax22
LIF Adult
Member since 5/10 1904 total posts
Name:
|
Re: Ideas (sort of teaching related)
You will have to adapt some of these lessons to make them age appropriate , but you might be able to get some ideas from here.
Move to Improve
|
| Posted 7/4/13 11:24 AM |
| |
|
|
|
Re: Ideas (sort of teaching related)
Posted by twicethefun
Are these mandatory groups? Because if they are voluntary I fear you will lose clients if they are complaining of boredom. How low functioning are they?
My family member is adult senior with very low intelligence. His parents were told to institutionalize him when he was young but they didn't.
He would need activities that are fun or relevant to his life such as:
Balancing his checkbook.
Reading a map of the the subways
Finding change or adding money.
Daily hygiene, inventory and instructions. playing wii
listening to music
Dancing.
If you are an educational facility maybe try to end it on a really fun, positive note so they want to come back.
Most that come are pretty low-functioning cognitive-wise. Some also have onset of dementia and cannot remember what actvity they are doing.
What you have to understand as well, is many of these pts were business people or held several master's degrees in their "former" life. They now have a pretty severe traumatic brain injury, and often physical impairments in addition.
Things like balancing a checkbook though can be too difficult for most of them.
For the most part, the people who come, are to give their families respite. Socialization is also HUGE because otherwise, they would be sitting at home, with an aide, staring at the 4 walls or a television.
I have spoken to many family members though who feel I am doing a good job and they appreciate the social aspect and fact that they are being stimulated.
|
| Posted 7/5/13 8:56 AM |
| |
|
