What do you teach? Linky Party

I absolutely LOVE the students I have the privilege of teaching. I believe that all children are capable of learning and growing into productive members of society.  In my class, as in every special education class that I know about, the children MUST be explicitly taught skills that other children learn naturally.  I thought it would be interesting for all of us "special" teachers to make a list of skills we teach on a daily basis that will never be on any standardized test, but are essential for our kids to grow.  (General ed teachers, you are welcome to participate as well!)  I have many good friends who are general education teachers, but many of them truly do not understand what goes on in my class on a daily basis.

Here's my list:

1. how to tie shoes (all students up through 5th grade)
2. how to walk up and/or down steps so you don't fall/trip/step on the person in front of you
3. how to walk in a line
4. how to use the bathroom independently
5. how to shower/bathe at home so the other kids do not harass them because of body odor
6. when it is appropriate to scratch/adjust your underclothes
7. how to brush your teeth
8. how to ask for help
9. look at the person who is talking to you
10. how to make friends
11. how to have an appropriate conversation with peers/adults
12. how to blow your nose
13. how to move through the building and find where you are going
14. following directions
15. how to wait for your turn
16. how to handle frustration
17. how to handle disappointing situations
18. how to handle changes in schedule
19. what is appropriate behavior in special programs/field trips 
20. how to maintain appropriate behavior when mad/sad/happy/excited
21. how to handle new situations
22. how to deal with people in costumes and other super scary people
23. how to handle fire drills/tornado drills/ and any other unexpected drill 
24. how to stay with the group during a field trip
25. what to do when you get lost on a field trip 
26. what to do when you get lost in the school building
27. how to let others know they are annoying you in an appropriate manner
28. what clothing is appropriate for the weather 
29. what clothing is appropriate for your age/body/gender
30. what to do in an emergency at home/school/in public places
31. how to call 911 and when it's appropriate
32. how to pay attention to what is going on around you
33. look in front of you when you are walking so you don't run into doors/walls/people
34. table manners
35. fine motor skills
36. gross motor skills
37. using logic and reason to figure out common problems
38. understanding that other people have feelings
39. understanding other people's perspective
40. why we have to keep working when everything is so hard
41. 
    

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