The overall purpose of the Functional Living Skills (Individual Curriculum) class is to help students identified with mild/moderate intellectual disabilities function as independently and skillfully as possible in their homes, school, place of employment, and community. Curriculum objectives are designed for students served in the Exceptional Children program who spend the majority of their school day in the exceptional children’s classroom. Students receive class instruction from an exceptional children’s teacher. Functional academics (including basic-skill subjects of reading, math applications, and writing), listening, speaking, pre-vocational skills, personal health, science, social studies, survival skills, leisure and community experiences, and age-appropriate social behaviors are emphasized during class instruction.
Below is a copy of information I used in my Individual Curriculum class. I taught functional living skills in a high school setting for five years.
Classroom Goal:
I believe all students have the ability to learn and shape their own lives in positive ways. My goal this year is to have all of my students recognize their power and use that power to improve themselves, their relationships with their family and friends, and their communities. I believe my students can become competent residents in their homes, students in their school, workers, consumers of goods, and leisure participants.
Necessary Supplies:
1) 2 non-spiral composition notebooks for writing assignments (100 sheets)... see note below
2) 1 pack of 8 x 10 ½ loose- leaf notebook paper (wide-ruled)
3) 2 glue sticks
4) a calculator for home use
5) 1 pack of pencils
6) personal pencil sharpener
7) 1 box of Puffs or Kleenex tissues
8) 1 pocket folder (for homework and notes from school/home)
9) book bag
10) Notebook ( 1 ½ - 2-inch binder )... see note below
Class Organization:
* Non-spiral composition notebooks (the students need 1 notebook for each semester)
* Notebook: (1 ½ - 2 inch binder)... Most of your materials will be kept in your binder.
Class Wish List: * paper towels * staple food items (sugar, salt, pepper, can vegetables) * paper cups * wrapped candy for bingo games * kleenex tissues * various snack items and drinks
Past Assignments, Life Skills Lessons and/or Class Activities
August 9, 2014 Summer Reading Assignment: I hope everyone is having a great summer. This is just a reminder about summer reading. Everyone should have read at least five books this summer for this class. Please write your information on your report sheet. This will be collected for a grade during the first week of school. School starts August 25, 2014...see you soon. October 1, 2013 The class is still reading "The House on Mango Street" by Sandra Cisneros. The next chapter the student will read is "Edna's Ruthie", pg.67. Remember that Sept. 15- Oct. 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month. It is during this time period that we celebrate Hispanic/Latino culture. "The House On Mango Street" ties into this theme and so does the Functional Living Skills topic "Who am I...It's All About Me". Students have been studying the 5 factors which make a person unique. These factors are heredity, environment, cultural heritage, personality, and self-concept. Students will learn details about each factors. Students will also need to learn their personal information (address, phone number, D.O.B., and other information). Subtraction ...subtraction...What is subtraction....? has been the topic in functional mathematics. We are still working on ( and will continue to work on) on these skills and many more.