THEME: Connect 1st & Pumpkins! October 13-17, 2014

Hello Guides!

Welcome to another week of guiding with Synergy. In this theme, we will be focusing on one very important social-engagement technique while having a bit of Fall fun with pumpkins.

The concept I would like for you to pour your attention into this next week is the CONNECT 1ST concept. This concept is crucial for so many reasons with all children but especially those on the autism spectrum.

We are finding repeatedly in the current neuroscience research that sensory information (sight, hearing, touch, etc) are all potentially either coming in at the same time at the same level of intensity and/or they are even fused together (seeing color when hearing something is called Synesthesia, for example) in autism. Imagine, just for a moment, trying to learn a new language in a foreign country to you, when you have all of your senses combined and similar intensity. You are awash with words that are not familiar, colors, tastes, loud-abrupt noises that you were not sure are dangerous or mundane. Trying to figure out "bathroom" or "cup" would be near impossible with the level of multiple inputs coming into your system as your anxiety rises. Someone comes at you yelling, screaming at you to "sit down," so you do. You are scared, feel alone, and your anxiety rises even though you outwardly feel you must remain seated as the person demanded.

However, imagine now, that someone comes out of that fog of sensory over-stimulation, to calmly touch your arm, while smiling and being obviously gentle and kind in their movements, and leads you quietly to the side of a busy street, while holding a visual symbol of something you really wanted/needed in that moment (e.g., "coffee" in my case). That person helps you navigate and learn the word "coffee" just by connecting one on one with you, decreasing the extraneous information's priorities, and guiding your focus to him and the item/activity. Your anxiety eases knowing someone understands you. Your anxiety eases now that you have at least one word solid that you can use. Your confidence rises and your curiosity about this new place returns. However, you do not wish to go back to the middle of that crowd where the people were yelling at you to sit down, even if their intent was to offer you coffee after you sit and comply dutifully. You wish to find out more about that calm, kind, and informative guide who understood you and your need for connection for learning the new language.

Connecting 1st video examples
I am posting 3 different video clips of a father truly connecting first with his son before speaking and before engaging in the next activity. This guide touches, he is quiet, he is calm. He waits for his son to shift his attention to him and their interaction before continuing.

Connecting 1st to start your day or session together
Many of you have instructions to use a full 20 minutes to connect first before you engage in your daily school routine. If you are new on the scene (e.g., walking in to start your school time with a student, coming home after work, or simply after a break), take the time to truly connect with your student or child before anything else happens. This is significantly more important than ANY compliance and/or activity you could start. Without engagement, you have no true guidance. You only have compliance.

This initial connection can be similar to the video but instead of following with starting your schedule immediately or starting your next activity, it means engaging in a simple back and forth "conversation" without words. You might say "hi" and then s/he says "hi." Then you say "nice shirt" and then s/he looks down and touches his/her shirt. Then you point to your shirt and say "mine's green." Then you shift to playing a fist bump back and forth game or passing something back and forth between you or simply sitting and leaning forward then leaning back in a partnership for a few minutes while you smile back and forth. This is true relationship building. This is the basis of guiding successfully. This is trust building.

Connecting 1st within an activity
So this use of "connect 1st" refers to the moments when you can see that your student or child is less engaged with you. Maybe there was something that happened outside that took your student's attention away or maybe the activity is pretty engaging and you both have gotten a little lost in the moment. Consider taking the time to re-engage and not say a word without shifting attention to one another using the above techniques. It will enhance your interactions significantly to take a few moments to ensure engagement by connecting vs. allowing your words and guidance to go wasted because one of you is no longer connected and engaged.


PUMPKIN THEME!
Oh how exciting pumpkins can be for a teacher. There are so many books, messy, sensory, science, and active games associated with pumpkins! Go wild! Have fun! Here are a few ideas:

5 Little Pumpkins song, book, games, and art work
-counting goals, turn taking, reading high frequency words, and more!

Messy pumpkin carving
-problem solve how to do each step from cutting the top to what you will use to scoop the goop!

Pumpkin patch or grocery store
-if you can go to the pumpkin patch (or grocery store), selecting just the right pumpkin then carrying said pumpkin is great for exercise and sensory integration (heavy work!)

The great pumpkin - Charlie Brown
-this is just one book that is a classic you can pick up to bring the theme to life.


Cookie Cutter pumpkins (mallet and cookie cutters) 
-Just saw this one... consider using metal or hard cookie cutters placed on the outside of a pumpkin then hammering (or use a mallet) to cut through the pumpkin's skin for that shape. This sure beats using a sharp knife! Let me know if this works!!!


Have fun and do let me know if you have any questions and/or concerns.

Best wishes for a peaceful October week,
Barb