Special Education Department Update
November 2022
Gratitude Games: Make Giving Thanks Fun for the Whole Family
The gratitude scavenger hunt. This activity will get your kids up and moving and will help them to really see the world around them. Give your children a list of categories and ask them to find things around the house or neighborhood that they are thankful for. You can give them a camera to take a photo of each object or just have them write everything down. For older kids you may want to make it a competition to see how many they can find in a set amount of time. If you have little children who can’t write yet, just walk around with them and each point out things that fit each category. Use our sample checklist or make up your own categories…choose things that are important to you and your family.
The turkey ticket. Most children can list a couple of things they are thankful for, but it’s good to press them to really think about how many things make them happy and healthy. For this activity, find a long sheet of paper (or use a blank receipt roll) and ask every member of the family to FILL the sheet with things they are grateful for. Make the paper as long as you’d like, but try to push everyone to go beyond the basics and think of things that they take for granted. (Adapted from Lets-Get-Together.com)
Thanksgiving tree, gratitude wreath or thankful turkey. These activities not only instill gratitude but they also provide you with Thanksgiving decorations! Cut leaf or feather shapes out of colorful paper and have your children write something that they are thankful for on each one. Leaves can be tied with ribbon onto a “tree” made of real tree branches or glued into a circle to form a wreath. Feathers can be added to a turkey made of construction paper. Keep these creations and enjoy looking back on how your children’s lists of blessings change throughout the years. Toddlers once thankful for Elmo or Cheerios may grow into teenagers thankful for a car and iPods.
Thanksgiving ABCs. Print out a sheet with the alphabet down the left side and have kids think of one thing they are thankful for that begins with each letter of the alphabet. Work together with younger kids or make it into a game for older kids by timing them.
Thanksgiving placemats. Help your children create placemats for your Thanksgiving meal like Kansas mom Carolyn Schneider did. She suggests cutting out leaf or pumpkin shapes from colorful paper and having kids (and adults!) write the things they are thankful for on each shape. Be sure to include the family members who will be joining you on Thanksgiving and other things important to your family. You can even include real fall leaves if you like! Glue these shapes and leaves onto a larger sheet of paper or cardboard and laminate or cover with contact paper to make them easy to wipe off. You will be able to use these for years to come!
Inside Miss Kutz's Classroom
SameGoal
Special Olympics - 7th Grade in North Olmsted
We have an exciting opportunity that we are bringing to the seventh grade students at Albert Einstein Academy North Olmsted. Albert Einstein Academy is becoming a Unified Champion School-Special Olympics. Unified Champion Schools-Special Olympics, is an organization that provides opportunities to students through the power of sport, whole school engagement, and inclusive youth leadership.These events will take place at neighboring school districts who have the space and facility to host such events.
Events will start in January of 2023 and students will participate a few times a month.
We will have one general education teacher, Ms. Jeanette Thevenin and one intervention specialist, Ms. Ariana Moran as our AEA coaches. Ms. Jeanette Thevenin, currently teaches high school science at Albert Einstein Academy North Olmsted. Ms. Ariana Moran is our middle school intervention specialist here at North Olmsted. Ms. Ariana Moran is really excited for this wonderful opportunity and the opportunity for our students!!
Contact Information
Related Services
Speech and Language:
Doreen Binnie - d.binnie@csuohio.edu
Melissa Volk - m.m.volk@csuohio.edu
Occupational Therapy
Brittney Mazzarella - OT@aeaohio.org
Melissa Mortensen - themobileot@gmail.com
Physical Therapy
Cameron Ressel - cameronressel@abctherapyltd.com
Intervention Specialists
North Olmsted:
Sarah Kutz - Grades - K-6 Email - Sarah.Kutz@aeaohio.org
Ariana Moran - Grades - 7-9 Email - Ariana.Moran@aeaohio.org
Lauren Beitel - Grades - 10-12 Email - Lauren.Beitel@aeaohio.org
Jill Parkinson - Grades - 10-12 Email - Jill.Parkinson@aeaohio.org
Lakewood:
Jennifer Dillion - Grades - 7-12 Email - Jennifer.Dillion@aeaohio.org
Strongsville:
Courtney Preston - Grades - K-7 Email - Courtney.Preston@aeaohio.org
Beca Kimmet - Grades - 7-12 Email - Beca.Kimmet@aeaohio.org