The day after the IEP, Bella had her first day of school. The four of us went, not knowing exactly what to expect. The time that we are there is broken down into different activities. The first 15 minutes of every class is in the Music and Movement room. It is a way for the kids to use up some of their energy so they can focus in the classroom. The first day Bella didn't know what to think about everything. Miss Carley welcomed us to the class and introduced us to Miss Jackie. Jackie is a parapro who helps out in different classrooms. Bella seemed to feel comfortable with both of them. That day only two other students were in class and she was very interested in watching both of them. She didn't really expell that much energy during this time.
The next part of class occurred in the classroom. The kids sat in chairs in a semi-circle around Carley. She started off this part of class by singing a welcome song to all the kids. She then pulled out a Nemo Bubble Blower. Bella went crazy for this. She LOVES bubbles. Nemo blew bubbles at all the kids. When he stopped, Carley incouraged the kids to say more and to use the sign for more. Bella doesn't say the word more, so she just kept saying "Please!" Bella learned her first sign that day: More. After Nemo was put away, the kids sang two different songs. The first one the kids shake maracas and the second they shake pom poms. Bella just sat back and took it all in. She wasn't really into shaking anything during any song.
Centers come next. There are three different centers set up that teach different skills. Each child is allowed to do all the centers; it is a very laid back time. I don't remember what type of centers were set up that week, but I do remember Bella not wanting to do any of them. She just wanted to take it all in.
Up next is snack time. The kids were served water in sippy cups and also applesauce. The way they wanted to kids to eat their applesause was through a straw. Bella, again, wanted nothing to do with this. She is not normally a huge fan of applesauce and definately not through a straw. She would much rather just eat chunks of apple.
The first day of class went by very quickly. Bella was completely exhausted and fell asleep almost instantly once she was in her car seat and we started driving. I just remember hoping that she would become comfortable enough to actually participate and learn things from class.
The activities were salt trays, where you draw shapes in a tray full or salt, play dough, where they could shape, cut, and mould it, "fake snow" which is packing peanuts in a bin, and plastic eggs filled with rice or beans which could be sorted by size or color into muffin tins.
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