This sensory-friendly activity was so fun to collaborate with D.E.E.D.S. Neurodiverse Needs to allow students to express themselves using paint and various textured items to create amazing art pieces. I truly love when we are able to lead these activities, as it is so heartwarming to watch the student's faces light up with such excitement and creativity during each one of our sessions.
This was my last session before the end of the year, and it definitely was very bittersweet as I have had the pleasure to watch each one of these students grow in such amazing ways throughout the year...but this also meant that this would be my last session for a while. I have really loved watching the students grow academically, creatively and even personally since I started volunteering at Dunbar Elementary and I can't wait to watch them as they continue to grow and further develop
It was so fun to lead yet another art-focused sensory activity for the Neurodiverse students at Dunbar Elementary. I really do enjoy watching and helping the students as they "lean into" their creative skills to make such amazing pieces of art work
This was our last session before the Thanksgiving holiday:( Today was a little bit of a more challenging day as students were "in and out" for early dismissals to prepare for the holidays but we were still able to keep the students engaged and productive
Today was the last session before the Thanksgiving holiday:( This was a more challenging day as students were "in and out" for early dismissal given the holiday season, but we were still able to keep the students engaged and productive regardless!
I have really found it interesting to watch the student's energies and engagement shift once they interact with different students, faculty, or volunteers. Watching these dynamics and changes occur truly has helped strengthen my own awareness as it relates to student's learning styles and classroom environment and, more specifically, to watch these dynamics in the neurodiverse classrooms and how as a volunteer/teacher, I am able to truly impact these interactions
I really loved this session as we were able to allow the students to do a new sensory activity idea in which we allowed the students to make maracas! This really made my heart warm as this was a new sensory activity that we led that is different than the normal art activities that we do. The students loved making music and doing different sing-along activities while engaging in this new and fun event!
I really do look forward to helping out in the Neurodiverse classrooms and how consistently I have been able to watch each student learn and progress. Today, we participated in a very interesting color-matching activity that allowed the students to use critical thinking and reasoning in a fun and creative way to showcase their ability to discern between different colors. I really enjoyed helping out with these activities as it opened my eyes up to different ways that students can showcase their learning abilities and skills
I really love how I have been able to watch my relationship with the students grow in both areas through our sensory-activities with D.E.E.D.S. For Neurodiverse Needs as well as through our weekly interactions given my time "normal days" spent in the classroom. I can truly see the kids get excited by my presence, and I really enjoy watching the different strategies and classroom activities used to help further develop the student's knowledge.
This was such an amazing session at Dunbar as I was truly able to connect and learn from the students in the Neurodiverse classrooms and help out in their day-to-day tasks and activities outside of our work with D.E.E.D.S. For Neurodiverse Needs. It was so rewarding to assist and observe the students while completing their usual classroom activities and watch my relationship with each one of the students continue to develop.
