Ms. Shanklin

✨Joy Filled✨Special Education Teacher #HoferPride

[Ms. Shanklin @KatieShanklin]

I ranked #1 on the Whova leaderboard at IL SLD Support Project Annual Conference! #EmpowerED24 - via #Whova event app

[Sox On 35th @SoxOn35th]

Mark Buehrle has entered the game for the Savannah Bananas 👀

He’s throwing to A.J. Pierzynski

[Emily Paschall @EmilyAPaschall]

Recently, I have been asked by several parents, “What do I need to do to prep my kid for kindergarten?” Typically, they anticipate my response to be centered around what they need to know academically, but I think there are skills more important than that. It isn’t about knowing all of their letters and sounds to be kindergarten ready. If they do, GREAT. They are ahead of the game. But the more important thing is that they learn social and independent skills that will help them be successful in the classroom.

🔺Help them learn to say their full name when someone asks them (not their nickname).
🔹Help them learn to ask for help.
🔺Help them learn how to speak to other people who are not family members.
🔹 Eat dinner together. At a table. With the tv off. ➡️ They will learn about table manners, how to stay in their seat an entire meal, develop vocabulary through conversation, and benefit from quality time.
🔺Help them learn how to compete a task and work all the way through until they complete it.
🔹Help them learn how to wait patiently. 🤪 Maybe they are waiting in line while friends go to the bathroom, or maybe someone is needing to talk to their teacher. Waiting is a hard thing for littles!
🔺 Read books every night. ➡️ Their world will be enlarged, they will develop new vocabulary, and they will benefit from quality time.
🔹 Help them learn to share.
🔺 Help them sharpen taking care of their basic needs by themselves - using the bathroom, washing their hands, blowing their nose.
🔹Tell them no.
🔺Teach them nursery rhymes. There is so much research behind this and how it supports brain development.
🔹Help them understand it is ok to make mistakes.
🔺Help them practice putting things in and taking things out of their backpack. Their teacher will thank you! 🤪
🔹Help them learn to follow two step directions. For example, “Take off your shoes and hang up your jacket.”
🔺Help them learn to sit and wait without having to be entertained. Can they sit and wait without having to be handed a device?

There is so much more than academics that goes into helping a kid be “kindergarten ready”. Social and independent skills are life skills! If you aren’t practicing some of these things regularly, give yourself some grace. And if your child is older than KG age and cannot do some of these things yet, it isn’t too late! I am still working on these in my home too! We are about 5 weeks away from the start of school. The more they are able to do independently, the more successful they will be!

Giving kids the opportunity to develop their emotions, compassion, and social skills is one of the greatest gifts we can give kids to prepare them for this thing called “life”.

Let’s go!

[Ms. Shanklin @KatieShanklin]

@MrsHicks_3 Thank you for always working so well with our shared students! We appreciate you more than you know! ❤️

[Ms. Shanklin @KatieShanklin]

One of my 3rd grade students finished his check up and shortly after was asking for a math challenge. Since we are currently working on area of rectangles I gave him the challenge problem he had asked for. This ambitious student completed that problem today with flying colors☺️

[donnie piercey ⚾ @mrpiercEy]

this was fun- we made total solar eclipse animations using google slides today.

my 4th graders even changed the background color as it approached totality. so cool!

[Ms. Shanklin @KatieShanklin]

After learning new math strategies from @KristenMAcosta at SLD Conference, Today we implemented a WODB (which one doesn’t belong) Wednesday for a math warmup. It was great to see the students minds working in different ways! Love using this new practice within my classroom!

[Ms. Shanklin @KatieShanklin]

Beyond thankful for this opportunity to learn, grow and inspire. Thank you @troyccsd30c for this amazing opportunity! #EmpowerED24

[Todd Whitaker @ToddWhitaker]

What an awesome group of educators today at the Illinois SLD Support Project Annual Conference in Effingham, Illinois! Special education teachers truly are special! Thanks for the opportunity.

[Ms. Shanklin @KatieShanklin]

Thank you @ToddWhitaker for your amazing keynote speech today at the SLD conference today! “The mode of the teacher determines the mode of a student.”

[Troy Hofer @troyhoferelem]

Thank you to our SEL Leaders Mrs. Hoying, Mrs. Feltes and Ms. Shanklin for their work to support Self Care, Kindness to ourselves and others! Our March Time and Collaboration was inspiring and full of building up and TOGETHER🍀! We are lucky to have our Hofer Home!

[Troy Hofer @troyhoferelem]

Early morning started us up to take care of ourselves and others. Thank you Hofer Teachers and TAs for your dedication, inspiration and perseverance! #HoferPride

[Troy Hofer @troyhoferelem]

Thank you to entire Troy Hofer Family including our dedicated Hofer Families for their work to achieve this Summative designation! We are thrilled and over the top proud! This designation includes the work of the K-4 district bilingual program as well! #HoferPride

[Troy Hofer @troyhoferelem]

Yes….that’s what you call…It’s a family thing! That is our Hofer happiness celebrating TEAM assembly winners! I see you powerful PAC! I see you giving Grand Greeters! I see you Hofer Teachers and Staff! I see you Hofer Family!! #HoferPride

[Troy Hofer @troyhoferelem]

Picture Day! Our Special Services PLC!

[Ms. Shanklin @KatieShanklin]

Hofer’s Special Education Resource Teachers are ready for this years journey thanks to @BrianMendler See it, believe it, achieve it!

[Ms. Shanklin @KatieShanklin]

Our Special Education team was truly inspired & motivated by the words of @BrianMendler today at WBO! “Catch it & set it down” is going to be our phrase of this school year.

[Troy Hofer @troyhoferelem]

We are HIRING a Special Education Resource Teacher! Come be a valuable piece to our puzzle! Job#3401 at https://t.co/ieKvGxrJdd! We can’t wait to meet you!

[Troy Hofer @troyhoferelem]

Thank you to these dedicated staff family members who spent Friday after school providing moments to GLOW in the hearts of our 4th graders and their families for years to come! Kudos to everyone who worked hard to provide this celebration and JOY!

[Ms. Shanklin @KatieShanklin]

A is for animal print 🐆 Thank you to @MrsHicks_3 & @missguinn3 for letting me in on this WILD day! Here we go counting UP to the last day of school!