Back to the Thinking Group

Yesterday’s "Thinking Group" with the individuals we work for was very good.  There was positive natural energy and enthusiasm.  Many people with developmental disabilities (DD) love to learn and have high expectations!
 
We moved to the physics work of vectors.  Vectors mean, “Direction of a scalar.”  12 inches is a scalar; 12 inches left is a vector.  We continued the scalar work by giving them homework.  They love this!  The assignment asked them to measure in inches how tall the colorful pictures of a bell and salt shaker were, and how wide a tomato and false teeth were.  There is always time for questions and feedback.
 
They next copied the date and the words, "Vector," and "Direction" into their notebooks from the board.  After that I asked, "What is direction?" A few seemed to have an idea and that idea spread.  The responses though were behavioral directions like listen to your staff, follow the rules, and don’t swear.  I get frustrated with too much attention paid to behavioral rules, but moved quickly past it.  I told them they were right, but there was more!.  Volunteers were called to the front and each were asked to act out positional directions such as in front of, beside, under, and around.  They were being very smart!  
 
Next, they were each given a unique direction such as point, bend, ask, listen, or tear.  They were proud of doing this task work, especially with an audience of 26 of their peers and myself encouraging and applauding them for challenges accomplished.  
 
Last, we introduced the directions of north, south, east, and west.  Four volunteers were placed in a diamond pattern and given a directional sign.  They were proud of their importance.  The next volunteer (and others after her) was asked to go (to) a direction such as west.  The large group and the directional people were allowed to help and each volunteer found their “direction!”  It was fun and exciting!  Very productive session of learning praised even by Sr. Tess (who we had found later to be listening in)! *Giggle*  Yep, yep ... very good session!