Choosing a School for your Special Needs Child: A Day in an Enclosed Classroom

Choosing the right school for your child can be a daunting task.  School tours and speaking with other parents with children attending the school are two great ways to see if the school would be a good fit.  Another great way is a teacher perspective on what generally happens in the classroom each day.  Today we'll be looking at a day in the enclosed classroom.

The above picture is NOT what my enclosed classroom looked like.  In my first year teaching at a private school for kids with intellectual disabilities, pervasive developmental disorders or psychopathological disorders, I taught a class of 10 students between the ages of 4-6 years old.  The students were diagnosed with low functioning autism, were non-verbal and timed toilet trained.  I was working with students at a developmental level of about 18 months old.  I had one full time aide and a second aide during meal and toileting times.  What did I do with this group all day long?