Every successful day in a special education classroom begins with structure and predictability. For unique learners, routines are not just helpful—they are essential. Knowing what to expect and when cultivates a sense of security and boosts confidence, creating a solid foundation for effective learning. As educators, we set the stage for our students’ entire day from the moment they enter the classroom. That’s why incorporating a consistent morning meeting, especially leveraging tools like “Today’s Weather,” is so impactful.
The Power of Morning Meetings: Anchoring the Day with “Today’s Weather”
Morning meetings serve as a crucial anchor, setting a positive and predictable tone for the day ahead. This dedicated time allows us to seamlessly weave in vital life and social skills practice. From simple greetings and calendar skills to more complex conversational exchanges, morning meetings offer a rich learning environment. The “Today’s Weather” feature, particularly within platforms like News2you, has revolutionized morning meetings by providing an engaging and interactive focal point. Let’s explore how to effectively utilize “Today’s Weather” to kickstart your students’ day.
1. Mastering Days of the Week
Integrating “Today’s Weather” with a physical calendar is a powerful combination. Displaying “Today’s Weather” on an interactive whiteboard adjacent to a well-structured calendar setup provides a multi-sensory learning experience. Using movable pieces labeled “yesterday was,” “today is,” and “tomorrow will be” enhances visual learning and reinforces the concept of time progression.
The “Today is: ___” prompt within “Today’s Weather” becomes even more effective when paired with these visual aids.
These visual cues empower students to find the day independently and encourage them to respond using complete sentences, solidifying language development. The abstract concepts of yesterday, today, and tomorrow can be challenging for some learners, making routine and repetition through “Today’s Weather” and calendar activities invaluable for comprehension.
2. Navigating Months of the Year
Building upon daily awareness, “Today’s Weather” seamlessly transitions to monthly understanding with the prompt “The month is: ___.”
Engage your students by asking them to identify the current month and locate it on the classroom calendar. Provide assistance as needed, fostering a supportive learning environment. Once the month is found on the calendar, guide students to find the corresponding month within the “Today’s Weather” display on the whiteboard. This activity strengthens visual scanning skills, calendar literacy, and month recognition.
3. Decoding Today’s Date
The “Today’s Date” prompt within “Today’s Weather” adds another layer of calendar proficiency.
Pre-marking the date on the classroom calendar provides a practical reference point for students. This allows them to practice the essential skill of referring to a calendar to answer the question “The date is: ___.” After students identify the date, select a student to locate the matching number on the interactive whiteboard within the “Today’s Weather” interface. To further reinforce number recognition and counting skills, establish a routine of counting up to today’s date as a class. This repetitive counting exercise has proven to significantly improve students’ numerical abilities.
4. Exploring Today’s Weather Conditions
The “Today’s Weather” feature truly comes alive with the “The weather is: ___ ” prompt, offering interactive visual supports showcasing diverse weather conditions.
Maximize engagement by using this prompt as an opportunity for students to observe the weather outside. Encourage them to look out the window and connect their observations to the visual options provided in “Today’s Weather.” Then, invite a student to the board to select the weather condition that best matches what they see. Extend this exploration by discussing temperature. “Today’s Weather” prompts students to consider if the temperature is very hot, hot, warm, cool, cold, or very cold.
While visuals are provided on screen, enhance learning by incorporating a physical thermometer visual, such as the n2y thermometer available within the Unique Learning System’s Core Materials.
This varied exposure to temperature representation deepens understanding.
5. Connecting Weather to Wardrobe Choices
A highlight for many students within “Today’s Weather” is the engaging activity of dressing an n2y character appropriately for the day’s weather. Students can choose from a variety of clothing items to outfit their character based on the selected weather conditions. This feature not only sparks lively discussions but also creates a meaningful connection to students’ own lives. Initiate conversations about what everyone wore to school and why, linking weather conditions to personal clothing choices. The recent inclusion of diverse characters, clothing options, and symbols within “Today’s Weather” has made these discussions even more inclusive and relevant.
Expanding Morning Meeting Fun and Learning
To enrich your morning meetings further, consider incorporating music! YouTube offers a wealth of engaging videos for reinforcing seasons, days of the week, and months of the year through song. Seize every opportunity to practice counting – count the days of the week, months of the year, seasons, and count up to today’s date during calendar activities.
For individualized learning and reinforcement, “Today’s Weather” can be assigned to students through digital planners. This allows for independent completion or guided practice alongside calendar prompts. Students can interact with the prompts independently or with adult assistance, digitally or using adaptable methods like dry-erase markers on reusable forms or within journals for a device-free option.
Integrating Class News for Enhanced Communication
Information gathered from “Today’s Weather” seamlessly transitions into creating dynamic Class News. This interactive tool within News2you empowers you to craft a personalized class newspaper. Incorporate weather updates alongside classroom activities, student spotlights, reviews of the day’s reading material, and more. Whether created daily, weekly, or at intervals that suit your classroom, Class News provides a platform for students to share their learning with family and friends, fostering a vital school-to-home connection. Class News also serves as a valuable addition to classroom newsletters, offering a dedicated section for important home-bound communications. Newspapers can be printed or emailed, providing flexible sharing options.
In essence, weather serves as a universal conversation starter, bridging communication in everyday life and professional settings. “Today’s Weather” makes this common practice accessible to unique learners, building crucial conversational skills while reinforcing academic and essential life skills within a structured and engaging routine.
About the Author
Katie Clark is an n2y Certified Educator and an Intervention Specialist with extensive experience working with individuals with mild to severe cognitive disabilities. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Kent State University and a Master of Education in Special Education, specializing in Autism Spectrum Disorders, from Bowling Green State University.
