Classroom Close-Up: Ms. Onkka, Cooke School

For this Classroom Close-Up we were invited to Jessica Onkka's preschool class at Cooke School to see the students doing a group speech session and working on their communication systems. Cooke School is a special education center program that services students from twelve local school districts in Western Wayne County. Our population includes students ages 3 through 26 years old, who are severely cognitively impaired, severely multiply impaired, and students dual-diagnosed with a cognitive and emotional impairment.

Show Transcript

Hi! I'm Jessica Onkka, teacher here at Cooke School, my class is the first SXI class at our Center Based Program. So we have around two and a half to four and a half year olds in our class with a wide variety of needs. Right now we're doing a group speech lesson. So one of the things we focus on in our room quite a bit is helping the child establish a communication system so what you'll see is students are learning how to call for a turn using a switch which is attached to a communication voice output device. We're working on "wait" cards which means they have to wait their turn it's a visual prompt that you'll see and then all the students are at a different level with their Communication System right now so you'll see a variety of different things. So it's a very structured group lesson and then we're going to transition into just our morning group routine. You'll also see that the kids are working on their gross motor skills at the same time so there's a variety of different positioning options, so come on in. Thanks for waiting, it's your turn. I want floppy ears dog Good job! Oh, she's smiling! You like? We started with speech today, we're going to check in now. We're going to take some turns okay Good Morning everyone Are you ready for a brand new day? Good Morning! How are you? It's so nice to have you here with me today Good Morning! How do you do? Louie! Louie's at school today. Good morning Louie! Good morning Louie! We're glad you're here today! I want PBIS song! This is Hayden, I want a turn. You are waiting. You are waiting for your turn. Rocking Santa, color piano, bubbles, floppy ears dog? I want color piano Take it Good job Ben!