It's not a schooner, it's a sailboat!

One of the biggest misconceptions about a really important part of our program has to do with the trips we regularly take around the community. These are not field trips! I repeat, these are NOT field trips!  In the Lifeskills world we call these trips "community based instruction" outings, or CBI trips. We are purposefully practicing important independent living skills that will help our kids hold down jobs, live as independently as possible and just plain navigate their community!

I'm hopping down off my soapbox now; thanks for hanging in there! Here are some pictures of a few CBI trips we've taken this year. 

We recently went to Kohls to work on dressing skills. The kids had to complete a scavenger hunt, finding different articles of clothing and practicing buttoning/unbuttoning, zipping/unzipping, etc.  

Hard at work!

 Buttoning and unbuttoning like crazy!

 Checking out the shoe selection...

We also took a CBI trip this fall over to the local pumpkin patch and country store. We practiced finding different things (gourds, hay, etc.) to work on following directions. Then we made small purchases, practicing social exchanges (greetings, pleasantries) and figuring out how much money is needed and how much change will be received.  We had a few general education peers join us to help- it was an AWESOME trip!

 Working on our checklists!

 Picking the perfect pumpkin!

 Buying some good stuff!

 Figuring out how much to pay.

Great friends!

We love our CBI! It's so great to be able to take our kids in the community to actually APPLY the skills we learn in the classroom. It all goes back to the idea of 21st Century Learning - a concept that Lifeskills teacher have been using since the 20th century ;). We all learn best when material is presented in a way that is MEANINGFUL to us. We retain information better when we can relate and when we can apply new skills in a real life setting. 

HAPPY FRIDAY, ALL!