Title Details

The Author

DARLENE MANNIX, M.A., has 26 years of experience as a classroom teacher and has taught both general education and special education. She is the best-selling author of numerous books for special educators including Social Skills Activities for Special Children, Life Skills Activities for Secondary Students with Special Needs, and Writing Skills Activities for Special Children.

Part One: Basic Survival Skills 1

Chapter 1: Relating Basic Information 3

Parent Letter #1 4

Skill Sheet #1: Progress Report 6

Lesson 1.1: Who Are You? 7

Lesson 1.2: Where I Live 9

Lesson 1.3: Hello, Anybody Home? 11

Lesson 1.4: Happy Birthday to Me! 13

Lesson 1.5: My Family 15

Lesson 1.6: My Parents and Where They Are 17

Lesson 1.7: Meet My Teacher 19

Lesson 1.8: Medical Needs 21

Lesson 1.9: Emergency! 23

Lesson 1.10: My Vital Statistics 25

Lesson 1.11: After School 27

Lesson 1.12: Lost and Found 29

Chapter 2: Telephone Skills 31

Parent Letter #2 32

Skill Sheet #2: Progress Report 33

Lesson 2.1: Dialing the Number 34

Lesson 2.2: Using a Cell Phone 38

Lesson 2.3: Using 911, 411, and 0 40

Lesson 2.4: Making Emergency Phone Calls 42

Lesson 2.5: Obtaining Information 44

Lesson 2.6: Giving Information 46

Lesson 2.7: Taking a Message 48

Lesson 2.8: Leaving a Message on an Answering Machine 50

Lesson 2.9: Using the Telephone Directory: White Pages 52

Lesson 2.10: Using the Telephone Directory: Yellow Pages 54

Chapter 3: Money Skills 57

Parent Letter #3 58

Skill Sheet #3: Progress Report 59

Lesson 3.1: Coins and Bills 60

Lesson 3.2: Counting Coins 62

Lesson 3.3: Recognizing Value of Items 64

Lesson 3.4: Keeping Money in a Safe Place 66

Lesson 3.5: Savings Account 68

Lesson 3.6: Earning Money 70

Lesson 3.7: Spending Money 72

Lesson 3.8: Sales and Discounts 74

Lesson 3.9: Estimating 76

Chapter 4: Time Skills 79

Parent Letter #4 80

Skill Sheet #4: Progress Report 81

Lesson 4.1: Days and Months 82

Lesson 4.2: Today 84

Lesson 4.3: Using a Calendar 86

Lesson 4.4: Using a Clock 89

Lesson 4.5: Seasons 91

Lesson 4.6: Planning Ahead 93

Lesson 4.7: What Happens When? 95

Lesson 4.8: First Step in a Sequence 97

Lesson 4.9: Fifteen-Minute Tasks 99

Lesson 4.10: Setting Time Goals 101

Chapter 5: Basic Reading and Writing Skills 103

Parent Letter #5 104

Skill Sheet #5: Progress Report 105

Lesson 5.1: Words: People 106

Lesson 5.2: Words: Places 108

Lesson 5.3: Words: Things 110

Lesson 5.4: Traffic Signs 112

Lesson 5.5: Information Signs 114

Lesson 5.6: Safety Words 116

Lesson 5.7: Things to Read 118

Lesson 5.8: Reading for a Purpose 120

Lesson 5.9: Reading for Pleasure 122

Lesson 5.10: Filling Out a Form 124

Lesson 5.11: Addressing an Envelope 126

Lesson 5.12: Mailing a Letter 128

Lesson 5.13: Making Lists 130

Lesson 5.14: Having Good Handwriting 132

Lesson 5.15: Reminder Notes 134

Part Two: Personal Independence 137

Chapter 6: Clothing and Dressing 139

Parent Letter #6 140

Skill Sheet #6: Progress Report 141

Lesson 6.1: What’s the Weather? 142

Lesson 6.2: What’s the Event? 144

Lesson 6.3: Obtaining Clothing 146

Lesson 6.4: Care of Clothing 148

Lesson 6.5: Washing and Drying Clothes 150

Lesson 6.6: Let’s Go Shopping! 152

Lesson 6.7: Final Inspection 154

Lesson 6.8: Fads 156

Chapter 7: Keeping Yourself Clean 159

Parent Letter #7 160

Skill Sheet #7: Progress Report 161

Lesson 7.1: Taking a Bath or Shower 162

Lesson 7.2: Hair Care 164

Lesson 7.3: A Clean Face 166

Lesson 7.4: Taking Care of Your Hands 168

Lesson 7.5: Using a Mirror 170

Lesson 7.6: Care of Teeth 172

Lesson 7.7: Makeup 174

Lesson 7.8: When You are Sick 176

Chapter 8: Keeping Your Room Clean 179

Parent Letter #8 180

Skill Sheet #8: Progress Report 181

Lesson 8.1: Picking Up 182

Lesson 8.2: Making the Bed 184

Lesson 8.3: Floor Care 186

Lesson 8.4: Dusting 188

Lesson 8.5: “Too Much Stuff”/De-Cluttering 190

Lesson 8.6: Organizing a Closet 192

Lesson 8.7: Rules for the Room 194

Lesson 8.8: Sharing a Room 197

Chapter 9: Food and Eating Skills 199

Parent Letter #9 200

Skill Sheet #9: Progress Report 201

Lesson 9.1: Shopping for Food 202

Lesson 9.2: Making a Shopping List 204

Lesson 9.3: Simple Cooking, Easy Meals 206

Lesson 9.4: Table Manners 208

Lesson 9.5: Cleaning Up 210

Lesson 9.6: Washing the Dishes 212

Lesson 9.7: Eating Out 214

Lesson 9.8: Food Groups 216

Lesson 9.9: Healthy Snacks 219

Lesson 9.10: When You Don’t Like Something 221

Chapter 10: Living a Healthy Lifestyle 223

Parent Letter #10 224

Skill Sheet #10: Progress Report 225

Lesson 10.1: Visiting Health Care People 226

Lesson 10.2: Getting Exercise 228

Lesson 10.3: Leisure-Time Activities 230

Lesson 10.4: What About Drugs? 232

Lesson 10.5: Avoiding Unhealthy Habits 234

Lesson 10.6: Dangerous Situations 237

Lesson 10.7: Following Safety Rules 240

Lesson 10.8: Getting Enough Sleep 242

Part Three: Community and Independence 245

Chapter 11: Community Places and People 247

Parent Letter #11 248

Skill Sheet #11: Progress Report 249

Lesson 11.1: Restaurants 250

Lesson 11.2: Shopping Mall 252

Lesson 11.3: The Park 254

Lesson 11.4: Houses of Worship 256

Lesson 11.5: Movie Theater 258

Lesson 11.6: Sporting Events 260

Lesson 11.7: The Public Library 262

Lesson 11.8: A Museum 264

Lesson 11.9: The Zoo 266

Lesson 11.10: The Supermarket 268

Lesson 11.11: Barber or Beauty Shop 270

Lesson 11.12: The Post Office 272

Chapter 12: Helpful Information 275

Parent Letter #12 276

Skill Sheet #12: Progress Report 277

Lesson 12.1: Pedestrian Safety 278

Lesson 12.2: Bike Safety 280

Lesson 12.3: Safety After Dark 282

Lesson 12.4: Using a Menu 284

Lesson 12.5: Tipping 286

Lesson 12.6: Locating Restrooms 288

Lesson 12.7: Reading a Map 290

Lesson 12.8: Using a Mall Directory 292

Lesson 12.9: Hours of Operation 294

Lesson 12.10: Television Schedules 296

Lesson 12.11: All About the Newspaper 298

Lesson 12.12: Using a Catalog 300

Lesson 12.13: If You Get Lost 302

Lesson 12.14: Safe Computer Sites 304

Lesson 12.15: Computer Common Sense 306

Part Four: Getting Along with Others 309

Chapter 13: Being a Good Citizen 311

Parent Letter #13 312

Skill Sheet #13: Progress Report 313

Lesson 13.1: Being Polite to Others 314

Lesson 13.2: Having a Good Attitude on a Bad Day 316

Lesson 13.3: Speaking Up 318

Lesson 13.4: Lending a Hand 320

Lesson 13.5: Volunteering 322

Lesson 13.6: Being Courteous 324

Lesson 13.7: At the Movies 326

Lesson 13.8: Helping Others 328

Lesson 13.9: Rudeness in Others 330

Lesson 13.10: Vandalism and Pranks 332

Chapter 14: Working with People 335

Parent Letter #14 336

Skill Sheet #14: Progress Report 337

Lesson 14.1: Working as a Team 338

Lesson 14.2: Understanding the Task 340

Lesson 14.3: Understanding Your Role 342

Lesson 14.4: Matching Skills with Jobs 344

Lesson 14.5: Expressing Your Opinion 346

Lesson 14.6: Being Trustworthy 348

Lesson 14.7: Knowing When to “Let it Go” 350

Lesson 14.8: Another Point of View 352

Lesson 14.9: Having a Discussion 354

Lesson 14.10: Having an Argument 356

Lesson 14.11: Defining Terms 358

Lesson 14.12: Common Sense 360

Chapter 15: Having a Social Life 363

Parent Letter #15 364

Skill Sheet #15: Progress Report 365

Lesson 15.1: Meeting People 366

Lesson 15.2: Understanding That Friends Are Important 368

Lesson 15.3: Knowing How to Treat Friends 370

Lesson 15.4: Having Something to Offer 372

Lesson 15.5: Saying Nice Things 374

Lesson 15.6: Having Good Hygiene 376

Lesson 15.7: Using Conversation Starters 378

Lesson 15.8: Trying Something New 380

Lesson 15.9: Going Places 382

Idea Lists 384