Special Education Teacher Karina Kononenko Joins Post Avenue Preschool
At the beginning of the month, Special Education Teacher Karina Kononenko introduced herself to the eight students and three Teacher Assistants in Post Avenue Preschool’s Foxes classroom. The group welcomed her with open arms as she familiarized herself with the curriculum and the monthly themed lessons.
With over a decade of experience, Karina’s transition to Post Avenue is going smoothly, and she’s excited about her new role.
“I just fell in love with the campus,” Karina said. “It’s beautiful here. We take the students outdoors three times a day and they do so many different activities.”
Karina’s first order of business was organizing her classroom and getting acclimated to the curriculum. Brookville Center for Children’s Services implements the Strategies for Teaching based on Autism Research (STAR) curriculum throughout its schools. This curriculum uses visual supports for students and emphasizes data collection for teachers to identify student progress. Karina’s STAR training began on November 19, and she quickly embraced the program.
Acclimating to the STAR curriculum
“Color-coding the room is based on STAR,” said Karina. This led her to organize the room in color-coded areas that match colored laminated squares students use to create their visual schedule. The squares match different sections of the classroom, including students’ desks and outdoor areas, with pictures and titles that include “circle time,” “table time,” and “snack time.”
She also brought in various boxes of toys to supplement classroom materials. This allows her to meet the unique needs of her students with activities like sensory toys or matching and puzzle games that benefit children in their educational goals.
To celebrate the seasons and holidays, Karina enjoys teaching units that help students participate in family traditions.
“Because Thanksgiving is next week, we’ve been learning about healthy foods, discussing family, helping to cook dinner at home, washing dishes, and participating in the occasion,” said Karina. The Thanksgiving unit will culminate with students organizing a mock Thanksgiving dinner in class on the last day before the break. They will sit together at a table and set it with toy turkeys and vegetables.
We are thrilled to welcome Karina to the Post Avenue team and look forward to seeing continued growth and success in the Foxes classroom.