Thinking with a View to the Near Future

It is time to start focusing on this next school year. I have most things already planned, but, as always, I am trying to make things less routine for myself and more interesting - to me. My client population is about 30% long-term day students who go around with me over and over again and 70% short-term stay students who come in and out of the psychiatric residential treatment facility. I try to make things interesting on myself by rotating ideas and session themes on a two-year schedule. This allows my long-term students some time between presentations.

This was not my idea - I took some inspiration for the system from my art therapy colleague. She rotates her art therapy directives (not the term that she uses, but I cannot remember what she calls them) in a two or three-year rotation. This allows for consistent presentation with time in between specific session plans so my long-termers do not get bored with the same things over and over again. So far, it seems to be working for us both.

I cannot remember what the country of the month is for next month. I have it all written down in my work planner which is on my work desk. I was not anticipating that I would be out for this entire month, so I did not prepare for August. Fortunately, we have two days of work time to go through before students return to the 2025-2026 school year, so I will be able to organize my session strategies before students return on the 11th.

I always take some time at the start of the new school year to establish some work goals. This year's focus is going to be on books. I want to spend my time working on TMEs focused on my collection of children's books.

This is something that I can start now - all of it but the implementation portion.

When I am thinking about themes for therapy, I try my best to create multi-sensory experiences for my clients. I don't just sing or play instruments. I try to incorporate motor skill practice and things where clients make choices and communicate their wants, needs, and opinions. I love to make games and chants and visual aids to supplement the basic TME ideas. If you're interested in theme ideas, then visit my TPT store and check out the sing about song books.

I would love to get a book done each week, but I know myself and my current level of brain atrophy, so I hope to get one per month. We will see, but 12 book themed sing about song packets would be great!


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