May 2016

This month's unit, "Clean and Green," lessons will provide lessons and activities for understanding the basics of laundry care, including activities in the Transition Passport: Daily Living/Clothing. As we assist our young adults in the transition from school to work, it is necessary that they receive training in the steps of doing laundry, from pre-treating stains and sorting, to reading care tags, folding, hanging and putting clothes away. Understanding the differences between laundry products and the importance of making laundry care a part of our daily routines are important concepts. • The unit stories help young adults learn many important things to know when doing the laundry and why daily laundry care is necessary. The first story stresses the importance of sorting clothes before washing, and washing in the right temperature. A young man washes towels at school. When he is asked to help with the laundry at home, he soon realizes that there is much more to know when doing all of the laundry. The second story follows a young man as he tries to get dressed to go out with his friends. He can’t figure out which of his clothes are clean. The emphasis of this story is on putting dirty clothes in the laundry basket and folding, hanging and putting away clean clothes. Three articles offer more information and activities that afford our young adults practice in reading care tags, labeling laundry detergent, sorting, washing, drying, folding, hanging and putting away clothes.

 Regular monthly lessons are provided which offer the opportunity for young adults to use their understanding of laundry care while solving practical math and money skills. Banking and budgeting are addressed. Daily living skills involving cooking are part of a regular monthly lesson, offering five recipes. Social and communication skills are the focus of lessons presenting social trivia and everyday scenarios where laundry care is involved.

Employment continues to be a regular focus for several lessons each month. Lessons include exploring different jobs, reading job ads, completing job applications and practicing interview skills. Simple, realistic scenarios address job skills and interactions at work. Job skills are emphasized as team members take on various tasks.