By Doug Kott | The Brookings Register
BROOKINGS — Special education students at Mickelson Middle School have new opportunities to grow thanks to the new life skills lab.
The lab was created thanks to the energy and efforts of Alysha Hamann, life skills education teacher at MMS.
“I case manage and teach learners who have differing abilities. Some of those labels include maybe cognitive disabilities or multiple disabilities — autism. So students who just need extra support,” she said
She said that about a year and a half ago some grant opportunities came up.
“As a special education teacher, I’m always thinking ‘I can always use that money for something. What could I do that’s really impactful?’”
She said her students benefit from explicit instruction where they do task over and over again in order to master it.
“And it’s very hard to do that when we’re looking at life skills like cooking, laundry and those things when you can’t practice.”
So she came upon the idea of the life skills lab. She said the space for the lab was available in the school that was being used as a catch-all for different things.
“So I said what if we get a washer, dryer, a good sink, a stove, a refrigerator and make this our lab where students can have learning come to life and having it come to action,” Hamann said.
She was able to secure funding for the project through three entities, the Brookings School District Foundation, the Brookings Disability Awareness Committee and the Dusten and Shalene Hendrickson family.
She said district facilities manager Brian Corlett coordinated the people coming in to construct the lab.
Construction started in November and it was finished over Christmas break.
“As of three weeks ago we have a full-fledged – almost like a mini-apartment — for our students to learn and experience,” Hamann said. She added “So for three weeks it has been so incredible, so profound. When you give people who might not always be given the opportunity to do things like dishes and laundry — things that are the basic needs that we need to take care of. They have this opportunity to practice those things and really take a lot of ownership out of that.”
She said they have been doing things like baking or cooking at least once a week.
“It’s been really great for our students and they’re really excited about it,” Hamann said.
Community connection
She said the other vision involved in the project was to have community members come in and experience the lab with her students.
“So originally we’re looking for like maybe there’s someone in the community and they have a restaurant business and they would want to come and teach the students to make soup or grilled cheese. Maybe there a member of the community who doesn’t own a restaurant who would love to come in and make muffins.”
She said it’s a good opportunity to build a bridge between the students and the community.
“So the students are learning from someone else other than me. But also that the community members have an opportunity to engage and learn from the students as well,” Hamann said.
She said she hopes that connection helps build better understanding in the community, as to how to deal with people with disabilities.
“We want to say that we are not only invited into your space you are now invited into our space to learn from us and make some cookies and have a little fun. We’re really excited about what this project can be.”
Hamann said they already have some people lined up to come and share with the students, but she is looking for more.
She added “We don’t know where it will even go, but we’re excited to be on that journey.”
— Contact Doug Kott at [email protected].
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