Coming to you early...

We are coming to you a little early this week thanks to a Holiday on Friday.  PrairieWood students fought through the rain and cold this week to continue with our usual activities.  Trudging to work through the rain is not as much fun as trudging to work through the sunshine.  We are hoping Spring decides to join us next week and make our activities a little more enjoyable.  Our feature bloggers this week are Andy and Sarah.  This is what they had to say about their week at PrairieWood.

Sarah: "This week at PrairieWood I learned to shop at HyVee for Pineapple.  I enjoyed cooking Pepperoni Melts.  I was challenged by sweeping.  At PrairieWood, I would like to learn more about Group Homes."

Andy: "This week at PrairieWood I learned to vacuum upstairs at work.  I enjoyed vacuuming up sawdust.  I would like to learn more about the other people I work with and cleaning windows.

Have a happy and safe holiday weekend.

Exploring future possibilities...

A typical bedroom in the first house we toured.

Checking out the laundry room.  We know what goes on here!

Admiring the big kitchen in the first home we toured.

This room had a window in the ceiling!  We loved this TV room in the second home we toured.

...another nice, big kitchen in the second home we toured.

At PrairieWood, we spend so much time preparing for the future.  We learn to cook, so someday, when we have to, we can do it by ourselves.  We learn job skills, so that when we're done with school, we are ready to go and work hard.  This past Friday, we spent some time looking at Group homes through the Discovery Living, so that when we decide we are ready to move away from home, we have an idea of the kind of place we would like to live in.  Despite the cold and rainy afternoon, we were able to see two completely different houses and learn some fun things about living in a group home as well as some things that make us nervous.  Above are some pictures from our tour!  Our feature bloggers this week are Ahsia and Kendra.  Here is what they had to say about their weeks at PrairieWood. Ahsia: "This week at PrairieWood I learned to cook fish sticks in the oven.  I enjoyed eating lunch outside.  I was challenged by learning indoor community signs like "caution automatic door."  I would like to learn more about indoor community signs." Kendra: "This week at PrairieWood I learned about the Boston Marathon in the News2You.  I enjoyed making a puzzle.  I was challenged by washing dishes.  At PrairieWood I would like to learn more about going outside for walks."

The Gems of Cedar Rapids

At PrairieWood we like to explore our community, and tryout many different activities and places.  We have been able to find little "Gems" that have introduced us to great people, delicious treats, and wonderful experiences.  We found two of those gems this week.  The first was the Sykora bakery in the Czech Villiage.  The other was touring the Wilson Avenue Hy-Vee where we met Susannah, the new Registered Dietitian.  She taught us about the NuVal system that helps Hy-Vee shoppers make healthy purchases, as well as tasting new fruits.  It was such a fun experience!  Thank you to Susannah for all our new learning!  Our feature blogger this week is Cassie B.  Here is what she had to say about their week at PrairieWood.

Cassie B - "This week at PrairieWood I learned a new location at Czech Village.  We went to Sykora Bakery.  I enjoyed being outside.  I was challenged by doing my work at the hotel when there were a lot of people.  At PrairieWood I would like to learn more about how to be more independent on the city bus."

Have a FANTASTIC weekend and thanks for reading!

Coffee Talkin'...

PrairieWood students spend time each week learning use the city bus to access our community.  We go to a variety of places such as Lindale Mall, Hy-Vee, and this week we traveled to a little coffee shop named "Coffee Talk."  While there, we were able to purchase a small snack item.  What a fun time of learning to be independent...using the city bus to travel and making our own purchase!!!  It was a favorite activity for many of our students, and something they enjoy talking about.  Our feature bloggers this week are Andy and Sarah.  Here is what they had to say about their weeks at PrairieWood.

ANDY - "This week at PrairieWood I learned how to take the city bus to Coffee Talk.  I enjoyed pushing pine needles into the woods at work.  I was challenged by transplanting the cherry tomato plants  At PrairieWood I would like to learn more about helping Luke at Camp Io-Dis-E-Ca."

SARAH - "This week at PrairieWood I learned to go to Coffee on the city bus.  I enjoyed making French Toast.  I was challenged by doing the dishes.  At PrairieWood I would like to learn more about bowling.

Have a great weekend!

Back at it...

After a restful week off, PrairieWood students and staff did not hesitate in getting back to business upon our return from Spring Break.  First thing Monday morning, we were off to the Grocery Store where we were in search of bargains and the items listed on our individual grocery lists.  We also took time this week to use the city bus to travel to a coffee shop not far from the transition center and make a purchase.  Work sites were business as usual as well.  We are happy to be back in the swing of things and anxious about all the fun things on our horizon this spring!  This week we will feature TWO bloggers: Cassie B. and Kendra.  Here is what they have to say about their week at PrairieWood.

Cassie B.:
"This week at PrairieWood I learned where Coffee Talk was located.  I enjoyed dusting shelves at camp.  I was challenged by opening the pop machine at work.  At PrairieWood I would like to learn more about how to compare prices at any of the stores, like Hy-Vee." 

Kendra:
"This week at PrairieWood I learned about the Cherry Blossom festival in News2You.  I enjoyed completing all my worksheets: Counting Wizard, Fill in the Blanks, and Survival Signs review.  I was challenged by the Opposites worksheet.  At PrairieWood I would like to learn more about walking outside."

Happy weekend to all our friends and readers!

Ready for a vacation...

We have been so busy learning new things at PrairieWood, that it appears we have worn ourselves out and are ready for a vacation.  It is a good thing we are approaching our week of Spring Break.  In talking about our plans for over break, it sounds like everybody is staying close to home, but has some fun and interesting things planned.  We hope you take some time to rest over the week off, and come back ready to work hard.  Before we know it, we will be reaching the end of the school year!  Our feature blogger this week is Ahsia.  Here is what she had to say about our week at the Transition Center.

"This week at PrairieWood I learned to put the correct words (Dolch) into sentences.  I enjoyed taking the bus to Coffee Talk.  I was challenged by vacuuming hallways at the city bus.  At PrairieWood I would like to learn about how to take the city bus to the movies."

Have a great Spring Break!

Spring is in the air...

We are starting to see signs of spring all over and it has got us very excited!  We have been enjoying many bird sightings, hopping around mud to get to and from our building, and the weather that makes it easier and more enjoyable to spend so much time outside.  We have also been enjoying observing the nesting of the Bald Eagle that has been recorded in Decorah.  If you'd like to check it out, go to:
http://www.raptorresource.org/falcon_cams/.  
We have a computer on this site at almost all times of the day and have been entertained by the switching between mother and father when its time to eat, and have even witnessed the "development" of a new egg!!!  What fun it has been!  Our feature blogger this week is Brian.  Here is what he has to say about his week at PrairieWood.

"This week at PrairieWood I learned to staple laundry bags at work.  I enjoyed eating the strawberry banana roll-up.  I was challenged by sweeping steps.  At PrairieWood I would like to learn more about beach swimming."

...You can see, we're even ready for our old favorite Friday activities of Spring.  Lets hope this Spring-like weather sticks around for good!  Have a great weekend!!!