Age Group: 4-5 Year Olds
Class Size: 12 Children
Room 7 utilizes the Handwriting Without Tears curriculum to increase literacy skills (pre-writing, letter formation, recognizing numbers, letters, and shapes.)
Recently in Room 7...
2/12/26 Learning Through Play in Room 7
Room 7 had all the wooden letter puzzles out recently! Each puzzle pairs a picture with the letters that spell its name — like a car with “C,” “A,” and “R” as separate pieces to match and build.
While students in this classroom work hard during discrete trial training, moments like this are where we see the power of generalization. Children are practicing letter recognition, word-picture association, fine motor skills, and peer engagement — all while playing together in a group setting.
So many goals being addressed at once. So much progress happening in real time. That’s the beauty of ABA woven into meaningful play.
01.30.26 – Colors & Counting!
We love colorful learning! Many studies have shown that incorporating colors into teaching can help children understand topics that are challenging to them. In this instance, Room 7 has colored numbers that our students can use to practice their counting and math!
A Spirit-filled Week! 12.19.25
Crafts, lessons, books and songs this week centered around the holidays. We were busy!
We were so fortunate to have a visit from Santa and Elf! With a gift for each child, they gave everyone a chance to sit on Santa’s lap and hear a joyful Ho, Ho, Ho!
We’re thankful to Steve Oill, Diane Rusch for their roles! We also appreciate Toys for Tots Capital Region for the amazing help they gave Santa, and Samantha Bailey Photography for her fundraiser for Crossroads by taking orders for photos with Santa!
12.16.25 A Special Visit Filled with Music, Language, and Smiles!
Yesterday, we were delighted to welcome Monica, a high school Spanish teacher from a nearby district, who brought the joy of language and music into four of our classrooms, including ours. Monica loves teaching learners of all ages, and it truly showed as she engaged our students with stories and familiar songs in both Spanish and English.
Through music like Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes, children were introduced to colors, animals, and body parts in a fun, accessible way that encouraged participation and movement. The use of familiar melodies helped our students feel comfortable while exploring a new language.
We were also happy to meet Mikayla, Monica’s daughter and a Siena College student, who assisted with group management and helped make the experience smooth and successful for everyone.
Our students and staff loved this enriching visit, and we are so grateful for the time, energy, and enthusiasm Monica and Mikayla shared with us. We can’t wait to welcome them back again soon!
12/1/2025 A Visit from Moonbeam and Carol
As part of our Giving Tuesday celebration, we were thrilled by a visit from Moonbeam, a flat-coat lab, and Carol, her owner.
Moonbeam, aged four, is certified as a Therapy Dog by Therapy Dogs International, and her training shows. Gentle and sweet, she loves children, and our students responded with delight to her kisses and wagging tail.
This was our first visiting pet this year and we can’t wait to see Moonbeam and Carol again, soon.
11.20.25 Feeding the Turkey
11.20.25 Ms. Jenn writes, “We did a fun “feed the turkey” activity today and everyone did so amazing taking turns and participating. Very proud today!”
Using large tweezers, the children picked up pompoms from the table top, navigated to the turkey and released the tweezers. That’s a lot to handle! Great job!
10.22.25 Pumpkin Painting!
What fun we had with our pumpkin that was donated by a local farm – Heritage Farms and our landscaping company, D&D Lawncare and Landscaping ! We painted it shades of purple, because purple is our school color and because we love it! Thank you to our neighbors for the pumpkins for all of the classes here – it’s awesome what can come from the kindness of our caring community.
10.17.25 Midday Yoga in Our Room
This week we began a new daily activity. We will take a midday movement and music break with yoga. This gentle movement practice offers a wide range of benefits—especially for our diverse learners.
Yoga has so many benefits for learning:
Self-Regulation: Yoga helps children learn to calm their bodies and minds, which can reduce anxiety and improve focus.
Motor Skills: Stretching, balancing, and breathing exercises strengthen coordination and body awareness.
Communication: Through guided poses and group participation, children practice listening, following directions, and expressing themselves.
Sensory Integration: The structured movements and calming environment support sensory processing, which is especially helpful for children with sensory sensitivities.
Inclusion and Connection: Yoga is accessible to all abilities, creating a shared experience that builds empathy and community.
This peaceful pause in the day helps our children reset, recharge, and return to learning with renewed energy and focus.
10.10.25 Room 7 Loves Books!
Our Room 7 friends are really enjoying books this year! We’re making new friends and sharing time together reading — even if it’s just looking at pictures and turning pages. These small moments are big steps in early literacy development, helping children build a love of stories, language, and learning.
9/10/25 Room 7 – Off to a Great Start!
In Room 7, students are already showing how much joy learning can bring—playing together, reading side by side, and sharing lots of happy moments. It’s wonderful to see friendships and curiosity blooming so quickly!
8.8.25 Snack Time Skills
Snack time is a time to gain nourishment, yes, but it’s also a time to practice skills. One friend is learning to open his own packages, another is learning to incorporate her iPad into conversations, and another is getting used to her new friends.
Snack time can also be a great way to “break the ice” in a classroom or group of children. A shared time and table for snacks can spark communication about favorites, textures, and tastes. Sitting together while eating naturally encourages turn-taking, listening, and making eye contact. Even small prompts—like asking, “Who else likes crackers?” or “What’s your favorite fruit?”—can turn snack time into a comfortable social connection point.
Our Room 7 friends have made some amazing gains this summer. We think that our snack time is one of the favorite parts of our day.
See our class in MOTOR CENTERS!
https://crossroadcenter.org/occupational-physical-therapies/
7.30.25 Storytime in the Library
Room 7 got to enjoy a special read-aloud in the library with our new volunteer, Chris, today! He read two fun books, and the children did well practicing sitting, listening, and engaging with a story. We’re so grateful for volunteers who help us learn!
Summer Smiles in R.7!
We’re having a fantastic summer in Room 7! Students are not only learning and growing — they’re building friendships, too. Just look at these sweet moments of playing and reading side by side. It’s a joy to see such positive connections forming as they explore, share, and enjoy the season together.
Easter Egg Art in Our Room 4.11.25
Students in R.7 had a colorful and creative time painting Easter eggs and decorating egg coloring sheets. Their creativity didn’t stop there—they turned the paper covering the table into a vibrant mural of paint splashes and brushstrokes. A festive mess turned into a beautiful masterpiece!
All in a Day’s Work 3.20.25
At Crossroads, students’ individual goals are addressed in 1:1 sessions and in groups. Here’s a peek during a work slot, where Ms. Jenn works with a student at one table, Ms. Fatima works with a group works at another table, and Ms. Julia works with a student on the rug. All are working hard on their goals, yet everyone is doing so in a relaxed and comfortable fashion. It’s fun and there’s lots of reinforcement. We love teaching, we love our kiddos, and we’re so proud of their progress every day.
What we do trully counts! 3.13.25
C. had an incredible moment recently that left his teachers beaming with pride—he counted out loud! Though nonverbal, he found his voice in this exciting way, using clear, deliberate words and demonstrating perfect 1:1 correspondence. His teachers were overjoyed, but even more touching was the look on his face—pure pride and accomplishment! Moments like these remind us why we do what we do, celebrating every step forward and the incredible potential within each child. Way to go, C!
Task Box Fun in R.7!
2.26.25
In R.7 recently students explored task boxes—an engaging way to encourage learning through structured play. Task boxes provide opportunities for students to engage in different activities rather than sticking to their usual preferences, promoting flexibility and new skills.
Today’s boxes were filled with magnet wands and magnetic letters and numbers. Students had fun “catching” letters with their wands and identifying them as they played. This hands-on approach makes learning both exciting and effective. It’s wonderful to see our students enjoying new challenges while building important skills!
