Queens Teacher Uses Chickens to Teach Special Needs Students Life Skills

Chicken Program for Special Needs Students

• 🐔 A special education teacher in Queens, Alana O'Donnell, uses chickens to teach valuable life skills to her students at PS 177Q.
• 💡 The program, which started as a way to teach new skills, has become a passion project for the entire class, with students caring for nine chickens together.

Developing Responsibility and Life Skills

• 🎯 Each task in the chicken program is catered to the individual needs and abilities of the students, who are on the autism spectrum.
• 🧩 Students learn responsibility through caring for the chickens, with tasks adjusted to their current capabilities and then expanded upon.
• 📈 The program's main goal is to help students develop work-based programs, access to the community, and independent living skills.

Program Impact and Recognition

• 🥚 The eggs collected from the chickens are either donated to the school's student-led bakery or sold to the community.
• 🏆 Alana O'Donnell recently won the flag award for teaching excellence, nominated by a parent who recognized the program's value.
• 🌟 The award money will be used to further build out the farming program, enhancing the learning experience for the students.