{"id":1608,"date":"2025-08-25T06:36:50","date_gmt":"2025-08-25T06:36:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thesisuhub.co.za\/?p=1608"},"modified":"2025-08-25T06:38:10","modified_gmt":"2025-08-25T06:38:10","slug":"spelling-snacks-and-superpowers-inside-a-day-with-the-sisu-insiders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesisuhub.co.za\/?p=1608","title":{"rendered":"Spelling, Snacks, and Superpowers: Inside a Day with The Sisu Insiders"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Spelling, Snacks, and Superpowers: Inside a Day with The Sisu Insiders\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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For the past few years, one question kept bouncing around in my head like a ping pong ball: <\/span>What then?<\/span><\/i> What happens after our spellers complete the Grade 12 curriculum? One thing was clear \u2026 We weren\u2019t\u00a0 about to wave them off at the school gates and say, \u201cThanks for playing, goodbye!\u201d No, we needed a <\/span>next chapter<\/span><\/i>, and spoiler alert: it\u2019s been one heck of an adventure.<\/span><\/p>

I had been teaching these young men for a few years already, but last year I stepped in as their register class teacher when they were technically still in the Grade 12 class. This was scary because my previous class had been my comfort zone, and suddenly I had to earn their trust in a new way.<\/span><\/p>

But if that was a challenge, the idea of leading the <\/span>adult group<\/b> this year was downright terrifying. It felt like being shoved on stage without a script. We weren\u2019t just continuing a curriculum anymore; we were creating something brand new, developing the adult group from scratch, and figuring it out together as we went. Cue dramatic drumroll!<\/span><\/p>

Taking on this role has been equal parts thrilling and nerve-wracking. Yes, I have a teaching degree in Senior and FET, but leading an adult group is a whole different ball game. Still, I knew in my heart it was the right step. With the input of our brilliant open spellers, we\u2019ve shaped a daily program that works for them, and we\u2019re still learning, adapting, and tweaking as we go. It\u2019s like building a plane while flying it, with lots of laughter along the way.<\/span><\/p>

Slow Mornings and Fresh Starts<\/b><\/h3>

We ease into the day (because let\u2019s be real, no one springs out of bed like a Disney princess). First up is a verse of the day, followed by a word of the day, and then an article for our \u201cnews of the day.\u201d It keeps us in the loop with what\u2019s happening in the big, wide world.<\/span><\/p>

Then we get our eyes moving with an <\/span>eye tracking exercise<\/b>, which is essential for building spelling fluency. Think of it as the warm-up lap before the marathon of communication. After that comes stretching and a mindfulness exercise to shake off anxiety and set the tone for the day.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

The Most Important Ritual: Coffee (or Not)<\/b><\/h3>

Let\u2019s be honest, are you even an adult if you don\u2019t drink coffee? Well\u2026our spellers don\u2019t. I tried introducing coffee once, and the caffeine turned them into \u201cenergised bunnies,\u201d and total chaos broke out! Now, we stick to tea and hot chocolate at our beverage station. The process itself is still a skill-builder – pouring, stirring, timing, and, most importantly, not spilling. Once cups are in hand, we sip, take a breath, and mentally gear up for the day ahead. Sip happens!<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Life Skills in Action<\/b><\/h3>

Next comes ADLs (Activities of Daily Living), which are the everyday things that build independence. The group actually <\/span>asked<\/span><\/i> for this! They want life skills, and I couldn\u2019t agree more. Who wants to go through life having someone else tie their shoelaces? Not these guys!<\/span><\/p>

We break down motor steps, offer prompts, and adapt where needed, but no hand-over-hand. That might look like helping, but it actually takes independence away. Instead, we set up success step by step. Skills we\u2019ve tackled so far include:<\/span><\/p>

  • Pouring liquids (and knowing when to stop\u2014no fountains allowed!)<\/span><\/li>
  • Making toast and adding spreads<\/span><\/li>
  • Washing and drying dishes<\/span><\/li>
  • Making scrambled eggs or instant noodles<\/span><\/li>
  • Tying shoelaces<\/span><\/li>
  • Shaving<\/span><\/li>
  • Making a bed<\/span><\/li>
  • Brushing teeth (our current project)<\/span>

    <\/span><\/li><\/ul>

    Snack time doubles as more practice, whether it\u2019s fetching lunchboxes, heating food, or working on cutlery skills. Then it\u2019s time for a well-earned break outside. Fresh air = brain fuel!<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Feeding the Brain<\/b><\/h3>

    After the body gets moving, it\u2019s time to feed the mind. We use short Udemy and Khan Academy courses, projecting videos on the TV, and pairing them with S2C questions. We\u2019ve explored gaming careers, social media literacy, and right now we\u2019re knee-deep in The Complete AI Guide.<\/span><\/p>

    But of course, my teacher instincts sneak in too! I can\u2019t resist throwing in at least one \u201cclassic\u201d lesson each week, complete with S2C questions. Some of our favourites so far have been:<\/span><\/p>

    • What Does a Game Designer Do?<\/span><\/i><\/li>
    • The History of Video Games<\/span><\/i><\/li>
    • History with Sprinkles on Top<\/span><\/i> (a sweet dive into donuts)<\/span><\/li>
    • Turtley Awesome: Secrets of the Sea Turtle<\/span><\/i><\/li>
    • Technological Inventions That Changed the World<\/span><\/i><\/li>
    • Birds-of-Paradise That Give Off Light<\/span><\/i><\/li>
    • Easter Traditions Around the World<\/span><\/i><\/li>
    • The History of Pancakes<\/span><\/i><\/li>
    • Hey Siri \u2026 What\u2019s the Scoop on AI?<\/span><\/i>

      <\/span><\/i><\/li><\/ul>

      Moving and Grooving<\/b><\/h3>

      Later in the day, it\u2019s time for gross motor work. Think balance, core strength, and big body movements. These skills aren\u2019t just about fitness; they directly support communication. A strong body means a steady hand, better posture, and clearer spelling. Simply put, motor skills = spelling superpowers. Flex those muscles, folks!<\/span><\/p>

      Adventures, Big and Small<\/b><\/p>

      No two days look exactly the same. Sometimes we fly through the program; other days we linger on just a few activities, and that\u2019s perfectly okay. Flexibility is part of the design.<\/span><\/p>

      We sprinkle in plenty of fun, too. There are collaborative paintings each term, board games, group crosswords, and special celebration days. National Donut Day? We learned about the history of donuts <\/span>and<\/span><\/i> made some. National Pancake Day? Lesson plus homemade pancakes, hot off the pan. Learning has never tasted so good. And yes, calories don\u2019t count in Sisu class.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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      Why It Matters<\/b><\/h3>

      I always thought the saying \u201cevery day is an adventure\u201d was cheesy. But honestly, it fits. Sure, there are tough days when dysregulation is high and my brain feels scrambled (funnily enough, like the eggs we learned to cook). But the good days far outweigh the hard ones.<\/span><\/p>

      The Sisu Insiders Adult Group is not just a program – it\u2019s a journey. It\u2019s independence, growth, learning, laughter, and yes, lots of tea and hot chocolate. And I wouldn\u2019t trade it for the world. After all, adventure is spelled S-I-S-U!<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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      And to save the best for last; words from our spellers. <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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      Spelling, Snacks, and Superpowers: Inside a Day with The Sisu Insiders For the past few years, one question kept bouncing around in my head like a ping pong ball: What then? What happens after our spellers complete the Grade 12 curriculum? One thing was clear \u2026 We weren\u2019t\u00a0 about to wave them off at the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1608","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"blog_post_layout_featured_media_urls":{"thumbnail":"","full":""},"categories_names":{"1":{"name":"Uncategorized","link":"https:\/\/thesisuhub.co.za\/?cat=1"}},"tags_names":[],"comments_number":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thesisuhub.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1608","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thesisuhub.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thesisuhub.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thesisuhub.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thesisuhub.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1608"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/thesisuhub.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1608\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1621,"href":"https:\/\/thesisuhub.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1608\/revisions\/1621"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thesisuhub.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1608"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thesisuhub.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1608"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thesisuhub.co.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1608"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}