Lifeskills are defined as skills that can be used every day, in different environments. These skills focus on different areas such as home (cooking, cleaning, etc.) family, self-help (bathing, brushing teeth, dressing, grooming), employment, recreation, community involvement, health, and functional academics. All students with disabilities benefit from life skills training as it gives them important tools to use in their adult life.

Functional Academics are also important for children with disabilities, who may not be able to learn age and grade appropriate academics. Functional Academics are defined as academic areas that will be used by the student for the rest of their life. For example: Reading (read signs; stop, go, men, women, or read a recipe), Math (money, grocery shopping, making change, budget), and Health (grooming, oral hygiene, planning healthy meals).

Children with disabilities need to learn life skills as these skills will help them become as independent as possible, as an adult. For example, every child eats, and being able to cook or prepare simple foods will help them be more independent. If children learn simple household chores, those skills can turn into job skills when they get older. Learning life skills is critical for all children with disabilities. They will gain pride by being able to be as independent as possible, by helping to support themselves by working, and by learning how to handle the money they earn.

Mrs. Amanda Mehl:

My name is Amanda Mehl and I am the Lifeskills teacher for students in grade K-2.  I have been teaching in the Wa-Nee school system as a Life Skills teacher since 2013.  Working as a Life Skills teacher has taught me so much about life in general!  I feel so lucky to get to know students for several years in a row and watch how they grow and learn in those early elementary years.  This is definitely my favorite part of teaching!

Mrs. Christine Powers: