Special Education
Tutoring at GiGi’s: More Than Teaching Our Participants
Volunteering at GiGi’s Playhouse can be an incredibly fulfilling journey. As a volunteer literacy and math tutor, you can expect to share your knowledge, help students grow their skills, and maybe gain some teaching experience along the way. The bonus is how much you will learn—and how deeply you will be impacted by the incredible…
Read MoreDani’s Community Quest…Stable Hands!
Welcome to the second edition of Dani’s Community Quest for GiGi’s Playhouse Wausau! We’re not horsing around with this blog—let’s trot on and learn more about Stable Hands. Giddy up! I recently had the privilege of touring the beautiful Stable Hands Equine Therapy Center in Wausau, WI, and meeting some of the incredible people and…
Read MoreMeet Kristen…Capstone Student for Spring!
Hi there!My name is Kristen, and I am currently pursuing my Doctorate in Occupational Therapy at ConcordiaUniversity, Wisconsin. I am thrilled to be joining GiGi’s Playhouse for a 14-week capstone experience,where I will have the opportunity to learn about the incredible programs and participants that make thePlayhouse such a special place. Over the course of…
Read MoreI Can Barely Spell and Count: There’s No Way I Can Be a Tutor for GiGi’s Playhouse Wausau!
When many of our volunteers first heard about the opportunity to volunteer as a tutor at GiGi’s Playhouse Wausau, their immediate reaction was, “There’s no way I can do this. I can barely spell and count!” But as they learned more about the program, they realized that their initial fears were unfounded. Here’s why: Volunteer…
Read MoreGreat Holiday Therapeutic and Sensory Items for Children of All Ages
The holiday season is a wonderful time to give gifts that not only bring joy but also support development and sensory needs. Here are some fantastic ideas for children of all ages: Experiences as Gifts Offering experiences can be a great gift that lasts throughout the year: Books and Educational Tools For Younger Kids Fun…
Read More1:1 Math Coming in 2025!
Exciting News! GiGi’s Playhouse is launching a new 1:1 Math program specifically tailored to how individuals with Down syndrome learn best. Our program aims to provide personalized math education and support to enhance learning outcomes for participants. Knowing that our participants vary greatly in their abilities and challenges in comprehensive math, we combine multiple approaches…
Read MoreHenry’s Best of All
Wow wow wow! I was SO impressed with our first literacy session with Jeff! Henry was able to point out letters and get 90% of them right. We hadn’t even thought he was to that point yet! Jeff tried numerous different methods and made the session fun for Henry. He is such a smart little…
Read MoreDoing a Little Better Than the Day Before – Anna’s Best of All
best of all (noun) \best of all\ is continual, measurable, celebrated and it never ends. It is a daily challenge to do a little better than you did the day before and it’s always celebrated. Possible manifestations: standing just one second longer, reading just one more word, learning just one new number, taking just one…
Read MoreVolunteer Spotlight…Meet Lauren!
Hi Everyone! I’m Lauren and I’m a student at UW-Whitewater currently studying music education. I’ve been playing the saxophone for around eight years now. I play piano as well, but I’ve only been playing for a few years. I’ve been give nmany opportunities to travel because o music. I’ve traveled to Europe multiple times, marched…
Read MoreWhat is Purposeful Programming?
At GiGi’s Playhouse all our programs are FREE, therapeutic and purposeful. We know what free and therapeutic is but what exactly is purposeful when we talk about programming? Per the Oxford dictionary, purposeful is doing something with intention. When you enter the Playhouse and see our Language, Music, N’ Our Peeps (LMNOP) group sitting in…
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