Watkins Mill High School is bringing back the cookie business: piping hot cookies are being sold on every Wednesday before lunch.
Special Education teacher Terchrisha Lawrence is running the cookie business to mainly teach life skills to students. Cookies are $1 each and can be ordered online on a Google Form and are delivered during the fourth period on Wednesdays. As of right now only teachers can buy cookies, and the link is regularly emailed to teachers.
The purpose of the cookie business is to teach life skills to the Special Education students. “We teach them communication skills: taking orders, greeting, and saying ‘you’re welcome’,” Lawrence said,” We have students who work on counting the correct amount of cookies and placing them on a tray…We also teach waiting and patience, as it takes time for the cookies to cook. Finally, we teach our students how to navigate the hallway in a safe manner and quietly.”
There are other businesses among the special education programs, like coffee being sold in the morning and popcorn being sold at the beginning of lunch. Special Education teacher Martha Patton is running the coffee business and Special Education teacher Lore Neubeiser is running the popcorn business.
“I love our business! It is amazing to see our students get to interact with people as well build functional life skills that will help them gain a job in the future,” said Lawrence.
