At Birdville High School, a select group of Deaf and Special Ed students have been learning the “ropes” of working in the REAL WORLD. Since October, the students have been selling coffee, water, tea and occasional specialty items to the staff at BHS. The program, begun by Megan Moffitt, Deaf Ed teacher, Annie Zaskoda; PAES lab assistant, and aided by Christine Gaston, Deaf Ed teacher, strives to teach students a laundry list of skills that people in the work place must know in order to make a living.

They have created a logo for their coffee shop deemed “Special Hawk Coffee” along with an order form with the weekly selections. They have decided on a price list accordingly matching the items available. They have a cash register just like what you see at Starbucks. Several Keurig-type coffee makers are brewing at the same time in the Deaf Ed classroom. The students acquire orders frequently through email and walk-in business, write them down, make the coffee and then with their cart, deliver steaming drinks to the appropriate customers.

At the end of each coffee day (Tues./Thurs.), the students have to calculate the amount of money they have earned and match it to the amount they charged. Often, the BHS staff gives tips, which is a concept the kids did not understand before. They have held the tip money to use at end of course meetings, and have also used “profits” to put back into the business.

The math concepts, new vocabulary, reading of orders, etc., are but a few of the TEKS and transition requirements being met in a real way.