Setting up a self-contained classroom can feel overwhelming, especially when you are supporting students with a wide range of academic, communication, and behavioral needs. Many teachers assume that if things feel chaotic, they simply need more materials, more visuals, or more adult support. But in many cases, the real issue is not behavior and it is not a lack of resources. It is a lack of clear classroom systems. Systems create predictability. Predictability helps students understand ... continue reading...
Latest
How to Run Centers in a Self-Contained Classroom (Without the Chaos)
Centers can be one of the most powerful ways to differentiate instruction in a self-contained classroom. They allow students to work on individualized goals while teachers provide targeted small group instruction. But if you’ve ever tried to run centers without a clear system, you know it can quickly turn into chaos. Students may wander, ask constant questions, or rely heavily on adult prompts to get through each task. The key to successful centers is not more materials or more adult support. ... continue reading...
Self-Contained Classroom Setup: What to Do First (Before Students Walk In)
Setting up a self-contained classroom can feel overwhelming, especially if you're starting from scratch. Many special education teachers walk into a classroom filled with mismatched furniture, random materials, and little guidance on what the space should actually look like for students with diverse needs. The good news is that a self-contained classroom does not need to be perfect. It just needs to be intentional, predictable, and structured in a way that supports independence. If ... continue reading...
How to Make Your Para’s Life Easier
If you are involved in the world of Special Education at all, you know just how important paraprofessionals are. Paras help make the day run smoother. They form great relationships with their students. If you are someone who is lucky enough to work with a para, here are some ways to make his/her life easier! Have established routines and expectations In my opinion, the best Special Education classroom is one where the teacher has set consistent and easy to follow routines and ... continue reading...
New Teachers
If I could start over: what I’d do differently in my first self-contained classroom
It's hard to believe that this is my tenth year of teaching. I am a very different teacher than the one I was when I started in 2016! Read on to learn some things I would do differently in my first ... continue reading...
Hiring Season Is Here: How to Stand Out as a Self-Contained Teacher Candidate
It's interview season... that time of year when teaching jobs are starting to post! Maybe you are a recent or soon-to-be grad looking for your first job. Or, perhaps you are a seasoned teacher looking ... continue reading...
Free Downloads
Ten Ways to Show Para Appreciation All Year Long
Paraprofessionals are vital to making special education classrooms run smoothly! The amazing paras I know are some of the hardest working staff members with the biggest hearts. As teachers, we can ... continue reading...
How I Use The SSE Morning Meeting Calendar Resources in OT Sessions
As an occupational therapist (OT) working in a school setting, I focus on student access to their learning environments. I look at their strengths/needs and compare them to what is required of the ... continue reading...
In Case You Missed It
5 Meaningful Inclusion Support Strategies
Inclusion is equally important for general education students as special education students. Read on to learn some strategies for supporting and fostering inclusion of special education ... continue reading...
All About LRE
Least Restrictive Environment, or LRE, is not simply which classroom the student is taught in... it is much more than it seems! IDEA's Definition of LRE IDEA, or the Individuals with ... continue reading...