Do you use the VB-MAPP in your special education classroom? Have you considered using it, but are unsure of where to start? Keep reading to learn more about the VB-MAPP, and how it could work in your classroom! The VB-MAPP is an assessment tool based on verbal behavior milestones. If you have students who are on the autism spectrum or who exhibit language delays, this assessment tool is a great place to start! With four different components, this assessment tool gives a baseline of ... continue reading...
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How to Use a Zoning Plan and a “Man Down” Schedule
Need classroom scheduling help? Use a zoning plan. Then, the unthinkable happens: you're down a para without a sub. What do you do? You use your "man down" schedule! Let me show you have to use a zoning plan and a "man down" schedule! What is a Zoning Plan? You may be asking, what is a zoning plan? Think of it as a visual map of your daily classroom schedule. You'll make a spreadsheet with each staff member's name in the columns and the time blocks in the rows. Grab a FREE zoning plan ... continue reading...
How to Improve Fine Motor Skills with Visual Recipes
Who doesn't love a good snack?! Not only do my students love making food during school, but these visual recipes work on so many skills! I am able to target almost all of my occupational therapy IEP goals with them! Visual recipes are my go-to activity with self-contained classrooms. Typically, at the secondary level in particular, my students are working towards transition or life skills goals. What better skill than cooking! I often tend to co-treat with speech therapy with this ... continue reading...
11 Back to School Hacks for Special Education Teachers
I went right to the source to find the BEST Back to School hacks for special education teachers- my Simply Special Community facebook group (click here to join!) These are little tips you might not have thought of in a quick and easy list to read and start implementing. Enjoy! I put all of my IEP due dates on my calendar at the start of the year as well as a reminder 30 days prior. - ErinUsing rolling bookshelves and movable whiteboards as dividers. -BrittinaeUse packing tape on board ... continue reading...
Why You Need an Emergency “Go” Bag
As a teacher of students with moderate to high support needs, it has been extremely helpful to have a "go bag" at the ready. What's in a "go bag"? Well, everything that I would need if I was to need to evacuate my classroom. I like to call it a "go bag" because this is what I will say to my staff in case of an emergency... "Get the bag and go." Keep reading to find out more about what is inside, where it is kept and when I grab it. What is inside a "go bag"? Though it is hard to see ... continue reading...
The Low Down on Low Tone: From an OT
Low muscle tone is also known as hypotonia. A medical professional will diagnosis the condition. I feel like the term is over-utilized and also not always used correctly. Hypotonia is sometimes seen in children with Down Syndrome, Muscular dystrophy, Cerebral palsy, or Prader-Willi syndrome. As an occupational therapist, in the school-based setting, I work with a lot of students who have low tone and muscle weakness. Here are some of my favorite products and activities to target low tone! ... continue reading...
An OT’s Perspective: Must-Have SSE Resources
Simply Special Ed offers so many great resources! The SSE resources not only target different academic concepts but also fine motor and life skills! As a school-based occupational therapist, I love checking out the SSE resource library for new materials to use with my students! In this blog, I highlighted three SSE resources I have recently used with my students!! Check them out! Simple Fine Motor Centers As a school-based OT, I often help and assemble different ‘work task’ ... continue reading...
4 Winter Crafts for Special Education
I am a special education teacher and I love a good winter craft! Crafts are so good to keep my students engaged throughout the holidays as well as focus on learning goals and fine motor skills. Keep reading to see 4 winter crafts I use in my classroom! Christmas Tree This winter craft is perfect for students who are learning about size, length, and order! Students arrange strips from smallest to largest in order to make a tree. Materials needed: Construction paper: red, ... continue reading...
5 Steps for Managing Challenging Behaviors
Here are 5 steps for managing challenging behaviors! I have taught TK-2nd grades self-contained for six years, and let's face it, challenging behaviors are part of the job. Keep reading about 5 strategies that help me manage challenging behaviors and get students learning. Step 1: Find the Function The first step in managing challenging behaviors is to find the function of the behavior. All behavior is communication. Students with challenging behaviors are trying to communicate ... continue reading...
4 Simple Tips for Prepping Special Education Materials
Are you in the middle of prepping special education materials to be ready when you head back to school? Have you been teaching for awhile and still don’t know the best tips for prepping all of the many special education materials you’ve gathered over the years? Or are you a brand new special education teacher feeling overwhelmed at prepping materials for your classroom? Special education teacher’s classrooms look very different from general education teacher’s classrooms. We have to provide ... continue reading...
9 Things To Know For New Severe-Profound Teachers
Is this your first year teaching? Maybe it's just your first year teaching in a self-contained Severe-Profound/Multi Classroom. If that's the case, then this post is for you! Here are 9 things to know for new severe-profound teachers. 1. Every District Has Different Procedures Every district has different procedures. The procedures followed at your student teaching school may not be the same as your new school. Make sure to ask what the procedures are for records, scheduling meetings, ... continue reading...
5 Helpful Tips When Preparing for Maternity Leave in Special Education
Preparing for maternity leave can be a very stressful task. You are about to hand over your classroom and students to someone you barely know for several months. When I learned that I was expecting and started preparing for maternity leave. I had so many questions. In this blog post, I have listed what I thought would be the 5 most helpful tips to make preparing for maternity leave as stress-free as possible. 1. Research benefits and know your rights Schedule a meeting with your HR ... continue reading...
Valentine’s Day Sensory Bin
Valentine's Day Sensory Bin This is my new favorite Valentine's Day Sensory Bin! Starbucks blended with some hearts! This bin is geared towards younger children but I will also share how to adapt the bin to focus on different concepts and academic skills! Themes Valentine’s Day is the day of love, overpriced decorative cards, and delicious chocolate. I have so many great childhood memories of Valentine's Day! I loved making my Valentine’s Day box with my grandma and signing my ... continue reading...
Why You Need to Use a Zoning Plan
Self-contained classroom schedules can be all over the place, so that is why you need to use a zoning plan. Our day in a self-contained classroom has a ton of moving parts with schedules for all of our kids. Between inclusion time, related services, lunch and recess periods, special area, and everything else in between it can feel impossible to ever have a working schedule. Using a zoning plan will help alleviate that headache. What is a zoning plan, Whitney? It is simply a map of your classroom ... continue reading...
Pre-writing Skills: Where to Start
Pre- Writing Skills: Where to Start Pre-writing skills appear very textbook. We have all seen the charts on the timeframe when children should be making what type of stroke pattern. We use this as our guide. I think what we often forget is those developmental milestones, just as academic skills, aren’t linear. Children meet them at different points when they are ready. As educators, practitioners, and parents we can help guide children. Our job is to give them the tools they need to ... continue reading...