If you saw my classroom tour last year, you may notice I am in a different room. In fact, I am in a different room, a different school and even a different state! This summer was full of exciting changes in my life, including transitioning to a new position. After two years in a specialized non-public school, I have made my way back to a public district. I teach a second and third grade Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) specialized class. My school currently has two specialized classrooms: a ... continue reading...
Search Results for: sensory bins
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...
How to Setup a Self-Contained Classroom
Self-contained classroom setup is my jam. I get so excited every year planning how I want to physically set up my classroom. It can be an extremely daunting task, but if you have a plan it can be a fun process. Let me show you how to setup a self-contained classroom. Plan the areas of your classroom Whole Group/Small Group When planning your self-contained classroom setup, decide what kinds of areas you'll need. Will you need a whole group area, small groups, centers, independent ... continue reading...
16 Must Read Blog Posts for OTs
We are so lucky to have a resident OT Blogger here at Simply Special Ed! Here's a little information about Taylor! Taylor is an Occupational Therapist and has been working in the school setting for 5 years. She primarily works with students in specialized preschool programs and elementary special education classrooms. Taylor graduated from Saint Francis University with a Masters Degree in Occupational Therapy. She strives to help her students access their education and increase their ... continue reading...
5 Resources for Fall in Special Education
Fall is such a fun season in school. We have back to school, changing weather, holidays, and lots of fun! Fall themed activities are a great way to get your students engaged in your lessons. Here are 5 resources for fall in special education you can use in your classroom. #1 Monthly Vocabulary Units Monthly vocabulary units are some of my favorite lessons in my self-contained special ed classroom. My students love learning new themed vocabulary words each month. There are tons of ... continue reading...
H.S. Special Education Classroom Tour
Welcome to my High School Special Ed classroom! Before we begin the classroom tour, I do have a quick disclaimer. I have been blessed to have, what we refer to, as “The EC (exceptional children) Wing.” We technically have 2 special education classrooms – 1 academic and 1 Life Skills room, as well as a courtyard. I have never had this kind of space before, and probably never will again, if I were to relocate. We take full advantage of this area, and I hope every reader ... continue reading...
How to Color Code Your Special Ed Classroom
Color coding your special ed classroom can be a game changer for your organization. I have developed a system for color coding in my classroom to benefit my students and me as the teacher. Let me teach you how to color code your special ed classroom. Assigning Colors The first step in color coding your classroom is to assign colors. There are a couple options for assigning colors depending on the size of your caseload. I have nine students on my caseload this year, so each student has ... continue reading...
Socially Distanced Classroom Setup: K-2
It is finally here: back to school time...in person! This also means it is classroom setup time. Let's take a tour of my Socially Distanced Classroom Setup: K-2 STU (Structured Teaching Unit) classroom. In this blog post, you will learn about how I set up student stations, schedules for students and staff, and data collection. We got word that we will be returning to in-person instruction in just a few short weeks. I had to think creatively of how to setup my K-2 structured teaching special ... continue reading...
I Have Classroom Money…. Now What?
You either will be familiar or shocked to hear this, but some programs DO get money to spend each year on materials and curriculum. If you are one of those lucky teachers, this list is for you! You think... "wouldn't it be nice to have some money for things in the classroom"... but then when you have that money, it's hard to come up with things! This is a frequently asked question in my community Facebook group, Simply Special Community, so I thought I would create a list to refer to. You ... continue reading...
First Year Teacher Shopping List
CONGRATS! If you are here you must be a NEW special education teacher, or a first year teacher. If you are wondering where to get started- this post is the perfect place to be! I am going to share all of the things you need to get started on the right foot with a brand new special education classroom. You see my posts on instagram and Facebook and wonder (where did she get that!) today I'm gonna give you ALL the ((full disclosure, some affiliate)) links. You will need these things to create ... continue reading...
Fine Motor Christmas Tree
One of my personal goals this year is to find more ways to integrate sensory and fine motor activities into my students days. Every academic activity we give our students can be modified to include fine motor or sensory. Some activities, we can create with fine motor needs in mind. My kids DON'T enjoy gluing, and their OT wants to expose them to more liquid glue, and less glue sticks. So this project was developed with that in mind. All of my kids are working on counting, some 1:1 ... continue reading...
A Look Inside my Autism Classroom!
I have been so excited to bring this to you! About two weeks ago, I got a new job, and have been NONSTOP busy ever since. Creating for my new students, setting up my new classroom and familiarizing myself with my new school has certainly kept me busy- but I am so excited to finally share my new room with you. Welcome to my Autism Classroom! When you enter my room, you see schedule boards and the calendar/ group work table! This year, I made my classroom schedules using a mix of Smarty ... continue reading...