If our job is to help students grow in independence, let's start by setting up a space that's made for them to work toward that goal! Here are some ways you can set up your self-contained classroom for maximum independence. Your students will be building endurance, confidence, and independent living skills! Create Visual Boundaries and Areas It all starts with how you place the furniture in your classroom. Your tables, desks, flexible seating, cabinets, and bookshelves... arrange ... continue reading...
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Differentiation in Centers: Simple Ways to Meet Every Student’s Needs
Special Education Teachers and Related Service Professionals know differentiation well! Especially in a self-contained special education class like mine, each student's academics, life skills, social skills, and self-management goals are differentiated to meet their specific needs. If you have a large caseload of students, differentiating every single thing can take up a lot of your prep time, after school, and even on weekends. Here are a few of my simple ways that I differentiate to meet my ... continue reading...
Reducing Back-to-School Behavior Challenges With Predictable Routines
Predictable routines and consistent schedules are more important than you might think! Routines are intended to assist students with expectations, reduce behaviors, and keep disruptions to a minimum. Maybe your students have had a long break, or maybe they just finished up ESY and are returning for the new school year. No matter how long they've been out of the classroom, the beginning of a new school year can bring a bit of anxiety for our students, who can benefit from a refresh of ... continue reading...
Visual Tools for Self-Contained High School
In my high school Special Education self-contained class, we don't just love visuals - we thrive on visuals! There are so many great options for you to incorporate in your self-contained high school classroom to help your students conquer the day and grow in independence. Visual Schedules Visual schedules provide a structure and routine for students with disabilities. You can read all about getting started with schedule visuals here. They also break down the day (which can seem long) ... continue reading...
Behavior Friendly Center Activities for Special Education
Hi there! Centers can seem daunting for any classroom. But, they are especially daunting for a special education classroom with many challenging behaviors. I will go over a few activities that you can do that work well in centers for those with challenging behaviors. I will also review some tips and tricks for doing activities in centers with challenging behaviors. Adapted and Differentiated Worksheets Now, this is probably our least favorite option for students with challenging ... continue reading...
How to Make ESY Planning Simple
Teaching ESY can be such a fun experience for teachers! However, schedules, rosters, and expectations can be a lot different in the summer than during the school year. That makes planning for the extended school year seem like a bit of a challenge. But planning for ESY can be simple! Read on to learn some ways that you can plan ahead to have your best summer session ever! What is ESY? ESY is the abbreviation for Extended School Year. Extending the school year means that we are providing ... continue reading...
New to Teaching ESY? Read This First!
Teaching ESY is one of my favorite parts of the school year! As teachers, we get the special privilege of making our students' summers both educational AND fun. If you are new to teaching during this fun part of the year, don't worry! I have years of tips and tricks to share with you. Keep reading to get ready for the Extended School Year! What is ESY? ESY is the abbreviation for Extended School Year. Extending the school year means that we are providing services to students beyond the ... continue reading...
7 Systems Every Self-Contained Classroom Needs
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...
Sharing My Centers Lesson Plans
Creating lesson plans can feel overwhelming for special education teachers. Working with students at different academic levels and different accommodation needs, accounting for staffing shortages, and trying to teach content at varying grade levels... it's a lot to manage! Luckily, with a little bit of lesson planning it is possible to meet the needs of all your learners. Read on to find out how! The Importance of Centers Centers are a crucial part of special education classrooms! ... continue reading...
Thanksgiving Visual Crafts for Special Education
November can feel like such a long month in the classroom! The days are long, and both students and staff can get antsy during those long weeks before Thanksgiving break. Want a way to add some fun to this month while also building students' skills? Thanksgiving Visual Crafts are the answer! Keep reading to find out how to implement these clever crafts in your classroom! All About Visual Crafts Every Visual Craft bundle comes with four projects. The holiday projects in the December pack ... continue reading...
How to Setup a 3 Drawer Work Bin System
Independent work in the classroom is so important for so many reasons! It teaches students how to build confidence and higher self-esteem. It allows the student to have time away from an adult constantly prompting them. Independent work promotes building skills students will need for their future. There won't always be somebody there to prompt. Here is how to set up a 3 drawer work bin system. Create the System You can find 3 drawer bins anywhere - Target, Amazon, Walmart, etc. I like ... continue reading...
How to Teach Independence in Centers
For special education teachers, our goal is always to help our students BUILD INDEPENDENCE! Working independently is a life skill that sets kids up for success in both school and life. Luckily, it is easy to teach this skill through a simple classroom activity: centers! Read on to find out how your classroom's centers can help promote student independence! The Importance of Centers in the Classroom Many classrooms - both special education and general ed - already run on centers. (If you ... continue reading...
Classroom Schedule for Elementary Self-Contained
Welcome to my elementary self-contained classroom! Take a look at a typical day in our life with this schedule tour. Good Morning! As my students arrive for the day, they follow a simple morning routine that includes unpacking their backpacks and putting belongings away. All of my students arrive at slightly different times in the morning. So, while we are waiting I facilitate activities like board games and STEM-bins. It's a nice, slow start to our day, and I love being able to spend ... continue reading...
Back to School Prep for High School Special Ed Teachers
Is it that time again? If you're anything like me, you're SO eager to get into your classroom and get it ready for your students to learn, thrive, and have a great year! How are you going to prepare your High School Special Education classroom for the new year? Organize Information Familiarize yourself with your student's goals. Start by setting up your IEP binder, including key information such as goals, accommodations, behavior plans, testing modifications, and service times. If ... continue reading...
Top 10 Functional Resources for High School Special Ed
Supporting students in High School Special Education? Here are my Top 10 Functional Resources every High School Special Education Classroom can benefit from—especially those focused on life skills, independence, and transition planning! 1. Functional Skills Binders Life Skills Binders are printable binders that cover real-world topics like math, time, money, personal information, and more. Also, they can be very individualized! Plus, it's a hands-on tool for a multi-sensory ... continue reading...
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