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Simply Special Ed

Resource Downloads & Teaching Advice

Search Results for: morning meeting

Blog Classroom Setup Elementary Inspiration Simple Classroom Uncategorized

K-5 Autism Classroom Tour

Come on in, and take a look around Mrs. B's K-5 ASD classroom tour! I teach a self-contained elementary (K-5) class for students on the Autism Spectrum who exhibit deficits in communication, behavior, and academics. Classroom setup can be stressful, time-consuming, and overwhelming! Make a plan, get some example ideas, and read all about how I set up my K-5 ASD self-contained classroom! A few things you will notice throughout my classroom are the physical separation of areas, the color coding of ... continue reading...


Academics Behavior Blog ELA Elementary Life Skills Math Schedules

My 2nd Grade Self-Contained Classroom Schedule

Creating a schedule for a self-contained classroom for both your students and your paraprofessionals can seem extremely overwhelming. However, once you get in the groove and have all the subjects covered, it becomes easier and easier each year! Below is an overview of my 2nd grade self-contained classroom schedule. The gray parts of my schedule are plan time, collaboration time, and my lunch. I will continue to break down the specific parts for you! Arrival Routine/Personal Info ... continue reading...


Blog Classroom Setup Schedules

K-5 Self Contained Classroom Schedule

Let's take a walk through our day in a K-5 self-contained classroom! Our day has a lot of moving parts, and it is very structured. We also utilize a large whole-group visual schedule in the class as well as smaller individual visual schedules, so the students know when they are doing what activity. I also have many brain breaks embedded throughout the day, so that is why you do not see any on the schedule. 7:30-8:20 Students start arriving at 7:30! Once they arrive, they can eat breakfast ... continue reading...


Back to School Blog Elementary Inspiration Schedules Visuals

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...


Academics Back to School Blog Elementary

First Week in Self-Contained

The first week of school can be many things- exciting, overwhelming, and a whirlwind. This is especially true in a self-contained setting. Read on to find out some simple and effective activities and strategies to use for the first week of school. Learn students' interests It may sound obvious, but the first week is a great time to start getting to know your students. Of course, it will take longer than a week to build those relationships! Before jumping into the curriculum, time should ... continue reading...


Blog Classroom Setup Elementary New Teachers Schedules

A Day in the Life of a Self-Contained Teacher

Welcome to my self-contained classroom! I teach students with multiple disabilities in grades 3-5 at a public intermediate school. Take a look at how a typical day in my self-contained room looks! Starting the Day I arrive at work about 15 minutes before my students arrive. I am not a morning person so I like to take my time at home! After setting up my computer and checking email, I ensure that all the materials I need are ready to go. And, I usually find some time to chat with my ... continue reading...


Blog Elementary First Year High School Middle School New Teachers Occupational Therapy Preschool Simple Classroom

YouTube Movement Breaks for ECSE and Elementary

Image showing five children doing a side-body stretch

Movement breaks are essential tools for classroom management, as they offer opportunities for students to release energy, refocus attention, and enhance learning outcomes within the classroom. YouTube provides a wealth of free resources that make incorporating physical activity into your school day simple and effective. In this blog post, I share my favorite YouTube movement breaks and outline how to implement them effectively in your classroom. Benefits of Movement Breaks Research shows ... continue reading...


Academics Blog Communication Elementary High School Middle School Speech Therapy Technology Vocabulary

How to Use an AAC Device in Group Lessons

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices are tools that help students express themselves! These devices allow students to communicate their needs, wants, and thoughts. Incorporating these devices into your group lessons allows students to participate more fully in school. Read on for ways to encourage AAC use in the classroom! What is an AAC Device? AAC is any type of tool that helps individuals with speech and language difficulties to communicate. An AAC can be low-tech, ... continue reading...


Academics Blog New Teachers Occupational Therapy Simple Classroom Uncategorized

10 Interventions to Make Daily Tasks Easier in Your Special Ed Classroom

The daily tasks in a special education classroom can be overwhelming! Occupational therapists (OTs) might have some tips to help! OTs are all about independence! The most your students can be independent in their daily routines, the easier your day will be as the teacher or classroom staff. Plus, the students will be gaining valuable skills that will take them far beyond your class. Incorporate More Visuals for Daily Tasks My #1 tip for increasing independence for your students to make ... continue reading...


Blog Classroom Setup Elementary Simple Classroom

Classroom Layout Tips for Elementary Self-Contained Classrooms

Setting up a self-contained classroom can feel overwhelming, but the right layout can make all the difference! In a self-contained setting, structure, routine, and organization are key to helping students succeed. A well-organized classroom promotes independence, minimizes behaviors, and supports smooth transitions throughout the day. Here are some classroom layout tips to help you create a space that works for you, your students, and your staff! 1. Define Clear Learning Zones In a ... continue reading...


Blog Classroom Setup Elementary

Why My Classroom Floor Plan Works

Designing the floor plan for your special education classroom can seem like a daunting task! There are many factors to consider, such as behaviors, schedules, and class size. It took some trial and error, but I have a classroom floor plan that I love, AND that makes sense for me and my students. Read on to see why it works for me! Centers-Based Floor Plan My main academic subjects are run with centers. So, when deciding on my floor plan I knew I needed to maximize my space to allow for ... continue reading...


Blog Classroom Setup Life Skills Middle School Schedules Visuals

Middle School Life Skills Classroom Tour

junior high life skills classroom

Welcome to my Middle School Life Skills classroom tour! My classroom is made up of both middle school and high school level students with different needs. We just moved into this larger classroom and I am so happy with the layout and how many new possibilities we have in this space! Here’s how I set up our classroom for student success! I teach life skills, and we have students with Autism, low-incidence disabilities, and other intellectual disabilities. I wanted to make sure my students ... continue reading...


Back to School Blog Classroom Setup Elementary Inspiration

TK-1 Moderate/Intensive Self-Contained Classroom Tour

"TK-1 Moderate/Intensive Self-Contained Classroom Tour" featured image

Welcome to my TK-1 Moderate/Intensive Self-contained classroom tour! In this classroom tour, we will explore various areas of my classroom. The Campfire The campfire, a designated area for whole-group instruction, is located front and center in my classroom. This area is intentionally kept clutter-free to avoid visual overload for my young students. Before Morning Meeting, the campfire looks as pictured above. Throughout the day, we display anchor charts related to the content we cover ... continue reading...


Academics Blog Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapy Classroom Tour

Welcome! Welcome to another tour of one of my occupational therapy (OT) classrooms! You may have seen my previous OT classroom tour, but as many of you know, I travel between numerous buildings within my district. Therefore, I've created an updated classroom tour in another building! We have a lot of the same equipment, but each room has it's own uniqueness. This tour, like my first one, is for an elementary building. This shared space is for OT and physical therapy (PT) treatment ... continue reading...


Academics Blog Classroom Setup Elementary Schedules

Schedule Tour for an Intermediate Elementary Class

Welcome to my classroom! I teach a self-contained class for students with multiple disabilities. I work at a public intermediate school, which is grades 3 - 5, and this year I have three students in each grade level. Let me tell you a little bit about our schedule and how the day goes! Arrival and Morning Work Students start arriving at school around 8:10. My classroom paraprofessionals meet the students at their buses, while I wait outside to greet students and help with hallway ... continue reading...


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Hi amazing teachers!
I'm Alyssa Shanahan -- a former Elementary Special Ed & Life Skills teacher. My classroom focus was always to keep things simple, increase communication, and build independence. Simply Special Ed's goal is to help teachers and students reach their full potential in and out of the classroom!

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