When I talk to teachers about schedules. There is one BIG thing that stands out the most to me. How do I know what is best for my kids? Ultimately, the answer is simple + complicated at the same exact time. YOU know your kids best. Not me, not any blogger or autism expert. You know what your kids need. The best I can do is show you a bunch of options- and guide you through the process. WALL SCHEDULES For children who: + are just beginning school + need a high level of ... continue reading...
Search Results for: morning meeting
Favorite SIMPLE Apps for Special Education
I am so excited to share some of my favorite apps with you today! There are tons of app lists out there, but these are apps I have been using WITH SUCCESS, all year this year. Tested, tried, and true! ALL OF THESE APPS ARE SIMPLE TO USE. There is no fluff, no crazy backgrounds, no out of control images that are just too much for our kiddos. They may not all be free, but they are extremely valuable and have made life in the classroom a lot easier this year! Time Timer, $2.99: I LOVE ... continue reading...
Simply Special Classroom Tour
Welcome to my Life Skills classroom! I am so excited to share with you my classroom tour! When you step foot in my classroom, our bins are on the left. Students know to put their lunchbox, water, and any notes in these bins each morning as part of their morning routine checklist. The first area is of course our SCHEDULES. These are so important to student success throughout the day. I use left to right schedule (you can read more about how to set these up here) in my classroom. Some kids ... continue reading...
Simple Ways to Introduce Math!
I'm going to be honest here, Math was always my least favorite subject. I struggled with Math. I never could get the concepts quick enough before they moved onto the next. But teaching basic math, now that is something I have gotten get the hang of.... I LOVE teaching these skills! Take a look at how I introduce new basic skills using adapted books, and get a sneak peek into my newest book set! There are SO MANY topics to cover, but throughout the year for my younger learners, I like ... continue reading...
Building Vocabulary in Students with Autism
How do you teach monthly sight words and vocabulary? All of my students are functioning at anywhere from 9 months to 7 years old cognitively. ALL of my students can learn these monthly thematic vocabulary words in some capacity! Each unit contains file folders- matching picture to picture & matching word to picture (As seen below). Each unit also contains word wall cards and flashcards (word and picture and picture only). Each morning during morning meeting we say and ... continue reading...
Favorite Product Spotlight: Sand Timers
I have decided that from time to time I will highlight some of my favorite classroom products on my blog! Today I will post a LIFESAVING product that I couldn't live without. I have my hands on these babies more than anything else throughout the school day. Not only are these visually appealing to students, they get my kids to WORK. Each color is a different alotted time ranging from 30 seconds to 5 minutes. HOW I USE THEM: - timers for rewards - timers for countdowns, "minutes left till ... continue reading...
Weighted Blankets DIY
Happy Weekend! Today I wanted to feature one of my favorite homemade classroom supplies. A sensory blanket! Before school started I had been on the search for a quality weighted blanket for a new student who has difficulty sitting at morning meeting. I thought a weighted blanket would help stabilize her and give her the sensory output she needed (and IT WORKED)! I couldn't find a great product for a great price so I started researching how to make my own. My Nana ( master seamstress) and I ... continue reading...
Elementary Resource Room Classroom: A day in the life
Welcome!! If you’ve ever wondered what a day in a resource room looks like, let me give you a little tour of how our schedule flows. My classroom is set up as a space where students come and go throughout the day for individualized support. Each child’s schedule looks a little different because their services are based on their IEP goals, but the meat and potatoes of our day is all about meeting students where they are. This looks different in each school and classroom you enter. It’s a bit ... continue reading...
First Week in Self-Contained Elementary
Starting your first week in a self-contained elementary classroom can feel both exhilarating and overwhelming. It is the beginning of an incredible journey with your students. Here's how those pivotal first five days might look to set the stage for a successful school year. Day 1: Setting the Foundation Your first week begins with the most crucial day of all. Focus on creating a welcoming environment and establishing your classroom community. Start with a calm morning routine: greeting ... continue reading...
Preschool Special Education Sample Schedule
Creating an effective daily schedule for preschool special education programs requires careful consideration of individual student needs, therapeutic goals, and developmental milestones. A well-structured schedule provides predictability while allowing flexibility for personalized learning experiences, ensuring that every moment of the day serves a purpose in each child's educational journey. In this blog post, I share a sample schedule for a special education half-day preschool program and key ... continue reading...
5 Things to Know About Working in a Therapeutic Day School
Special Education teachers are fortunate for many reasons. Of course, the number one reason is getting to work with amazing kids and helping them grow! Another reason is that there are a variety of settings where Special Education teachers can work. One of these settings is a therapeutic day school. First, it's important to know what a therapeutic day school is. According to an article from the Center for Families website, a therapeutic day school is a "comprehensive treatment setting in ... continue reading...
Daily Schedule for Kindergarten Autism Class
A daily classroom schedule for a Kindergarten Autism classroom is ESSENTIAL for students to have success in school. With a daily schedule in place, everyone will benefit including the teacher, staff, subs, and most importantly the students! Imagine if you had no schedule!? It would seem like udder chaos! Errands would be overlooked and appointments would most certainly be missed. I bet you would feel disorganized, anxious, lose track of time, and have no motivation. Well, the same goes for our ... continue reading...
A Day in the Life of a School-based OT
I love working as a school-based occupational therapist (OT)! I work as a district employee at a public school in Pennsylvania. I am the OT servicing five of our district's buildings: two secondary and three elementary schools. I love the variety because it really keeps me on my toes! No one day looks the same, but join me in a "day in the life" of a school-based OT: Check out this OT room tour blog to see one of my elementary classroom spaces [that also doubles as a sensory ... continue reading...
How To Utilize AAC All Day Long
Staff Training The classroom staff are the first people to get on board when utilizing AAC all day long. Whether it is low tech or high tech AAC the staff is one of the keys to success when implementing AAC. Some school districts have an AAC specialist, look into having them come to your school to train the staff. If your district doesn't have an AAC specialist, they do have a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP). The SLP is able to conduct AAC trainings. Invite everyone! This includes teachers ... continue reading...
What I Wish I Knew my First Year as a Special Ed Teacher
As a first year special education teacher... I was stressed. I asked veteran special education teachers what they wish they knew when they first started... and they gave some MUST READ advice! "I wish someone would have told me that it is okay not to have it all figured out in year one. I spent my entire first year of teaching comparing myself to veteran teachers and beating myself up for not having a perfect classroom and structure. My best advice for first year teachers is to start by ... continue reading...
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