• Home
  • Shop
    • Shop Now
    • Gift Cards
    • Cart
    • Purchase Orders
    • School Licenses
    • My Account
  • Blog
    • Academics
      • Adapted Books
      • Comprehension
      • Cooking
      • Crafts
      • ELA
      • ESY
      • Fine Motor
      • Life Skills
      • Math
      • Occupational Therapy
      • Science
      • Sensory Bins
      • Social Emotional Learning
      • Social Skills
      • Social Studies
      • Speech Therapy
      • Task Boxes
      • Vocabulary
      • Writing
    • At Home Learning
      • Digital
      • Remote Learning
    • Behavior
      • ABA
      • Communication
        • AAC
      • Data
      • Schedules
      • Visuals
    • Simple Classroom
      • Back to School
      • Book Recommendations
      • Classroom Setup
      • Freebies
      • IEP
      • Inclusion
      • Inspiration
      • Organization
      • Paraprofessional
      • Remote Learning
      • Seasonal
        • Fall
        • Winter
        • Spring
        • Summer
    • Tot School
  • Classroom Tours
    • Self-Contained
    • Speech
    • Preschool
    • Elementary Autistic Support
    • K-2
    • K-2 (Socially Distanced)
    • K-4 (Tiny Room)
    • 1-4 (Life Skills)
    • 2-3 (ABA)
    • Middle School
    • High School
    • High School (Life Skills)
    • Multiple Disabilities
  • New Teachers
    • Join My Online Course
    • First Year
    • Interviews
    • Job Search
  • Grade Level
    • Preschool
    • Primary
    • Elementary
    • Middle School
    • High School
  • Simple Self-Contained Setup 101®
    • Join Now!
    • Success Stories
    • Log In
  • Free Resources
    • Log In
  • More…
    • Meet Alyssa
    • Meet Our Bloggers
    • Collaborate
    • Guest Blogging
    • Contact Me
    • Disclosures
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

Simply Special Ed

Resource Downloads & Teaching Advice

Academics Behavior Blog Simple Classroom

Why I Love My Wounded Hands

Picture

I’m sure you have had one of those days.You know, you go home exhausted, lay on the couch in your paint covered clothes, and brainstorm for hours about how you will get through tomorrow.This is every day for a special educator.

People always see my hands. They look down and notice the scratches, the bandaids, the scabs. I always find people asking me about my hands. And when I say that one of my little friends had a tough day, they tell me they could never do what I do.

I love my wounded hands.

They are not perfect. Rough from many hand washes. Uneven from showing a little one it doesn’t hurt to cut your nail. Bruised. Scratched. Paint stained.

I love my wounded hands.

Each and every scratch, scar, bruise, or scrape reminds me of a time of struggle- that became success. Each new lesson, each new food, each schedule change. Each day of cancelled recess and each “that is not choice”. Each potty training session, learning to wash hands. Each loud and rumbling assembly, each ripped page in a book, each computer time is over, and each upset tummy.

I love my wounded hands. Each time I earn a new scar, I know that little one has made a new leap, reached a new height, and broken down a new door.

I love my wounded hands- and I will always do, what I do.
#iTeachSped #WeTeachSped

signature-01

 

Related Posts:

  • stem7
    Incorporating STEM in Special Education: Hands-On…
  • OT Blog Pins-15
    5 OT Podcasts & Why I Love Them
  • Book-Companions-Differences-Hair-Love-5
    4 Activities for Hair Love
Share
Pin


« Introducing… Brigance Assessment Rings!
A look inside Workboxes! »
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!

Sign up to receive exclusive tips,
free resources, and more!

Recent Posts

ChatGPT Prompts Every Special Education Teacher Should Try

Image showing five children doing a side-body stretch

YouTube Movement Breaks for ECSE and Elementary

Image showing two adults and six children sitting around in a circle

How to Host a Student Teacher

Make ESY Easy – Enjoy Your Summer While I Take Care of the Plans! 🌞

Vocational Jobs in the Classroom

How to Host a Level II Fieldwork Student

Copyright © Simply Special Ed 2025 · Design by Fancy Girl Design Studio

Copyright © 2025 · Simply Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok