Mrs. D's Corner

teaching from the heart, not the books.

work task Wednesday - test tube patterns and colors. mrs ds corner.

Work Task Wednesday – Test Tube Patterns and Colors

Welcome to Work Task Wednesday, a place where we will be talking all about different work task, work bins, task bins… whatever you call them, we will be talking about them! The benefits of using work bins for academic learning centers include promoted independence, practicing transitions, playing and engaging in multiple activities during a certain time-block of the day, cooperating and sharing with others, and an opportunity to provide students with a more hands-on approach to learning. Plus so much else, that’s just the start! The best part about using work tasks in the classroom is you can meet the… Read More

Grading Rubrics for special needs students. grading rubrics for students with disabilities.

How to Give Grades in Special Education

Grading is a controversial topic in education. When children enter grade school, they complete work and get report cards on how well (or not well) they did in subjects that quarter. Many districts require that all students receive a letter or number grade, some as often as two grades per subject, per week.  But how do we give fair grades to, for example, a fourth grade student working on a kindergarten level? Or a student who receives accommodations and modifications, but still may not have full completed a lesson?  Calculating these grades for students can be tricky. What criterion do… Read More

moving past the trauma a tribute to teacher anxiety

Moving Past the Trauma and Back to You – A Tribute to Teacher Anxiety

Anxiety is a tough thing to work through, on your own or through therapy. It can take months, years… even then it’s a constant work in progress. As a teacher in today’s society, it can be even harder. Social media makes everything seem so perfect, so idealistic, and for so many… unattainable. Perfect classrooms, teachers so put together, kids always on task working. Seeing these IG-worthy and Pinterest-perfect posts on social media doesn’t always help those of us with anxiety. Over the past couple of months, I have opened up more and more about my journey with anxiety – sharing… Read More

classroom library and organization tips blog header. special needs classroom library.

Classroom Library + Organization for Special Ed

Having a child read is a crucial component of becoming a good reader. It is our job as teachers to provide our students with multiple opportunities to read while at school. Schools come equipped with a school library, but many times students only see the inside of the school library one day a week or less. Classroom libraries should be inviting, organized, and provide students with more than one or two options students want to read. The more books we house in our classrooms, the more opportunities we are providing for our students to read… and read for fun. But… Read More

help your child's teacher. tips for how a parent can help their Childs teacher. how teachers and parents can be a team. parent communication.

Parents, How to Help Your Child’s Teacher

As teachers, we need to work very closely with parents of the students in our classrooms. Together we make a team, and as a team we all need to be on the same page. While there are 1,001 ways teachers can help keep parents in the loop… there are 1,001 ways that parents can help their child’s teacher as well.   This list of tips was curated by special education teachers in Mrs. D’s VIP Facebook Group. Parents, here are a few ways to help your child’s teacher. Make sure the phone number the teacher has for you works (or email!)…. Read More

First year teacher tips and tricks header

First Year Teacher Tips for Special Ed Teachers

As a first year teacher, or as a teacher starting a new special ed position, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. Between all of the unknowns and all of the things you want to prep now to be a little more prepared once school starts, you may not be sure where to start. Thankfully, the VIP teachers from Mrs. D’s VIP Facebook Group put together their best advice for new teachers or teachers who are starting a new position or in a new school. If you are more of a paper-pencil-cross-it-off-the-list type of person, you can find these tips and suggestions… Read More

teacher gift and para gift steps for DIY header

Gift for Teachers or Paras – DIY Emergency Snack Kit

A teacher gift or para gift, a unique one, not just the standard mug or flowers (which are and always will be appreciated, don’t get me wrong!), but something that was really thought provoking for the giver… truly means so much as the receiver. There is an entire week in May to celebrate Teacher Appreciation and support staff has a day of appreciation as well, but sometimes it’s nice to be appreciated as a surprise. In the teaching world, there are some people who just get you. And I don’t mean they just get you as a teacher, I mean… Read More

interview questions for paraprofessionals and support staff header

Interview Questions for Paras and Support Staff

No special needs classroom is complete without support staff, and it always feels good to be prepared for an upcoming interview. Interview questions range, especially when it comes to being special education staff. Stress no more! Get ready to feel confident and prepared at your next interview for a special education paraprofessional position. Below is a list of 65 (and growing!) interview questions for paras, and a few questions you could potentially ask the interview team. Tell us more about yourself. What is your background with students with special needs? What led you to apply for this position? What makes you the best… Read More

As special education teachers, we often are not provided with appropriate resources to assess our students current levels of learning. Or the resource we are given doesn’t meet the needs of all of the learning styles in our classroom. We always make it work though. Learn more about literacy assessment at Mrs. D's Corner.

Assessment in SPED – Literacy + Language Arts

As special education teachers, we often are not provided with appropriate resources to assess our students current levels of learning. Or the resource we are given doesn’t meet the needs of all of the learning styles in our classroom. We always make it work, we’re superheros! But it’s time to use our superhero strengths for something else. This Literacy Assessment bundle includes all of the parts needed to assess your students on the early elementary skills needed in grades K-3, with all the data sheets needed to collect baseline data and show progress on the mastery of the skills. You… Read More

interview questions for special education teachers to prepare for an interview

Interview Questions for Special Ed Teachers

Whether you’re fresh out of college or a veteran teaching who needs a change, it always feels good to be prepared for an upcoming interview. Interview questions range, especially when it comes to being a special education teachers. We do so much and it rarely feels like we have enough time in a day… let alone enough time to thoroughly explain our teaching procedures and strategies in a one hour interview. Stress no more! Get ready to feel confident and prepared at your next interview for a special education teaching position. Below is a list of 58 (and growing!) interview questions for special… Read More

Yes, I Left Teaching in the Middle of a School Year

For whatever reason, there is this enormous stigma of leaving your classroom mid-year. It’s even bigger if you’re not leaving to move to another classroom or district. I’ve read countless blog posts and social media threads about teachers essentially giving up on their kids if they leave the classroom, regardless of personal circumstances. And I woke up today feeling like now is the time to share my story. At the end of every school year, we have to determine if we want to sign our contracts to return next school year. So many of us are burnt out… teaching in… Read More

data collection for special ed teachers header

Data Collection for Special Ed Teachers

Data collection for special education teachers doesn’t have to be laborious, tedious, or an all day task. As a self-proclaimed data nerd, I am here to tell you that it’s possible to collect data daily and weekly without feeling run down or overwhelmed by all the things. I’m here to tell you that there IS a simple way to collect data that is efficient, stream-lined, and so simple that you can have paraprofessionals and regular ed teachers help you! #forreal Before you shoot the messenger, hear me out. It took me YEARS. Yes, y.e.a.r.s. to figure out this system. A… Read More

As teachers, we give our all every single day. It is both rewarding and challenging to be a teacher. For every frustrating moment, there are ten positive moments. But at the end of the day, it is important to take care of ourselves too. 6 Self care tips for teachers to prevent teacher burnout and stay healthy. Blog post at Mrs. D's Corner.

6 Self Care Tips for Teachers

It is both rewarding and challenging to be a teacher. For every frustrating moment, there are ten positive moments. And as teachers, we give our all every single day. But let’s be honest… teaching is exhausting! In a very life-fulfilling, meant-to-do-this, exhausting way. Burnout is a real thing in the teaching world, regardless of the subject or age group a teacher is teaching. Not only do we need to manage lesson plans and daily activities, but we also need to take care of parent meetings, IEP paperwork, classroom preparation and more. It can be hard to keep up with everything!… Read More

https://www.mrsdscorner.com/toptechresources/

Top Technology Resources for Students with Learning Disabilities

Finding technology resources that help us special education teachers adapt curriculum and accommodate all of the learners in our classroom is a tough order to fill sometimes. Then there’s always that one time when you need technology to work, and it doesn’t. So you’ve got to quick find another option… or scrap the lesson until later when the iPad is fully charged. Today’s post comes from Brittany, a very good friend of mine and someone who deems herself as “an educator obsessed with teaching with technology.” She loves creating and sharing teaching resources for technology teachers, media specialists, and technology facilitators… Read More

54 dinosaur books for kids with dinosaurs as the main characters. Dinosaur read alouds for children. Dinosaur books for elementary students. Blog post at Mrs. D's Corner.

54 Dinosaur Books for Kids

Dinosaurs are fascinating, and not just to children. People all over the world love dinosaurs and love learning about these extinct animals. What better way to get students engaged and loving reading, than with dinosaur books for kids. By giving students multiple opportunities to read stories with dinosaurs as the main characters, you’ll instill a love and intrinsic want to keep reading. Enjoy this special curated list of 54+ dinosaur books for kids that are perfect for any elementary classroom. Jurassic Park (Little Golden Book) – In 1993, Steven Spielberg introduced audiences everywhere to Jurassic Park and now the movie’s youngest fans… Read More

Earth Day crafts for any elementary classroom. 20 Earth Day crafts for students with special needs. Crafts that help practice and define fine motor skills, communication, and more! Blog post at Mrs. D's Corner.

20 Earth Day Crafts for Any Elementary Classroom

Earth Day is a great opportunity to talk to students about the Earth and caring for the world around them. Earth Day crafts are a great way to supplement your Earth Day Lesson Plans. Not only are crafts engaging of students, but they help practice and refine the basic skills needed to succeed. Cutting and pasting, following directions, writing… Enjoy this curated list of 20 Earth Day Crafts for Kids, perfect for any elementary-aged classroom. Papier-Mâché Globe – Celebrate Columbus Day with this handmade globe! Old Bottles, New Buddies: Cute Upcycled Planters for Kids – With this craft you’ll be… Read More

60 books about disabilities for kids. Children's books about disabilities to introduce tough topics to other children and adults. Blog post at Mrs. D's Corner.

60 Books about Disabilities for Kids

As a teacher, or parent, who works in education… we meet a lot of students with different abilities and specialties. And sure, we have Autism Awareness month and disability awareness… but it’s so much more than just being aware. (This post contains affiliate links.) Below you’ll find a curated list of books on special needs, acceptance, and tolerance. There are also books that describe children who have other differences that may make life a little challenging, like walking, hearing, seeing, understanding social cues, and more. These are books that you can use to introduce the topics presented to other children,… Read More

autism awareness bulletin board. autism awareness and autism acceptance poster display. free download.

Autism Awareness Bulletin Board Display

April is Autism Awareness month, but it’s so much more than awareness… it’s about acceptance and seeing people, our students, for who they are. This bulletin board display will help students, staff, and everyone who walks the halls of your school think about each child first and not the “label” of Autism. One of the most important things is to be understanding. For some students (and adults), we have to educate them on how to be understanding… how to be accepting. It only starts with awareness. Caity and I feel very strongly that the message behind this bulletin board is so… Read More

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