Prompting students with expressive language disorders is a great way to help them build their language skills. But what are the best ways to prompt students to make the biggest impact without making it "a big deal" that they need the help? It's simple! It's all about recasting and extending. Recasting and Extending as Prompting Hierarchy While there are a lot of complicated techniques and materials that can be used to help students with expressive language disorders, recasting ... Read More about The Hierarchy of Prompting: Recasting and Extending
IEP Meeting Cart: Your Mobile IEP Meeting Room on Wheels
IEP Meeting Carts are a simple, effective way to have a mobile IEP meeting room on wheels while making sure the meeting space is inviting for all IEP team members. One of my passions as an educator and IEP coach is helping IEP teams work collaboratively and cohesively. And one day I was thinking about all of the IEP meeting rooms I've ever sat in as a teacher. Think about how most IEP meeting rooms are. They're often in conference rooms that are stagnant and stale. They're uninviting and ... Read More about IEP Meeting Cart: Your Mobile IEP Meeting Room on Wheels
How to Use Cooperative Learning in Your Special Ed Classroom
Cooperative Learning is an instructional method where students work in small groups to finish or complete a common learning goal and the teacher - that's you! - guides them. What's great about cooperative learning strategies is that they aren't for one classroom setting over another, or one specific academic area. They can be used across all settings and lessons! We know that students learn in all different ways and modalities, and cooperative learning strategies are a great way to meet ... Read More about How to Use Cooperative Learning in Your Special Ed Classroom
Using Science Experiments in a Special Education Classroom
Science experiments are a fun, engaging way for students to explore the world around them while also practicing reading, writing, and math skills without realizing it. Science doesn't have to be boring, it can be fun! And science doesn't only have to happen during your science block or in the general education classroom - you can bring the excitement to your special education classroom too! >> Grab 16 visual science experiments here. << Science Experiments for Special ... Read More about Using Science Experiments in a Special Education Classroom
Strategies to Use When a Child Refuses to Complete Work
What do you do when a student refuses to complete work in the classroom? Check out these teacher-tested strategies to help get things back on track. When a child refuses to complete their work, it can leave teachers feeling frustrated, confused, and even upset. But the trick is to know when to push and when to back off. The teacher-tested tips below will give you options and ideas to help you navigate these tricky situations! Student Refuses to Complete Work? Here's How to Navigate ... Read More about Strategies to Use When a Child Refuses to Complete Work
How to Use Sentence Stems in Special Ed
A sentence stem is the beginning of a sentence. It's sometimes called a sentence starter. Sentence stems help students get started with thinking, writing, researching, or speaking about a topic. Providing students with sentence stems helps students in multiple ways, not just with speaking or writing in complete sentences. Here are a couple of examples of sentence stems: Examples of Sentence Stems ______ surprised me because....I think that...Do you think...I agree with _____ ... Read More about How to Use Sentence Stems in Special Ed
How to Use Anchor Charts in Your Special Ed Classroom
An anchor chart is a teaching tool that helps visually capture important information from the lesson. But how can you use anchor charts in a special education classroom? text How to use anchor charts? Create on easel paper with chart markersUse when introducing and revisiting a lessonBuild your anchor chart with the class so they feel part of the learningAdd pictures, sentence stems, bold words to enhance learningLesson should be explicitly taught and referred to during lessons to ... Read More about How to Use Anchor Charts in Your Special Ed Classroom
4 Ways to Use Open Response
Open response is when you ask a student a question that does not have a simple yes or no answer. Open response questions can be used in any classroom setting and are beneficial for multiple reasons. Because open response questions don't have one set answer, a child's response can vary greatly. This is what makes this strategy so fun and engaging! Asking students open ended, or open response, questions also helps them to approach, plan, carry out and extend upon their own ideas. It helps ... Read More about 4 Ways to Use Open Response
6 Ways to Add Graphing to Any Lesson Plan
When you think about graphs and graphing, you think about math class and IEP data. But there are many ways you can bring this math skill into your other lessons and activities. In today's post, we will talk about the types of graphs and then 6 different ways you can add a graphing element into any of your lessons. Types of Graphs Graphs are a visual representation of data. We use graphs to show the connection between two or more things. Graphs help us collect and organize data in a ... Read More about 6 Ways to Add Graphing to Any Lesson Plan
10 Ways to Use Whiteboards in Any Classroom
Imagine if you could maximize student engagement in just about any lesson in your classroom with only one trick in your teacher toolbox. But it's not really a trick - it's a whiteboard. And we aren't talking about the giant whiteboards at the front of your classroom, or those crazy expensive interactive whiteboards. Today we're talking all about using the smaller, individual student whiteboards. Before we get started, here are some great options for individual student ... Read More about 10 Ways to Use Whiteboards in Any Classroom
Using Graphic Organizers and Thinking Maps in Special Ed
Graphic organizers are a great way to engage students in their learning, while also simplifying complex topics and providing guiding bumpers for students while learning. You know how in bowling, you can have them set up the bumpers so you don't get a gutter ball? This of graphic organizers and thinking maps as those guiding bumpers! Let's dive in to all the questions about graphic organizers and thinking maps together! How to use graphic organizers and thinking maps? Graphic ... Read More about Using Graphic Organizers and Thinking Maps in Special Ed
What to Do When Your School’s Printers and Copiers Are Out of Toner and Paper
When toner and paper are in short supply, it's time for teachers to get creative and figure out ways to teach without using copies. If your school is struggling to keep ink in stock, here's what to do when your school's printers and copiers are out of toner and paper! Teaching Ideas for When You're Out of Toner and Paper Making copies and printing out activities has become a staple of the teaching profession. The struggle can be seen in the mad dash for the copier between classes, ... Read More about What to Do When Your School’s Printers and Copiers Are Out of Toner and Paper
How to Use IEP Folder Snapshots and Audit Forms
An IEP Folder Snapshot, also known as an IEP Audit Form, is perfect for keeping track of what is inside a student's IEP folder, cumulative folder, or audit file, without having to sift through all of the paperwork inside the folder. Many times, this is a data form used during an audit or in preparation for an audit - but that doesn't mean you can't use it year round to keep your paperwork organized and in order. >> Grab the editable IEP Folder Snapshot forms here. << What is ... Read More about How to Use IEP Folder Snapshots and Audit Forms
Promoting and Teaching Self Advocacy Skills in Special Education
The definition of self advocacy is "the action of representing oneself or one's views or interests." Self advocacy equals independence. For many, these skills happen naturally by either learning through experience or watching others. For our students with disabilities, we need to teach them how to self advocate. But how do we teach our students to self advocate in alignment with their IEPs? Books. Books are the gateway to learning new skills and new information. Adapted books are ... Read More about Promoting and Teaching Self Advocacy Skills in Special Education
How to Use IEP Snapshots
An IEP Snapshot, or also called an IEP at a Glance, is a one page, quick glance at what a child's IEP says. Many IEP writing systems will produce this document for you, but they aren't always thorough or easy to read. That's why when I taught 5th grade resource at a charter school, I created my own IEP Snapshot. You can grab the freebie here. Why Should You Use IEP Snapshots This in-depth IEP Snapshot / IEP at a Glance data sheet is perfect for keeping track of your students' IEP ... Read More about How to Use IEP Snapshots
How to Make IEP Meeting Rooms Inviting
Have you ever, as a professional or parent, walked into an IEP meeting room and felt like it was inviting and welcoming? I can say as a veteran teacher, most times IEP meetings are held in conference rooms that are stagnant, bland, and very unwelcoming... and not just for parents. And as a veteran special education teacher, I've sat through many an IEP meeting - leading me to one of my passions: building positive collaboration between parents and teachers. Now you might be thinking, ... Read More about How to Make IEP Meeting Rooms Inviting
25 Filler Activities You Can Use Any Time of Year
Filler activities are those that can be pulled out and used when planned lessons are completed, the day is not going to plan, or when you simply need an activity to do with your students to take up time. Below are 25 filler activities to add to your teaching bag of tricks! Must-Try Filler Activities Do you have your filler activities prepped and ready to go for those moments when you need them? Check out these 25 ideas for filler activities that have been teacher-tested and are ... Read More about 25 Filler Activities You Can Use Any Time of Year
Tips for Talking with Your Child’s Teacher
Developing an open line of communication with your child's teacher is paramount for a successful school year. But talking with your child's teacher can be, well, intimidating! Here are some tips to make it less scary and a lot more productive! Talking with Your Child's Teacher When it comes to talking with your child's special ed or general ed teacher, there are three things that will help you develop that ever-important relationship. 1. Establish Communication Early On in the ... Read More about Tips for Talking with Your Child’s Teacher
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