Mrs. D's Corner

teaching from the heart, not the books.

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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

poppy craft - a fine motor craft for Memorial Day that you can use as a bulletin board display

Poppy Craft for Memorial Day

Remember, honor, and celebrate Memorial Day with this fine motor poppy craft that you can use as a bulletin board display. It’s no secret that I am an Air Force Sister and Daughter. My dad and brother served in the AF, so when the additional opportunity (I say additional because our troops should be celebrated and praised EVERY day) comes for us to give our thanks and remember, I go all out. When my brother went through Basic, I had my students create cards and write letters for me to send to him. I have always taught 2- or 3-week… 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

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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 and Differences 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

Finger Gyms Fine Motor Exercises. Exercise little fingers each day with a specific classroom rotation to practice fine motor development using everyday objects that you already have in your house and or classroom. The Sped Connection Guest Blogger at Mrs. D's Corner.

Finger Gym: Daily Activities for Fine Motor Exercises

Fine Motor exercises are an important part of any child’s curriculum and learning experience. Learning how to control your hands and refining those hand muscles help a child learn how to do important, every day life skills like feeding, wiping, zippering, and tying shoes. Because many students who receive special education services often have delays in fine motor abilities, it is part of our job to make practicing these super important skills in a way that is fun and engaging for our students. Enter: Finger Gym. Welcome to the SPED Connection, a collection of tips and tricks from other special… Read More

22 Saint Patrick's Day Crafts for kids that are easy, simple, fun and inexpensive. Blog post at Mrs. D's Corner.

22 Saint Patrick’s Day Crafts for Kids

Simple, hands on craft that all kids will love for Saint Patrick’s Day. Shamrock symbolism gets students talking all about luck, love, hope and faith with this print and go classroom craft. Just a few supplies, like construction paper and a stapler, to create this cute rainbow heart clovers craft! Using food in an unconventional way always sparks interest with the kids. This silly marshmallow paint craft is sure to be a hit. Fun Food Friday just got an upgrade… use these free visual recipes to make food into works of art. Your students will love the Leprechaun Juice! Who… Read More

30 Technology books for kids of any age. Teach students about technology responsibility, online bullying, staying safe online, and so much more with these children's books about technology. Blog post at Mrs. D's Corner.

30 Technology Books for Kids

Technology is all around us and our students are emerged in technology every day. It’s inevitable that our curriculum should also be teaching students things like staying safe online, about online bullying and technology, and so much more. Below are 30 great technology books for kids filled with learning, fun stories, and great illustrations on the joys and cations of technology.   When Charlie McButton Lost Power is a hilarious story about young computer addicts and those who love them. Webster’s Email is a fun a witty story about little spider and how he begins to regret emailing a funny… Read More

These books about sharks are informative, somewhat intense, but so important. Sharks are the biggest part of the ocean ecosystem, and sharks need our help. Sharks aren't the "bad guys" you see portrayed in the movie Jaws or the highly comedic Sharknado, and I am on a mission to change how my students view sharks... starting with these books. Blog post at Mrs. D's Corner.

23 Books About Sharks for Kids

My love for children’s books is strong, and it’s no secret. My love of sharks is strong too… and also not a secret. I have been steadily growing sections of my classroom library, and while I have plenty of informative, real life “picture” fact books about sharks, I wanted to introduce more shark books to my students. These books about sharks for kids are informative, somewhat intense, but so important. Sharks are the biggest part of the ocean ecosystem, and sharks need our help. Sharks aren’t the “bad guys” you see portrayed in the movie Jaws or the highly comedic… Read More

Coding and STEM in a special education class, planned and differentiated for you... making the entire unit easy. The only thing you need to do is facilitate the learning and higher level thinking. The teacher guide walks YOU, the teacher, through everything in simple words so that coding is not overwhelming, and so you are easily able to introduce how to code to your special needs students. Guided Coding Stories are all about combining stories and coding together in an easy, understandable way.

Coding in Special Ed – Guided Coding Stories

Computer science is a trending topic, and is a topic that a lot of teachers are being asked to teach in elementary schools these days. More STEM Labs, Makerspaces, robotics clubs, and technology classes are in our schools than ever before. The reality is that the current model is not simple enough for all learners to succeed. There needs to be a level of understanding (about coding) before students can successfully program a robot or build an algorithm for a block coding program. This is where Guided Coding Stories comes to the rescue! My technology teacher friend, Brittany, and I developed… Read More

Teaching is hard, but we are strong and capable of doing all the things. Read these 20 teacher affirmations when you feel alone, when you need a pick me up, or just to put some positivity into your day. Blog post at Mrs. D's Corner.

20 Teacher Affirmations to Keep a Positive Mindset

Teaching is tough. No two days are the same, which is also what makes our job the best. But, for real, it. is. tough. Legislation changes, new students in the middle of the year, a million and one meetings… the list goes on and on. And I will be the first to admit that some mornings I struggle to get out of bed to do the one thing I love: teaching. I truly love teaching, and I know that you do too. But if you’re like me, which I’m guessing you are, you struggle with feeling like you are not… Read More

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