Ah, teaching. It’s a wonderful opportunity to touch lives and make a difference. Being provided with all of the materials and curriculum you need to teach your students is so amazing. Wait, what?! While teaching is a great profession, many teachers find themselves dropped into schools where there are no resources. So, what do you do when you aren’t given a curriculum? You have to get creative! No Curriculum? You’re Not Alone! Sadly, if you are like most Special Ed teachers in ... Read More about What to Do When You Aren’t Given a Curriculum
Songs Teachers Love to Use During Morning Meeting
Adding songs to morning meeting can be a great way to set the tone for the day and capture your students’ attention. If you need some new favorites to add to your playlist, check out our favorite songs for morning meeting! Music for Morning Meeting Students love music, and anytime I get a chance to incorporate it into lessons, I do. Morning meeting is one of those times when music can generate excitement, prepare students for the day ahead, and set the mood in the classroom. Playing the ... Read More about Songs Teachers Love to Use During Morning Meeting
Teaching Students Online with BrainTrust [VIDEO]
Teachers are hard workers. We always go the extra mile. Whether it’s creating incredible resources and lesson plans to inspire students, designing a beautiful classroom to engage and support learners, or writing endless emails to calm parents’ concerns, teachers are dynamos. And luckily for parents out there, many educators also bring that brilliance and dedication to individual students as private tutors. Which is why I am so excited to introduce Braintrust to you! Braintrust is a ... Read More about Teaching Students Online with BrainTrust [VIDEO]
Interactive Calendar Mat for Morning Work in Special Ed
Interactive calendar mats are going to change the way you think about differentiated materials and morning meeting. Here’s why: When I first started teaching, I struggled to make sure that my students had the differentiated resources and materials that they needed. There wasn’t a lot out there – especially for our Morning Meetings – so it was a constant struggle and a lot of work to prep everything for each student. I knew there had to be a better (and easier!) way. As I’ve mentioned ... Read More about Interactive Calendar Mat for Morning Work in Special Ed
Tips on How to Cope with Trauma After Being Injured by a Student
Teaching is a challenging profession, but when you are injured by a student in the classroom, it can create trauma that no one ever prepares you for in teacher prep college classes. So how does one cope after being significantly injured by a student? There is no easy answer and, as with all trauma, no right or wrong way to handle the emotions that come up surrounding the event. For some, it may not impact them immediately, and the emotional reaction will be delayed by days or weeks... ... Read More about Tips on How to Cope with Trauma After Being Injured by a Student
Para Binder for the Special Education Classroom
Paraprofessionals play a vital role in the classroom. After many years of working with different paras, I quickly realized that not all paraprofessionals have the same level of experience and teaching background as others. I also realized that their expectations and my expectations for their role in the classroom sometimes varied greatly. As the teacher, it was my duty to support them and make sure that they understood what I expected while giving them the tools to succeed. From IEP ... Read More about Para Binder for the Special Education Classroom
Para Expectations and Jobs During Virtual Learning
Distance learning is full of challenges, but figuring out what to have your para help with should not be one of them. Paraprofessionals can be a fantastic asset to any classroom – even a virtual one. However, figuring out how to have them help in the non-traditional classroom setting can be overwhelming. We asked veteran teachers what tasks they assigned paras in their classrooms throughout virtual learning and had some great responses. Depending on your relationship with your para ... Read More about Para Expectations and Jobs During Virtual Learning
Book Companions: Must Have Resource for Teachers + Substitutes
Picture books are on my list of must-have teacher materials. They are great for any grade, and students love them. There's just something about being read to that makes even the most resistant learners pay attention. But I always struggled with turning those wonderful read-aloud moments into lessons that would reinforce comprehension skills and give students a hands-on learning experience that could be applied to reading skills they needed to work on. Enter Book Companions. They ... Read More about Book Companions: Must Have Resource for Teachers + Substitutes
The Difference in Student Levels: Grade Level, Instructional Level, and Ability Level
Understanding the differences in a student’s levels can lead to more effective teaching, improved comprehension, and increased student success. And not only does understanding the "level language" help the child, but it also helps you write better IEPs. When it comes to how a student can and will learn and at what "level", you have to think of 3 things: Grade LevelInstructional LevelAbility Level And for neurotypical students, teachers don't often have to think about all of these ... Read More about The Difference in Student Levels: Grade Level, Instructional Level, and Ability Level
Creating Open Communication Between Home and School with a Daily Communication Notebook
Establishing an open line of communication with parents is essential for teachers. The printable Daily Behavior Communication Notebook makes it easy. Like many teachers, there was not a lot of emphasis placed on how to establish communication with families during my teacher training. So, going into the classroom, it was a lot of trial and error. I knew I needed an effective way to communicate with my students' parents, but I also knew it couldn't take me forever to record the information ... Read More about Creating Open Communication Between Home and School with a Daily Communication Notebook
Must Have Fidgets for Any Classroom
Fidget toys are a great coping tool for students with anxiety and ADHD. They provide sensory stimulation that can allow students to focus on classwork and are a must for any classroom. But which fidget toys are the most effective and best for the classroom? We asked veteran teachers to share their experiences and expertise with us to come up with a list of the best must-have fidgets for any classroom! The Best Fidgets for the Any Classroom VELCRO (shop here) Strips of VELCRO ... Read More about Must Have Fidgets for Any Classroom
Morning Adapted Work Binder | Interactive Binder for Kids
Adapted Work Binders® (AWBs) have long been a staple in the way I work with my students. They address the skills my students are working on and give me a great indication of how they are progressing. I can even individualize student AWBs, which is great for IEP work and making sure students are working on skill mastery. One of my favorite and most-used tools is the Morning Adapted Work Binder. This interactive binder was something I created and designed specifically for my students. My ... Read More about Morning Adapted Work Binder | Interactive Binder for Kids
Planning Ideas for 1:1 Virtual Sessions with Students Who are Nonverbal
Virtual learning has come with many challenges, and making sure our non-verbal students have access and success during virtual sessions is essential. So how can you plan for those 1:1 sessions to make sure your nonverbal students are able to demonstrate their understanding and communicate effectively? With help from veteran teachers in the VIP Facebook group, I have compiled a few ways to ensure your students are given the opportunities they need to succeed. Choose the methods that ... Read More about Planning Ideas for 1:1 Virtual Sessions with Students Who are Nonverbal
Classroom Activities that Are NOT Worksheets
Worksheets have a place in the classroom, but there are times when activities that aren't worksheets are more appropriate... not to mention all the different learning types we have in our classroom! The question is, what types of activities can be done to help students meet their goals. I have compiled a list of some great ideas for classroom activities that are not worksheets that still pack a powerful education punch. As you read through the list, pick and choose the activities that ... Read More about Classroom Activities that Are NOT Worksheets
10 Reasons to Use Adapted Books
Adapted books are a great addition to any classroom - whether it is a special needs classroom, in a neurodiverse classroom, in a homeschool classroom, or even a virtual classroom. And today I want to keep it simple by sharing 10 reasons you should be using adapted books in your classroom. If you aren't sure what an adapted books is or need help with the prep process, this blog post will be your new best friend! NOTE: at the end of this blog post is a coupon code to join Adapted Book ... Read More about 10 Reasons to Use Adapted Books
Lesson Planning for 1:1 Virtual Sessions with Nonverbal Students
Making sure nonverbal students have access and success during virtual sessions is critical. So, how can you plan for those 1:1 sessions to make sure your students are able to demonstrate their understanding and communicate effectively? It takes a little bit of creativity and patience! We have compiled some easy ways to ensure your students are given the opportunities they need to succeed. Choose the methods that will work best for them and you during these unusual teaching ... Read More about Lesson Planning for 1:1 Virtual Sessions with Nonverbal Students
Safety Protocols for Student Businesses in the COVID-19 Classroom
When the world changes, so too does the way clubs, events, and fundraisers in school work. Strict guidelines and standards have changed how teachers guide their students - especially when it comes to cooking and running things like coffee carts and breakfast bars. Thankfully, safety protocols for student businesses in the COVID-19 classroom make the experience safe for all students and teachers involved. With some creative thinking and a willingness to step outside the box, students can ... Read More about Safety Protocols for Student Businesses in the COVID-19 Classroom
How to Set Up Closed Captioning for Assistive Tech
During virtual learning, it is essential to meet all students' needs and make sure that the technology that is being used is accessible to them. One of the ways to do that is to make sure that your live and pre-recorded lessons have closed captioning. How do you set up closed captioning for assistive technology? It may be easier than you think! We have compiled a few ways that might be available to you for adding closed captioning to your lessons and live recordings. As always, the method ... Read More about How to Set Up Closed Captioning for Assistive Tech