Differentiation in a General Education Classroom: Work at the Table
Differentiation in a general education classroom does take a lot of planning and prep, but don’t panic! Once we differentiate and create materials and resources, we save them for when another learner can benefit from using the same materials, even in school years in...
What To Include in an Individualized Education Program
As a special educator, IEPs are something that we have frequent contact with. Whether we are writing an IEP after an initial evaluation, re-evaluation, annual review, domain, updating goals and benchmarks, or reviewing accommodations and modifications, IEPs are legal...
Data and Interventions for Off-Task Behavior
Off a learner is off task, they can be demonstrating that behavior in many different ways. Off-task behavior can have the function of access, escape, attention, or a sensory need. Just like any other behavior, we start with our ABC data and meet as a team to analyze...
Discrete Trial Training in a General Education Setting
I have had the wonderful opportunity to teach, train, and work with many wonderful general education and special education professionals within my career. One area of focus has constantly been modifying and working with learners who benefit from discrete trial....
Progress Monitoring and Small Groups in Kindergarten
This year is my first real experience in kindergarten. I have been having a blast working with a new team of educators and learning about the skills at this developmental age. With a son who started kindergarten this year as well, I am learning how hard kindergarten...
Starting The School Year As A New Staff Member
This year I am starting a new position in a new school district. I am a support personnel working in 3 classrooms to help support students with IEPs, maladaptive behaviors, RTI support, and much more. I am so excited to be in a new school district and to learn all of...
IEP Goal Examples: Math
Math goals will be very individualized, just as any other goal. Similar to my IEP goal example post about play and language and literacy, this post will review goal examples that are aligned with the early learning standards for my state as well as the ABLLS- R and...
IEP Goal Examples: Language and Literacy
Language and literacy goals will be very individualized, just as any other goal. Language and literacy skills grow and build on one another. Children will grow and learn at their own pace, no matter what environment they share. Similar to my IEP goal example post...
Successful Student Transitions to a General Education Setting
The transition from a self-contained classroom to a general education setting is a huge milestone for the classroom team and the learner. It is something to celebrate! A learner who is going through this transition has gained skills and new independence. While...
Early Childhood Helpful Hints and Best Practices
Working as an educator is a lot to manage. Teachers are supervisors of their paraprofessionals, case managers of their students, managers and partners of the related service team members, advocates for their school and students, and so much more! I often...
The Professional Development Membership Preview
Doors to The Autism Helper’s Professional Development Membership are opening soon. This membership has positively transformed me as an educator and I want to show you how it can transform you, too!Who is The Membership For?Are you a hard-working special education...
Preparing for The New Year Halfway Through the School Year
Break times, whether they be summer break, weekends, or longer seasonal breaks, should definitely be used to rest, recharge, and spend time with family and friends. If you’re anything like me, a few days of that and a few days of getting work done is the best mix when...
Tips for Conducting the VB-MAPP
If your program is anything like mine, then you will be seeing a lot of the VB-MAPP. This assessment was used to conduct initial evaluations, as well as 3 year re-evaluations. If a student wasn’t due for either, my team and I would still pull out their most recent...
Writing Goals That Fit Individual Needs
Whether you are in a school setting, clinic setting, or an in-home setting, finding goals and targets that meet a learner’s needs can be overwhelming. There may be many skills that are needed to target, or you may have a learner who his independent in most domains and...
Collecting Data in ESY
Data Collection There are two rules when it comes to Extended School Year data collection. It has to be fast and easy. ESY (extended school year) is a time to have some fun, work on some goals, and take some data. I, personally, would rather have fun with my students...
The Art of Planned Ignoring
Planned ignoring is defined as deliberately withholding your attention from a specific target behavior. You may be thinking, Aha! I do this with my own children/significant other/grandpa, and indeed you may. We do this in an educational setting to ensure that we are...
How Data Should Drive Instruction
Letting data drive instruction means just that. Review the data and see where students or clients have mastered skills and which skills should be targeted. Within most public school systems, the need for data taking and analyzing the data is a large need. When...
Data Collection Takes a Team
How Do Paraprofessionals Take Data It has been a challenging year for most of us – but now, more than ever, we all understand the important role paraprofessionals play in our classrooms. From helping our students with their daily hygiene tasks in the morning to...
Taking Data on Independent Work Stations
Independent Work Independent work tasks are a must-have within the classroom. These are also beneficial within the home and the clinic settings if your child or learner struggles with working and playing independently. Independent work is a life skill that is...
Modify on the Fly – Tips for Modifying Without Preparation
I would like to begin this post by stating the obvious; teachers are superheroes. We take on more than anyone outside of education can even attempt to understand, and we do a lot of it with little to no preparation. The reality of being a special education teacher and...