Seasonal

Including Fall, Winter and Spring
Valentine’s Day Delight

Valentine’s Day Delight

As an early childhood special educator, I am so nostalgic about Valentine’s Day activities in school!  I have very distinct memories of creating my desk Valentine’s envelope and handing out my little cards.  Parties with brownies, chips galore and Valentine’s Day...

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Valentine’s Day Fun

Valentine’s Day Fun

Heart Day Feburary is filled with holidays and fun days for students to celebrate. With Groundhog's Day behind us, I'm looking towards our next holiday, Valentine's Day. Class Parties can be stressful, but with a little prep, a good plan, and some visuals, parties can...

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New Year Refresh

New Year Refresh

I Love a Good Refresh When things get stagnant and old, a refresh can breathe just the right amount of new life into a classroom. In December, I take some time to reflect on some areas of my classroom where I can shake things up. Where are my students ready to...

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Gingerbread and Snowman Fun!

Gingerbread and Snowman Fun!

While most everyone else you talk to is living for summer to come back around, I love this weather and I LOVE this time of year!  There’s something so whimsical about Gingerbread houses, snowmen, candy canes and sugar cookies.  This year my students and families have...

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Fall Fun

Fall Fun

Fall Fun Once Halloween hits time flies. It's end of first quarter, parent teacher conferences are squeezed in, and IEP season creeps up. It's easy to get lost in the day-to-day and feel like you are drowning. The students feel it too. We keep fall hands-on activities...

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Scarecrows, Turkey Cookies & Thanksgiving Plates!

Scarecrows, Turkey Cookies & Thanksgiving Plates!

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, my planning has revolved around scarecrows, comfort foods and turkey cookies!  I love lessons that target multiple skills, and the following are just some of my top favorites! Check them out!Fall Adapted BooksThere are so many...

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Theme Based Centers

Theme Based Centers

I Love a Good Theme Using themes in my classroom is something I choose to do with intention. My students live for a good theme. It keeps our daily activities fresh, fun and engaging. For the next two weeks we are studying farms. We live in a small, rural town and it's...

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From Para to Teacher: My Story

From Para to Teacher: My Story

This is my story of going from a para to a teacher. Well, my story is one I have been putting off telling for quite some time now. You see, this story is deeply personal, emotional, and challenging for me to retell but I am proud to be able to share it today because...

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Preparing for ESY

Preparing for ESY

ESY Planning Should Be Fun and Easy! ESY is one of my favorite times of the year. The pressure is off and we can just have fun. In fact, I call it 'no-stakes teaching'. Starting in August, the pressure is on for rules, routines and reinforcement. By the time we have...

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3 Things to Prep for ESY

3 Things to Prep for ESY

Let’s talk about three things to prep for ESY! Summer is approaching and that means it is time to get ready for extended school year.  For my district, summer school is known as extended school year, or ESY.  What I love about ESY is that I can just continue doing...

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Springtime Learning!

Springtime Learning!

Spring is a wonderful time of year full of new growth, fresh starts, and warmer weather. As I approach this season, I love considering how I can incorporate spring themes into language and learning activities for my students. I have also been using alternative and...

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Winter Fun!

Winter Fun!

Beat the Winter Blues By January, when the holidays are over and everything settles into routine, the winter blues can set in. The weather in the mid-west gets cold, rainy, snowy, and gross. Indoor recess becomes the norm, and students (and staff!) get restless. Some...

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Engaging Winter Fun Activities!

Engaging Winter Fun Activities!

Coming back from the holiday break can be tough but knowing that snow, winter fun, and snowman themed activities were up next made it just a bit easier! These fun winter themed activities are sure to keep your students interested and engaged!Easy Weekly...

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Christmas Class Party Setup Kit

Christmas Class Party Setup Kit

Let’s talk about having a Christmas class party in the self-contained classroom! My students and I love celebrating holidays in our classroom.  Celebrating the holidays allows us to build lasting memories and they are a GREAT reason to have a party!   As fun as...

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