Springtime Sprouts: Learning with The Autism Helper!
As the vibrant colors of spring emerge, it's the perfect time to infuse our learning environments with fresh, engaging activities that not only inspire but also foster growth and development. Whether you're an educator, a related service provider, or a parent,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
OT-Approved Holiday Gift Ideas: Games Edition
It's the most wonderful time of the year! The holidays are upon us and it's time to start shopping for everyone on your list. As you are shopping, you may want to purchase gifts that are not only fun but also have a therapeutic benefit. This year, I decided to...
The Benefits of Cooking in the Classroom
Did you know that by incorporating cooking into your lesson plans, your students will continue to work on several skills? Cooking is an excellent opportunity to work on academic and functional skills by creating hands-on learning experiences for your students and...
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...
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...
Embracing the Magic of Fall in the Classroom
As the leaves turn vibrant shades of red, orange, and yellow, and the air becomes crisp, teachers are presented with an opportunity to infuse the spirit of autumn into their classrooms. In this blog post, we'll explore engaging ways to bring the magic of fall into...
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...
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...
Pairing Boxes for the Classroom
With the school year starting in just a few short weeks, it is essential to remember to take the time to build rapport with your students. We want to be a reinforcer to our students to increase the likelihood of them wanting to work with us, especially when demands...
Summer Fun in the Pool: Tips for Helping Your Child Learn to Swim
Swimming is a life skill that is essential for all children and adults. It is a calming and therapeutic activity that improves balance, coordination, and motor skills development. We want our children to be comfortable and safe in the water. Check out the tips...
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...
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...
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...
Fun February Learning Activities!
You guys the nostalgia behind Valentine’s activities is real! I miss the days of decorating those little heart pocket envelopes for desks and passing out sweet treats. So, you better believe I am taking full advantage of these activities with my daycare...
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...
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...
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...