Michelle’s Classroom Tour: ELA Center
Let’s talk about my classroom language arts center! My class is a TK-1st grade autism classroom. I structure the day with centers, which makes for a nicely structured environment for my students. My centers are all various subjects ranging from independent skills,...
Focus on Five: Academic Egg Hunt
Up until the pandemic, I had been doing an academic egg hunt for my students right before spring break. It was the last activity I was preparing for before school was closed down in 2020, so I am excited this year to do it with students in-person for the first time in...
TAH Curriculum: How to Organize and Use It In Your Classroom
As special education teachers, we don’t always have much curriculum to fall back on. As a self-contained teacher myself, I spent countless hours creating and planning outside of my contract time. That is until I discovered The Autism Helper’s curriculum and...
Basic Learner Skills & Literacy with Vehicles
My love for basic learner skills runs deep. If you are not sure what I am talking about, here is a post to get you started. I have always worked in elementary school settings and saw HUGE gaps in children when it came to trying to teach grade level standards. I was...
Math Skills and Milestones For Early Learners
Math lessons are often skipped over in early childhood classrooms. Math curriculums are not the easiest to find and most are hard to adapt to all of our learner's individual needs. As a teacher, I often struggled to come up with ways to teach early math skills as well...
Focus on Five: Number ID and Counting Instruction for Emergent Learners
Teaching number identification and counting is a common goal to work on with students who demonstrate emerging math skills. These emerging math skills also help students develop the skills of one-to-one correspondence and being able to read a variety of materials...
Michelle’s Classroom Tour: Task Box Center
I am so excited to show you my classroom’s independent task box center! Independent skills are a must-have in any special education classroom. In fact, the more independent skills we can teach and promote, the better! I have a total of four independent centers in...
Executive Function and Why It Matters In Your Instruction
Executive Functioning You couldn't pick a hotter topic in education right now if you tried! It seems like everyone is talking about executive functioning, and rightfully so! In fact, I believe that special education teachers should be leading the conversation! If you...
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...
Focus on Five: Classroom Restaurant Experience
This year, I really wanted to make my social studies lessons more engaging and hands-on. Using The Autism Helper’s Social Studies Daily Leveled Curriculum (Level 1) as inspiration, we are starting units based off of Unit 2, “All Around Town” and creating interactive...
The Importance of Adapted Specials
If a student is having a hard time learning an academic skill, we teach them. If a student is lacking communication skills, we teach them. If a student is struggling with self-regulating, we teach them. So, if a student doesn’t have the skills to be successful in a...
Focus on Five: Graphing Mega Pack
Sometimes it can be a challenge coming up with science goals for students that are applicable across a variety of science topics, can be adapted for multiple levels and align with state standards. Since we see graphs in textbooks, in news articles and on TV, teaching...
Easy as 1-2-3!
Today I was talking with one of our elementary teachers - she is fantastic by the way (not to brag), but she totally is! She has impeccable weekly lesson plans posted in her classroom, rapport with her students, and leads her classroom staff with confidence and...
How To Create a “Leave” Binder
Leaving the classroom with a substitute teacher can be stressful. Being sure that all necessary materials are there as well as an easy-to-read plan for the day are crucial. I rely heavily on my team when I am gone and I know they take charge when they need to....
How to Set Up and Implement Your Independent Workbox System
If you have been following along with my blog posts, you know that I just love organization. Ok, love might not be a strong enough word…I AM OBSESSED with being organized. Everything needs a system to be able to run smoothly, especially in our classrooms. Follow...
The Communication Work Task Mega Pack in Action
In the market to beef up your independent work task activities? Look no further, the Communication Based Work Task Mega Pack has it all. If you keep up with The Autism Helper team, then you know how much we all love and vouch for student independence. This resource...
Roadmap to Reading Organization Tips
Let's get started! Our literacy course, The Roadmap to Reading, is packed with resources. With the purchase of the literacy course, you have the option of purchasing the Instructional Toolkits and Informal Assessment kit. These are a must buy, in my opinion, and add...
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...
Focus on Five: Math Activities During Small Groups
Teaching students how to do different activities and tasks during small group instruction is essential for being able to have uninterrupted, direct instruction with all students. I taught students the activities they would be working on during reading small group...