Using TAH Resources With Older Students
One part of my OT assignment includes working in a life skill program for high school students 14-18 and a transition program for students 18-21 years old. The focus of these programs includes learning important skills to prepare for adult life. As an OT, I work...
Independent Work Systems for Younger Students
I'm a huge fan of teaching independent work. In fact, I've talked before about how independent work has saved my classroom. Independent work can free your time so you are able to teach, access, and work with small groups while other students are working. It can work...
How To Expand On “Put-In” Tasks
Working in an early childhood classroom, I have seen a lot of "put-in" and even "take out" tasks. These tasks are wonderful and work on many skills including hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, problem solving, and much more! I have seen everything from putting...
Play Targets, Language Targets, and Free Cheat Sheets
This post turned out to be an unplanned part 2 of my blog How To Set Up Structured Play Boxes! After pulling some toys and getting the boxes we wanted together, we had to create ways in which the team would use them. How would these boxes benefit our learners the...
Encouraging Independence During Remote Learning
Many of our families are struggling teaching functional routines such as dressing, hand washing, what to do when you are leaving the house, how to clean up after eating, etc. When we were in the classroom, we worked on these skills and kept data on these routines and...
Proactive Strategies for Behavior Part 2
Recap of Part 1 In part 1 of my list of proactive strategies (check it out here), I reviewed the beginning steps of being proactive. Whether in a full remote, hybrid, or in person model right now and in the future, these steps will help. Being proactive when teaching...
Proactive Strategies for Behavior- Part 1
Prepare your learners and their caregivers Many of our learners may be struggling at this time during remote learning, a hybrid model, or even an in person model. Any model that a school district may be following includes more and more changes. I am beginning to see...
Using Boom Cards
You may have been hearing a lot about Boom Cards lately. They are interactive task cards you can use from any device or browser and they track data. They are PERFECT for distance learning but I also think this will be so useful when you are back in the classroom....
How to Set Up Independent Work in Early Childhood
The benefits of independent work are absolutely abundant. No, it is not “busy work” so if you’re thinking that just go ahead and release that thought! We all have to learn to work independently at some point. Finding the right structure and work...
Focus on Five: My Favorite Task Box Activities
This month, we are focusing on tasks and activities at The Autism Helper and in this post, I am going to highlight some of my favorite task boxes I have in my classroom. I have a variety of tasks that range from academic to functional for a variety of learners,...
Reading Comprehension Work Tasks
Yep, you read that title right. Reading comprehension in a work task? I thought work tasks were supposed to be boring and easy (insert sarcastic voice here). I am a huge advocate of challenging your students. Or kids need to learn the skill to rise to a...
Tips for Setting Up Your Independent Work System
Set up your tasks. So this first step might seem obvious but there is a specific way I like to work on this. You likely have a plethora of bins and work tasks in your room. I suggest filling a shelf (or two) with empty bins first. Don't worry about the...
Independent Work is the Key to Classroom Success
Independent work is one of the pillars of a successful classroom. Many of our classrooms are understaffed and overcrowded. Our students are likely doing independent work for more of the day than we'd prefer but we gotta work with what we've got. Or maybe you are one...
Simple Matching File Folders {age appropriate & FREE}
Going to share a throwback freebie because I still love it so much. For our older student who are still working on foundational level skills, it can be tricky to keep things age appropriate while still targeting easy concepts like matching or sorting. I...
Put-In Tasks
This month we are talking about foundational skills and this topic would't be complete without talking about Put-In Tasks. A Put-In Task is a work task where (you guessed it!) the student is putting something in. There is no sorting, no matching, no...
Focus on Five: My Favorite {FREE} Monthly Work Tasks for Spring!
If you haven’t signed up for the free monthly newsletter from TAH…what are you waiting for!? Besides highlighting blogs and resources you can use in your classroom, each month you will receive three FREE downloads of monthly work tasks! I had the pleasure of test...
Theme of the Month: Life Skills for All
This month we will be talking about life skills. Now before you click out of this blog post because you teach preschool, teach students with a high level of academic skills, or think that teaching life skills don't apply to you - hold your horses. I am not...
Focus on Five: My Five Favorite Tasks from the {Math} Work Task MEGA Pack!
Like the perfect gift from Santa, TAH's Math Work Task Mega Pack is what dreams are made of! Many followers of TAH (myself included!) already have and use the Work Task Mega Pack and the Advanced Work Task Mega pack and the math version fits in perfectly with these...
Focus on Five: My Favorite {FREE} Monthly Work Tasks for Winter!
If you haven't signed up for the free monthly newsletter from TAH...you are missing out! Besides highlighting blogs and resources you can use in your classroom, each month you will receive three FREE downloads of monthly work tasks! I had the pleasure of test...
Taking Data on Independent Work
Independent work is key to any classroom's success. First, it gives you the valuable time to work in small groups or one on one with other students, work with paraprofessionals, implement and manage behavior plans, and oh so much more. Second, (and more...