3 Flexible Seating Options I’m Loving Right Now
Flexible seating is a useful classroom tool to ensure the movement and sensory needs of students are met. I did a blog post last year of some of my favorite flexible seating options. You can check out that post here. I wanted to share a few new options I have...
Scheduling A Core Word of The Week
Using language paired with visuals is a key component to our classroom. When working with learners who have difficulty understanding spoken language and/or difficulty in speaking to communicate their wants and needs, research shows a high success rate in using vocal...
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...
Early Childhood Classroom Roundup
Over the last week, I have had the privilege of visiting several classrooms in our county and talking about one of my favorite things…structure! If you have been following along this past month, The Autism Helper bloggers have been busy talking about different ways...
How To Create A Year-Long Plan
I will be honest. There are never enough minutes in a day, but that's probably no surprise! In times of increasing anxiety, I remember to list the must haves of the week. Keeping track of everything is a lot; being a teacher is A LOT! I am big on organization and if...
Setting Up a New Classroom – Part 3
It's DONE. I feel like I've completed a marathon! This beast of a room is finally finished, and I have to say I'm pretty proud of how it turned out. This summer I've walked you through my thought process and strategy for my classroom as I set up a new space. You can...
Who Needs a Picture Schedule?
The question in the title of this post is kind of a trick question. You can use pictures schedules anywhere and everywhere! Depending on the needs of your learners as individuals, they can be all around the classroom. Implementing picture schedules should not be a one...
Back to School Tips
First Day of School Tips I'm going into my 18th year of teaching, and I still have butterflies in my stomach at the thought of the first day of school. That healthy mix of nerves and excitement has me out of bed and up early that first day, excited to meet my...
How To Include Functional Gross Motor and Recess Activities
In all of my years of teaching, recess has never been my all time favorite time of the day. I love the time for our learners to get outside, enjoy nature, let out energy, play with peers, and have fun, however, I have experienced a lot of frustrations and tears due to...
Setting Up a New Classroom Part Two
Setting up my new classroom This summer I'm taking you along while I set up my new classroom. In part one of classroom set up, we talked about how to think through layout. I started thinking about the things I can't change (doors, windows, etc). I took into account...
5 Must-Haves for Your New Classroom
Congrats! You got the job! Now what? Be it your first job or a new position or program, setting up a new classroom can be overwhelming. If you don't know where to start, The Autism Helper's got you covered. Here are my top five must-haves for starting a new...
Setting Up a New Classroom
Setting Up a New Classroom The 2020-2021 school year was one I'll never forget. Yes, we survived COVID, but my classroom survived so much more. This past year ended with both of my assistants and myself out for unexpected medical reasons (totally separate and...
Creating Picture Schedules Using Powerpoint
So, we are nearing the end of the school year and you might be thinking, “I’m burnt like toast and the thought of creating anything is just too much!” BUT! Some of you might be teaching ESY or summer school or maybe you have a little longer to teach. I personally...
Sensory Strategies for Older Students
Whenever I recommend sensory strategies for a student, I am always thinking about ways to embed those strategies within natural daily routines. This becomes even more important as students get older. As students move through the education system and eventually get...
Planning For the Extended School Year And Beyond
The extended school year is a wonderful time to practice the maintenance of skills that our learners gained throughout the school year. This is an important time for teachers and families to work together to incorporate generalization opportunities. When planning for...
Focus on Five: Standardized Testing
Even though this has been far from a normal school year, we still have standardized testing to do. I am sure other districts have already started and maybe even finished their standardized testing, but our school starts ours this month. We give our students the...
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...
Focus on Five: Roles and Responsibilities
In special education, we work in teams. Given all the models of instruction we are all implementing (hybrid, in-person, remote), clear communication is essential. I call myself and the paraprofessionals that work in my classroom “Team 301” because we have to work as a...
Touring A Socially Distant Educational Learning Skills Classroom
This month marks one year of a worldwide pandemic! To say that I am proud of us for making it through is an understatement! Underneath all of the stress and tears, my team and I have learned new ways of teaching that we never thought we would need. Veteran teachers...
Easing Transitions to In-Person Learning
Easing Transitions to In-Person Learning Eight months into the school year, and I still feel like I'm blindfolded on a crazy rollercoaster. I have no idea what twist or turn COVID, our district, or our county health department will throw at me next. Just as I feel...