BONUS: Vocational Job Series Part 6: More Vocational Jobs for Your Classroom
With summer only a few short weeks away, it’s not too early to start planning ways to incorporate vocational jobs in your classroom for next year. This series lists tasks requiring minimal prep work and minimal materials. Check out more ideas in my series linked...
Successful Student Transitions to a General Education Setting
The transition from a self-contained classroom to a general education setting is a huge milestone for the classroom team and the learner. It is something to celebrate! A learner who is going through this transition has gained skills and new independence. While...
The Benefits of Messy Sensory Play
As an OT, messy sensory play activities are some of my favorite to incorporate with my students! They can be a pain to clean up after, but the benefits outweigh the extra cleaning time for me. Now, before I go further with this post, I want to acknowledge that messy...
BONUS: Vocational Job Series Part 5: More Vocational Jobs for Your Classroom
There is so much excitement around vocational jobs; the list is ENDLESS! You can read more about vocational jobs in this six-part series by clicking the links below. Vocational Job Series Part 1: Stocking How-To and Freebie Vocational Job Series Part 2: Filing Tasks...
Setting Up Bluetooth Headphones
Let’s talk about how to set up a classroom with bluetooth headphones!I have a lot of things going on in my self-contained classroom throughout the school day. Thankfully, I have iPads in my classroom that allow me to quickly set up centers and reinforce my students....
Celebrating and Supporting Sensory Differences
April is Autism Acceptance month, and Sasha has been sharing tons of amazing information over the past few weeks. One tip she shared is that we should try to create a culture in the classroom that celebrates everyone’s differences. These differences may include...
BONUS: Vocational Job Series Part 4: More Vocational Jobs for Your Classroom
Recently, I did a three-part blog series on vocational jobs in the classroom (linked below). I am excited to continue this series by adding a few BONUS blogs. Vocational Job Series Part 1: Stocking How-To and Freebie Vocational Job Series Part 2: Filing Tasks How-To...
How to Set Up an Awesome Obstacle Course
One of the biggest benefits of an obstacle course is the ability to provide opportunities for students to get a wide variety of sensory input. This input can help students regulate, which improves participation in the classroom. In my last article, I highlighted some...
Vocational Job Series Part 3: Miscellaneous Tasks How-To
If you missed the first two blogs on vocational jobs, check out part 1 (stocking how-to and freebie) here and part 2 (filing tasks how-to) here. Shred paper Something always needs shredding and a super easy job to put together. Email your building staff...
Organizing Visuals
Visuals Make My Classroom FunctionWalk into my classroom and you'll find visuals pretty much everywhere. And that can be a blessing.. and a curse! Managing visuals and resources can be a full-time job. Each of my students uses a visual schedule and those...
Using Visuals in the Classroom
Let’s talk about using visuals in a self-contained classroom! Visuals are a super important part of my learners’ day. Visuals help my students understand their environment. There are many types of visuals that I use in my classroom but for now, I want to...
Vocational Job Series Part 2: Filing Tasks How-To
I love creating filing tasks, and what a great life skill to start incorporating into our students’ days that will be a skill they will use for the rest of their life—even better, helping students learn executive functioning skills with these tasks. Below, I have...
My Favorite Classroom Sensory Tools
Let’s talk about some of my favorite classroom sensory tools! Every special education class (and let’s be honest, general education classes, too) should have a sensory toolbox for their students. Our learners all have such unique needs and it can be...
Vocational Job Series Part 1: Stocking How-To and Freebie
Last month, I shared several vocational jobs I implemented in my classroom (check out my blog on Vocational Jobs in the classroom here). In this three-part series, I am breaking those tasks down for easy implementation in your classroom. Today, we will focus on...
Early Childhood Helpful Hints and Best Practices
Working as an educator is a lot to manage. Teachers are supervisors of their paraprofessionals, case managers of their students, managers and partners of the related service team members, advocates for their school and students, and so much more! I often...
VB-MAPP: Organizing Materials for Assessment
Anytime you organize materials, classroom supplies, resources, etc., it can be daunting. It can feel overwhelming, and it usually takes time and patience to get it right. Just remember, it gets worse before it gets better, and as you are in the process, realize that...
Vocational Jobs in the Classroom
Creating jobs within your classroom gives your students responsibility and allows them to generalize skills previously taught. In my last blog (click here to view), I shared my weekly life skills lesson plan, and in that plan, I incorporated vocational jobs as part of...
K-2 Self-Contained Classroom Tour
Ready For a Tour?Classrooms are ever-changing and evolving as our learner needs change. Over the year, my classroom has changed to meet my learner's needs. I'm going to share some of my favorite parts of my classroom setup that help ensure student (and...
5 Tips For Adding Independent Work Into Your Homeschool Routine
We all want our kids to reach their full potential and be as independent as they can be. Teaching independent work is such an important addition to homeschooling. Independent work is a significant daily living skill because it teaches responsibility, following...
Skills and Targets Families Can Carry Over
Working with families is an important part of any learner's success. There are strategies that I have found to be most successful. My team and I are sure to communicate with families in their preferred method at least once a week. Some families prefer daily notes,...