On Campus Jobs for High School and Transition Students: Part 1
This blog is the first in a series where I will highlight how we set up and engage students in on campus job training opportunities. While we have always offered a variety of on campus and community based job training opportunities, we have had to be especially...
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...
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...
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...
(FUN)ctional Routines
Practicing functional routines is an essential life skill. In doing so, our learners will work on becoming independent in the classroom, their homes, and their communities. Functional routines can be fun and motivating, even if they are challenging and stressful right...
Engaging Lesson Plans for Remote Learning
Gaining and maintaining attention through an iPad has been very difficult. Now that it is December, my team and I are working harder than we were in August to keep our kids wanting to come to virtual school! Many of our students are used to navigating the iPads while...
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...
Pre-K Classrooms and COVID
As I write this post, I am (like many of you) awaiting on our state superintendent of schools to speak about the latest update on schools and COVID. As teachers we like to be super prepared and a pandemic just does not lend itself to normal planning. By now I would...
Schedules, Schedules Everywhere
With the start of every school year, and returning after break, and basically every Monday, I look at my classroom and see what might need to change and what is working! Classroom and individual schedules are one of the main items on my running to do list to...
Stereotypic Behaviors and Play Activities
For the next few weeks I plan on highlighting some amazing ideas I have learned from the book: The Activity Kit for Babies and Toddlers at Risk (Fein, Deborah et al. 2016). While the title focuses on young children, these ideas can be applied to many ages as the...
Using Everyday Routines to Coach Families
Using Everyday Routines to Coach Families I am so excited to share with you two books that I cannot seem to get enough of during this quarantine. Most likely, some or all of your work has been based around teleservices of some kind. The challenges that come with...
Setting Up a Structured Work Area in an Inclusion Classroom
Last week during my takeover I received many questions on inclusion practices and co teaching. Before my new pre-k3 program began, I specifically co taught in second grade for six years and then had a comprehensive classroom that serviced students in...
Increasing the Use of Visuals at Home!
We have to remember that in young children, receptive language is not yet fully developed. One of the “wants and needs” I hear often from families is that their child does not follow the directions they are given. Or that the usual, every day routines take so much support, and it becomes frustrating for both parent and child. The addition of visuals within the home has been the most successful change I have implemented.
Structured Work Time, Independent Work, and Integrated Centers
I love structure. I love it in school, and I love it as an adult in my life. You probably use it way more than you even realize it! Agendas during a PD? Yep, structure. To do lists? Yeah sorry not sorry that’s structure too. I think sometimes when...
Visual Timers You Can Use in Your Classroom
Timers are a must have in any classroom. They are great for fluency timing, teaching waiting, showing when transitions will come, and tracking behaviors. Visual timers have the added bonus of illustrating the passage of time. Many children may not yet...
Supporting Our Students AND Teachers in the General Education Classroom
There are so many moving parts that it takes to make general education inclusion successful and each situation is different. You have your team working within the room, the general management of the classroom, and all of the supports needed for your...
New Year, New Kids, New Setup!
Something I love most about being in the education field is the feeling of a fresh start each year. Even if you have looping students in the same room, you can always strengthen an area such as the writing center, independent work, or the overall flow of a...
Time Management and Waiting Visuals
Let me share a little secret - I stink at waiting. I get anxious. I get bored. I fidget. Waiting is hard for me. It's hard for many of our students. Waiting is a skill that needs to be taught. But we want to ensure that we are teaching waiting and time...