Featured Posts
Farm Activities for Fall
Off to the Farm! Even though it's still in the high 80s, it's Fall to me! Once September hits, I am ready for pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin patches, and visits to all of our nearby farms. The best farm in my hometown is Braehead Farm. Located in Fredericksburg,...
Using Adapted Books to Work on Color Concepts
Still working on color concepts with your students? I created another adapted book series about colors. This series includes; “What Color is the Food?”, “What Color is the Animal?”, and “What Color is the School Supply?” Many of the students on my caseload are...
Tips for Using Leveled Daily Curriculums In Your Classroom
I adore the Leveled Daily Curriculums. They are at the center of instruction in my classroom. Every student I have uses them, no matter their level. They are simple to use, super effective, and differentiated. Here are a few quick tips for using and organizing Leveled...
Front-Loading for Fall
With the end of the school year approaching, it may not be on your to-do list, but preparing for the fall now will help you start the school year off stress-free. Below is a list of items to check off your to-do list to lighten the load when it's time to return to...
Besties
I had the opportunity to go with my daughter Ady and her fourth grade class on their field trip to the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia last month. Ady was diagnosed with autism at age two. She mostly uses a speech device and some approximations and sign language to...
Useful Tips for Summer Homeschooling
Summertime can be rough for kids. The drastic change from going to school every day to being home all day can be a bit overwhelming. One way to help with this transition is to homeschool your child over the summer. Here are some tips on how to implement a homeschool...
Using The Autism Helper Homework in Early Childhood and Kindergarten
When meeting with families of our learners, I have many parents ask what they can do at home. Whether we are in an IEP meeting, parent/teacher conference, or other scheduled meetings and family involvement times, I am prepared for this question. One answer that I...
OT-Approved Summer Activity Ideas
Summer is quickly approaching! It can certainly be a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of the school year, but it can also be hard to keep kids engaged in activities. Today, I want to highlight some of my favorite, OT-approved summer activities that I will be...
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...
Preparing for ESY
ESY Planning Should Be Fun and Easy! ESY is one of my favorite times of the year. The pressure is off and we can just have fun. In fact, I call it 'no-stakes teaching'. Starting in August, the pressure is on for rules, routines and reinforcement. By the time we have...
3 Things to Prep for ESY
Let’s talk about three things to prep for ESY! Summer is approaching and that means it is time to get ready for extended school year. For my district, summer school is known as extended school year, or ESY. What I love about ESY is that I can just continue doing...
Building up to Complex Matching Skills
Matching skills are an essential pre-academic skill that helps early learners develop their cognitive abilities, language skills, and problem-solving skills. It is a fundamental skill that helps children recognize similarities and differences, classify objects, and...