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...
Theme Based Centers
I Love a Good Theme Using themes in my classroom is something I choose to do with intention. My students live for a good theme. It keeps our daily activities fresh, fun and engaging. For the next two weeks we are studying farms. We live in a small, rural town and it's...
From Para to Teacher: My Story
This is my story of going from a para to a teacher. Well, my story is one I have been putting off telling for quite some time now. You see, this story is deeply personal, emotional, and challenging for me to retell but I am proud to be able to share it today because...
Making Moves
Moving to a new home can be a huge challenge. There are so many things to consider when moving especially when there is an autistic child involved. I needed to consider the safety of the home and the surrounding area. I checked to see if there were any bodies of...
Fun Friday in the Classroom
Incorporating Fun Friday into your lesson planning will provide various hands-on learning opportunities for your students. It is a great way to end the week and give students a chance to get creative!Cooking and Art Incorporating cooking and art into your classroom...
Skill Packed Leveled Curriculums!
With back to school in full swing, I had the privilege of working with a kiddo using the Level 0.5 Language Arts curriculum. When I was in the classroom full time, I ALWAYS had The Autism Helper Curriculums (for both math and language arts). I cannot say enough...
Starting The School Year As A New Staff Member
This year I am starting a new position in a new school district. I am a support personnel working in 3 classrooms to help support students with IEPs, maladaptive behaviors, RTI support, and much more. I am so excited to be in a new school district and to learn all of...
Sensory Room Setup: The Environment
You do not need a designated sensory room to meet many student needs, but if you have access to a space it can be incredibly helpful. In part one of this multiple part blog series, let’s explore the environmental setup of a sensory room. In subsequent posts, we will...
3 Routines to Set at the Start of the School Year
Routines Help Make Classrooms Function At the start of the year, we often talk about what makes classrooms successful and functional. Routines are at the top of the list. Here are three routines we work on at the start of the year that help make my classroom...
Meet the Teacher Night
I’m so excited to talk about my Meet the Teacher Night! It is the beginning of the school year and I am preparing my classroom for a new group of students. I have so much to do but one that is on the top of my list to prep things for is Meet the Teacher Night. At my...