Engaging Fall Activities!
The “ber” months are by far my most favorite! I love all the learning themes, the Fall and Winter seasons and different holidays. For this post I review some of my favorite multi learning activities that can encourage learning & language skills. Get ready for...
Benefits of a Therapy Dog
Dogs are generally known for their loyalty and affection toward their owners. A dog with the right personality can share these traits with others by becoming a therapy dog. Meet Lulu From the first time my family saw her, we knew Lulu had the perfect personality to...
School is Back in Session!
As the back-to-school season kicks in, I have been chatting with classroom teachers about their immediate must haves. While everyone is still getting a routine down, there have been some common themes of need. Let’s take a peek at communication logs and easy...
Two Easy and Efficient Ways to Train Staff
The days leading up to the beginning of the school year can quickly become filled with meetings, prepping the classroom, creating materials, etc., making it challenging to find time to train staff. Between being short-staffed and having limited time to train,...
The Best Summer Reads for Autism Teachers
I love to read! As a teacher, I think the love of reading is in my DNA. While most of my summer is filled with easy beach reads or thrillers I can't put down, I do squeeze in some professional reading. I'm sharing five excellent books that I've read over the past year...
10 Must-Haves for the Pool this Summer
Teaching happens year-round, as I am sure it does for several of you, but it looks a little different in the summer than during the school year for me. What I love most about summer is the opportunity to teach kids in the pool by improving their balance, coordination,...
Planning for a Successful Summer: A Guide for Parents
Planning for a Smooth Summer I'm 19 years into my parenting journey, and as a mom 3 teens (two of which are neurodivergent), I can say that summer can be stressful. Sure, summer can be a wonderful time for relaxation and fun, but it can also be a challenging period of...
Kicking off Summer Learning Fun!
Summer is a fantastic time to engage learners in fun, educational activities that can make Extended School Year (ESY) services and summer school even more enjoyable! I love incorporating a summer theme into lessons that can keep students motivated and eager to learn....
Ending the Year on a High Note
Have Fun, Organize, and Prepare As the school year winds down, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed with all the tasks that need to be done. But with a little planning, you can end the year on a high note, making it fun for your students, efficiently packing up your...
Dollar Store Work Tasks: Put-In and Sorting
The Dollar Store is one of my favorite places to shop for materials to create work tasks. Not only is it affordable, but it also offers a variety of objects to get creative and make some work boxes that don’t take much time. Put-In Tasks: Various containers and cups...
Summer is Here!
Summer is here! As extended school year begins, it's important for me to find engaging and educational activities to keep my students motivated and learning. Let's explore two exciting resources from The Autism Helper that are perfect for the end of the school year...
Springtime Sprouts: Learning with The Autism Helper!
As the vibrant colors of spring emerge, it's the perfect time to infuse our learning environments with fresh, engaging activities that not only inspire but also foster growth and development. Whether you're an educator, a related service provider, or a parent,...
Valentine’s Day Delight
As an early childhood special educator, I am so nostalgic about Valentine’s Day activities in school! I have very distinct memories of creating my desk Valentine’s envelope and handing out my little cards. Parties with brownies, chips galore and Valentine’s Day...
Valentine’s Day Fun
Heart Day Feburary is filled with holidays and fun days for students to celebrate. With Groundhog's Day behind us, I'm looking towards our next holiday, Valentine's Day. Class Parties can be stressful, but with a little prep, a good plan, and some visuals, parties can...
New Year Refresh
I Love a Good Refresh When things get stagnant and old, a refresh can breathe just the right amount of new life into a classroom. In December, I take some time to reflect on some areas of my classroom where I can shake things up. Where are my students ready to...
Gingerbread and Snowman Fun!
While most everyone else you talk to is living for summer to come back around, I love this weather and I LOVE this time of year! There’s something so whimsical about Gingerbread houses, snowmen, candy canes and sugar cookies. This year my students and families have...
OT-Approved Holiday Gift Ideas: Games Edition
It's the most wonderful time of the year! The holidays are upon us and it's time to start shopping for everyone on your list. As you are shopping, you may want to purchase gifts that are not only fun but also have a therapeutic benefit. This year, I decided to...
The Benefits of Cooking in the Classroom
Did you know that by incorporating cooking into your lesson plans, your students will continue to work on several skills? Cooking is an excellent opportunity to work on academic and functional skills by creating hands-on learning experiences for your students and...
Fall Fun
Fall Fun Once Halloween hits time flies. It's end of first quarter, parent teacher conferences are squeezed in, and IEP season creeps up. It's easy to get lost in the day-to-day and feel like you are drowning. The students feel it too. We keep fall hands-on activities...
Scarecrows, Turkey Cookies & Thanksgiving Plates!
With Thanksgiving just around the corner, my planning has revolved around scarecrows, comfort foods and turkey cookies! I love lessons that target multiple skills, and the following are just some of my top favorites! Check them out!Fall Adapted BooksThere are so many...
Embracing the Magic of Fall in the Classroom
As the leaves turn vibrant shades of red, orange, and yellow, and the air becomes crisp, teachers are presented with an opportunity to infuse the spirit of autumn into their classrooms. In this blog post, we'll explore engaging ways to bring the magic of fall into...