Do you use a letter of the week strategy in your classroom? After years of tweaking, I came up with a lesson plan that was not only was engaging but helped students make real world connections. In addition, having a set lesson plan I could use again and again for each letter greatly ... VIEW POST
Living Between Two Worlds
This has been an interesting couple of weeks with my family, so I thought I would take a break from school posts and write something more personal that I know so many of my friends with special kids can relate to. So, as most of you know I have an 18 year old son, Jimmy, with autism and a 17 year ... VIEW POST
Reading Novels to a Low Incidence Class
At one point in my teaching career, my class schedule worked out so I had this 15 minute block of time when the kids came back from specials and before they had to go to lunch. It was not enough time to really teach anything, but it was definitely enough time for them to get in trouble ... VIEW POST
How to use color coded worksheets in any classroom
Using color coded worksheets is such a quick, easy, and effective way to make the same activity accessible to more students in your class. You don't need anything fancy, just some markers or crayons. You can even use this same technique to add different levels of support using the same worksheet, ... VIEW POST
A New Transition Strategy
The time we dread as special education teachers: transitioning from one activity to another, or moving from one location to another. You have all your students, or small groups, where they are supposed to be, relatively engaged, and then time is up and everyone needs to move. Ugh!! Although I ... VIEW POST
Back to School Tip
It is the first week of school, and all the teachers are going through the school rules with their students. You see them in the hallway, in the library, and in the cafeteria. They are all standing at attention (even the kindergartners) listening attentively and being quiet. BUT ... VIEW POST