You landed the job and you're a brand new teacher! Check out these tips for first year special education teachers in this blog post!
Special educators need a pretty large toolbox of strategies and resources to support our learners. So often, our students can have significantly diverse needs and levels. On any given day, special education teachers might need to take student reading data, modify a math assessment, teach science wit
IEP goal bins will help you keep your students' goals and materials organized so you can focus on what's important: the students.
Before we dive in to my tried and true sped teacher must haves, I have to say that you truly don’t NEED anything. What do you truly need to give your students if you ask me? Most importantly, your students need love, relationships, and validation. But when it comes down to actual sped teacher supplies
As a special education teacher, there are a lot of things we need. But this is a list of 25 things that we MUST have to help us manage the classroom and survive. List of special ed must haves blog post at Mrs. D's Corner.
Your first year of teaching can be extremely overwhelming. Let's talk about what NOT to focus on in your first year.
If there is one I have learned in my years of working with paraprofessionals, it is that paras are teachers too. My paraprofessional is my right hand and my left hand. She is the glue that keeps us together. I realize that sometimes it is our first instinct to give them passive work because their
Classroom hacks that actually work in a special education classroom setting. Tried and true methods from actual teachers. Read to learn more.
You aren't making these teacher mistakes in your special education class, are you? Here's 6 mistakes teachers and paras in SpEd make PLUS 5 easy fixes too!
Special Education teachers are the masters of data collection! At times, collecting data can be overwhelming, especially when you sometimes have to outsource the collecting to other teachers, specialists, or teaching assistants. Tracking accommodations is necessary to make sure an IEP is being followed and can be helpful in determining which accommodations should be added to or removed from the IEP. Believe it or not, collecting data on accommodations and modifications does not have to consume your life! Share Information Be sure to share vital information with all teachers and assistants that work with your students. I have an accommodations organizer that I organize all of the information of my class. The information is in one place which is helpful for sharing information with assistants, special area teachers, and substitutes. When I first began teaching, I did not bother sharing such information with special area teachers until it was brought to my attention that a student of mine did not complete a test in physical education class. That student had trouble reading and was supposed to have his tests read. The PE teacher was unaware of his accommodations and therefore did not deliver them. I use a special form that reminds me of who needs to be informed of accommodations and modifications at the beginning of the school year and after an IEP annual review. Train Your Team If you have paraprofessionals in your classroom working with students, it is important to train them in how to deliver and how to track accommodations and modifications. Some interventions are more detailed than others. Observe your team while they are working with students and provide feedback as needed. The time you put in to properly train your team to record data the same way you would is so well spent! Use Checklists When I first started teaching, I used to write notes on a post-it that included which accommodations and modifications were used on assignments along with their effectiveness. It was very time consuming and often times, I forgot to add some things. Finally, I came up with a few checklists and forms to help the process. Level of Support One of the forms I use tracks the level of support a student needs from an adult. I use this one to determine the need for a 1:1 teaching assistant. It is useful before adding a TA and to collect data to see if continuing the intervention is a necessity. The adult that works with the student at that time fills it out while working with the student. Accommodations and Modifications Tracker I use this form two ways, depending on what I am collecting data for. As an IEP meeting approaches, I like to review the need for the interventions on the IEP. I can track the types of interventions are needed for different types of assignments and activities. More importantly, I can track the effectiveness of such interventions. I can also cut this tracker apart to staple it onto work samples. The work samples can be to show the Committee on Special Education the student's growth or regression. I also like to send work home with students with the form filled out from time to time so parents can see what kind of help the student needs in order to complete assignments at school. Frequency Tracker Another way I like to track the use of accommodations and modifications needed in school is with a frequency tracker I created. This gives me a quick visual of which interventions are being used and which are not. I focus on this during the weeks before a meeting so I can determine which accommodations and modifications need to remain, be added, or be removed from an IEP. Data collection is so important but it doesn't have to take over your entire life. Once you create a few checklists that fit your classroom or purchase one of the many checklists and charts from my TpT store, you will save yourself a ton of time and will have more data than you've ever had before!
Classroom hacks that actually work in a special education classroom setting. Tried and true methods from actual teachers. Read to learn more.
Learn every step of classroom setup, must have resources, and materials needed to setup your self-contained classroom. Peek inside my classroom!
One of the best feelings about starting a new school year is getting organized. Even if it is just for 0.2 seconds. That feeling that everything is one place and your paperwork is nice and neat. Yes, I know, that is a perfect world, but a girl can dream. Being a special education teacher, brings ... Read More about Summer Plan: Get Organized!
Special education classroom supply list. Ten must have items for setting up your new special education classroom. Links to free resources for new teachers.
When you first start teaching in a school that does block scheduling, 90 minutes seems like an awful lot of time to fill with instruction.
Informal assessments for special education in the areas of Reading, Writing, and Math. Two versions: one printable and one digital.
"What is your best advice for a first year teacher?" This is by far one of my most frequently asked questions I get in my direct messages. And it always takes me back to my experience as a first year teacher. I made lots of mistakes along the way. And there are things I wish I
I teach a 1st through 4th self-contained, mod/severe, special day class. I am going to highlight some of the key elements in my classroom.
In this article, I outline survival tips for first-year special education teachers. My survival guide includes advice about planning, IEPs, networking, prioritizing, and more with lots of resources.
College. There are the courses that prepare you for the "textbook stuff", but nothing in the world prepares you for teaching quite like actually teaching does. Learn the special ed secrets, that things you don't learn in college, only at Mrs. D's Corner.
Wonder about behaviors typical to kids with Autism and want to know why they do that? Read on and learn more! || Why do kids with Autism Do That?
Special education teachers play a crucial role in the lives of students with diverse needs. From learning disabilities to physical impairments, special
What is a paraprofessional? What is a paraeducator? How special education paraprofessionals and special education instructional assistants support students.
As special education teachers, there are a few red flags to avoid during an IEP meeting. Here are 10 things not to say in an IEP meeting.
Informal assessments for special education in the areas of Reading, Writing, and Math. Two versions: one printable and one digital.
Being a new special education teacher can be overwhelming and stressful. Check out The FIRST thing to do as a new special ed teacher.
12 items every special education teacher needs from Really Good Stuff, like bins for organization, clipboards for data, and more! See the list here.
Interview prep questions for new special education teachers and teachers who are interviewing this year! Download the list!
Want to know my favorite special education teacher hacks? I've got you covered! If you are a special education teacher, you know how hard it is to meet every student's needs AND keep a well organized classroom. Below, I've compiled 5 special education teacher hacks you need to know! 1. Jewelry Organizers For Visual Storage
I absolutely love teaching Special Education. I have found the place where I am meant to be and have built a community in my classroom. I am currently thriving in SPED, but it hasn’t always been that way. Early in my career I was struggling to keep my head above water and breathe.Entering the Special ... Read More about 25 Ways to Survive and Thrive in SPED
Special Education Teacher Blogs to Follow
Want to learn some about some of the BEST CHROME EXTENSIONS for teachers? Teachers are using their computers, now more than ever. Educators are always...
In a perfect world, general ed and special ed teachers would have all of the time in the world to collaborate together. These 5 tips make it happen.
I never would have thought I would be tracking data digitally, I am really not that savvy when it comes to tech, however, when someone pointed out how easy it was, I had to try it. You guys, its sooo much easier than my typical paper and pencil tracking system. I had data sheets EVERYWHERE!! […]
One of the best feelings about starting a new school year is getting organized. Even if it is just for 0.2 seconds. That feeling that everything is one place and your paperwork is nice and neat. Yes, I know, that is a perfect world, but a girl can dream. Being a special education teacher, brings ... Read More about Summer Plan: Get Organized!
Wonder about behaviors typical to kids with Autism and want to know why they do that? Read on and learn more! || Why do kids with Autism Do That?
As a first year teacher or a teacher starting in a new class, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. These first year teacher tips will help!
Special educators need a pretty large toolbox of strategies and resources to support our learners. So often, our students can have significantly diverse needs and levels. On any given day, special education teachers might need to take student reading data, modify a math assessment, teach science wit
How to manage and organize IEP goals in the special education classroom.
26 reading and autism ideas to help you figure out how to teach an autistic child to read and how to improve reading comprehension in a stress-free way.
Learn about types of accommodations for special education students in math, reading, writing, homework & tests, and organization. Download a free printable!
Take a peek inside 7 special education sample schedules to get some schedule ideas for your own special education classroom!
Informal assessments for special education in the areas of Reading, Writing, and Math. Two versions: one printable and one digital.
The difference between accommodations and modifications to help you best teach all children whether you're a parent or a teacher.
It’s no secret that being a SPED teacher involves mountains of paperwork! Through my experience, there are a few paperwork related things that I find myself referencing weekly, if not daily. Consolidating these things into forms and putting them into my sped teacher binder is key. Here are the four things that I try to
