Favorites from the Blog

Happy Fall Y’all! If you’re anything like me, once the season changes you go into a fall frenzy: pumpkin everything, fall colors, turkeys, apples, cozy blankets, and more! Well, since I love the fall season SO much it gave me the idea to create activities for my classroom that would get my students into the seasonal spirit too (while also being engaged in ELA and Math activities).

As a special education teacher, it can be difficult to write an IEP that is aligned to a grade level standard when, typically, the student the goal is for is behind their grade level academically. But if your students aren't on alternate standards, that's the task teachers face. And I remember as a first year teacher how overwhelming it was trying to make sure the IEP goals were aligned to those grade level standards. But I learned a method that made it much simpler, and I'm here to share it with you today!

Friends, I have a secret to admit to you. When it first came to creating differentiated math centers for my students as a new teacher, I was SO LOST! I knew my students needed differentiated math activities that fit their needs, but I wasn't sure how to provide them what they needed without making each lesson, plan, and center something unique. And that took up so much TIME.

Teacher friends, are you as fascinated about “celebration days” as I am? I love looking up what random “holidays” are celebrated and when. And it was on one of these google searches that I stumbled upon World Smile Day! Imagine… a whole day dedicated to making someone smile. I smile just thinking about it.

Effective Co-Teaching Strategies can truly make a school year run so much more smoothly. As one of a small handful of special education teachers at my school, sometimes I feel like I'm on my own little island. I'm writing the IEPs, overseeing progress monitoring, meeting service minutes… all while being pushed and pulled in a hundred different directions. Not to mention trying to make sure the students' general education teachers receive all of the help they need, as well.

Oh, screen time. It can be a parent's (and a teacher's) best friend or mortal enemy. The Battle of the Binge is something I have to fight in my house. We have always tried to limit screen time, but trust me when I say that my seven year old would JUMP at the chance to watch My Little Pony for 12 hours without blinking.