In my classroom and in my role as an autism & low-incidence disability coach, few days go by when I am not trying to decipher student behavior. After working with hundreds of students and thousands of educational professionals, I have developed a 5-step system for behavioral intervention that has worked really well.  In today's post, I will walk you through each step to help you with solving problem behaviors that may be impacting student success in your classroom. ...

Pumpkin carving is one of my favorite Halloween activities in my classroom but it definitely takes some planning! Here are my Top 5 Tips for Carving a Pumpkin in the Special Education Classroom.  Tip #1: Consider Sensory Needs Sometimes a student may not be comfortable touching the pumpkin guts so you can allow them to use gloves or even put some in a ziploc baggy to let them explore in a less overwhelming way. Sometimes I had students who would absolutely gag at the sight of the pumpkin guts. I allowed them to do something else during that time like painting pumpkins or using stickers. This activity is not worth that much distress!  Tip #2: Use Visual Supports We started by watching a video or reading a story about carving a pumpkin to preview the activity. Then, students completed this sequencing activity from my Halloween Thematic Unit to provide us with a visual step-by-step guides with clear pictures and text to help students understand the carving process.  Tip #3:......

In my classroom, I used Unique Learning System for a majority of my curriculum. However, I found that I often wanted to supplement the stories with rich, authentic picture books. So my Picture Book Communication and Comprehension Supports units were born!  Not familiar with my picture book supports? They include: Communication Supports Vocabulary Cards : to teach and assess targeted vocabulary (can also be used to create interactive games!) Communication Board : to generate sentences about the story verbally or through velcro manipulatives GoTalk 9+ AAC Board : formatted for use with GoTalk 9+ Comprehension Supports Differentiated Wh-Question Assessments : 3 leveled assessments (multiple choice pictures, multiple choice words/phrases, fill-in) for answering who, what, where, when, and why questions about the story. Fill-in-the-Blank Sentences Worksheet : Cut-and-paste cloze sentences with picture choice options Sequencing Worksheet : Picture-based cut-and-paste sequencing of story......

Data collection on IEP goals is one of the most important tasks a special education teacher takes on because it helps us plan for interventions and monitor student progress. But it is also one of the most tedious tasks we do!  Over the years, I have created a system for organizing my IEP goal progress monitoring that has made it easier to set up, implement, and even delegate!  The first step is designating a binder for each student on your caseload. I prefer using colored binders because I color-code each of my students' materials each year.  In the very front of the binder, I include an IEP at a Glance. We use IEP Anywhere so they luckily create this for us! I also include any essential medical or behavior plans for that student.  Then, I get pocket dividers for each subject I will be monitoring. This is a great way to organize the different subjects but my favorite part is the pocket. This is where I store all of my work samples. Then, at the end of each quarter wh......

Do you find yourself getting frustrated with your paraprofessionals during large group activities? Sometimes you feel like you are swimming in a rocky ocean all alone... and other times you can't hear yourself give directions over the level of verbal prompts happening. 🫣😬 Typically this boils down to a couple things... lack of training and communication. Remedy this common struggle with these tips: Set Clear Expectations : Define roles and responsibilities for paraprofessionals during large group activities. Clarify their support tasks, behavioral strategies, and communication protocols. Bright Rainbow Editable Paraprofessional Role Sheets Team Communication : Foster open communication between teachers and paraprofessionals. Regular meetings ensure everyone is on the same page and can discuss any concerns or improvements. I liked to meet with my team weekly to discuss current questions or concerns and discuss lessons for the week ahead.  This helps paraprofessionals feel heard, c......