What to Teach in September in the Elementary Special Education Classroom

As we transition into September, it's important for elementary special education teachers to carefully plan and prepare for the months ahead. September provides a prime opportunity to set the tone for the rest of the academic year. We started laying the foundation in August (see that post here) but there are still some essential steps to continue establishing routines and introducing skills. 

In today's post, we will explore some key topics and ideas for what to teach in the elementary special education classroom during the month of September. And don't worry because I have already done a lot of the work for you! Click on an image or caption to find the resource in my TPT store! Additionally, this post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links. I only recommend products that I use and love! 

Classroom Routines

During September, you can continue to introduce classroom routines that will be used all year long. Practice group routines daily such as lining up, transitioning within the classroom and building, and daily unpacking and packing backpacks. 

Also, continue to work on group time expectations. In August, we started read-alouds, art, cooking or snack, shared writing, and calendar/morning meeting. By September, I like to introduce additional academic group times such as our Letter of the Day and Number of the Day groups. 

Letter of the Day

When researching the Science of Reading in the special education classroom, I read Comprehensive Literacy for All, which taught me the importance of daily alphabet instruction. I wanted to create materials for this instruction that had a similar format for each day so that students could focus on learning the content (and not concurrently trying to learn the activity expectations!). 

Based on the research from the book, I developed a daily lesson framework and lesson plans to accompany my materials:

Alphabet Song Guide

Enhanced Alphabet Knowledge Worksheets

Letter Matching Activities

Letter Picture Book Worksheet

For a more in-depth look on how I incorporate the Science of Reading into my elementary special education classroom check out my previous post:

The Science of Reading in the Special Education Classroom

And then head over to my TPT store to grab the pre-made resource that has absolutely everything you need to start a Letter of the Day time in your classroom too! 

Number of the Day

Several years ago I wanted to expand my math instruction beyond my direct instruction times. I was looking for a way to practice a variety of skills every day. Alas, my Number of the Day Math Corner was born! Every day we practiced the same skills and it WORKED! It worked better than I even dreamed. Suddenly I had students who had been stuck working on basic number identification who were suddenly skip counting by 5s. I had students beginning to generalize Touchmath skills and coin identification. It was AWESOME! I only wish I would have started it sooner. 

For a more in-depth look on how I incorporate daily math practice into my elementary special education classroom check out my previous post:

Number of the Day Math Corner Bulletin Board

And then head over to my TPT store to grab my Number of the Day visual supports to get started in your classroom!

Structured Work Systems

September is also a great time to begin introducing work time structure including independent work times using a Structured Work System. This gives students a predictable structure to know exactly what work needs to be done and how to complete it in a consistent way. I used a 3-drawer matching system where students matched a color/number to a corresponding bin, took out the work, completed it, and placed it in the "finished" laundry basket. 

To see my Independent Work structured work system set up in action check out my previous post:

Independent Work

And to see some of the activities I created you can check out my posts labeled

Taskboxes

If you are still not sure where to start, you can grab my Multisensory Task Box Differentiation Guides for Elementary Special Education in my TPT store which provides budget-friendly ideas for easy taskboxes you can use to introduce your structured work system (including differentiation ideas for each one to get more for your money!).

IEP Progress Monitoring

Once rules and routines are established, students are ready to show what they know! Now is the time to organize your IEP progress monitoring system. 

I like to start with color-coded 1-in binders to contain each students progress monitoring sheets and work samples. 

Amazon Link

Then, I add in pocket dividers for each subject I will be progress monitoring for that student. These will divide the subjects and also serve as a place to keep work samples until I send them home with progress reports each quarter. 

Amazon Link

Finally, I add in the progress monitoring sheets to align with each student's IEP goals and objectives. I created specific sheets for a variety of skills that are easy to follow so that my paraprofessionals and related service staff can easily take data as well. 

I have gathered over 100 ready-to-use data collection sheets for a variety of skills and levels in my NO PREP IEP Progress Monitoring Sheet BUNDLE for Preschool, Elementary, and Special Education which can help you get one step closer to completing your IEP progress monitoring system!

Thematic Units

Since fall begins in September, this is the perfect thematic unit for this month! Teach students about the changing weather and changing leaves! Grab my Fall and Leaves Thematic Unit for 12 ready-to-teach activities! 

Fall and Leaves Thematic Unit

Fall and Leaves Thematic Unit

Fall and Leaves Thematic Unit

What to Teach in August in the Elementary Special Education Classroom

Having a plan when heading into a new school year in the elementary special education classroom is essential to setting your year up for success. It reduces anxiety, establishes routines, and provides guidance for paraprofessionals. 

Let's face it... in August the days are LONG! Especially without related services pulling students yet. And your students have a lot to learn about being at school… especially your Kindergarten students and students transitioning to a new building or classroom. 

Don't worry! I have gathered some great ideas and resources to save you time and get you started off on the right foot this August! Click on an image or caption to find the resource in my TPT store! 

Classroom Expectations: 

Establish classroom rules and illustrate expectations using social stories, role-playing, and picture books. No, David! and David Goes to School by David Shannon are two of my favorite books for introducing the idea of rules and why they are important. Plus they are a ton of fun to read with students! 

David Goes to School Picture Book Communication and Comprehension Supports

No, David Picture Book Communication and Comprehension Supports

David Goes to School Choice Sorting Cut & Paste Activity
Back to School Thematic Unit

Schedules: 

Too often in the special education transitions can be overwhelming for staff and students with so many bodies moving at once so if you can increase independence using a location-based schedule this is win-win for everyone! Plus it has the added bonus of reducing overstimulating auditory clutter for auditorily sensitive students. 

Interactive Location-Based Schedules 

Group Routines

Establish routines that you will use during group times all year long such as read-alouds, art, cooking or snack, shared writing, and calendar/morning meeting.

Differentiated Morning Meeting Worksheet

Interactive Morning Message

Visual Recipes
Back to School Thematic Unit

Stained Glass Apple Art Activity

Vocabulary

Introduce key vocabulary words related to school routines and subjects. These will be words that your students need to know all year long. I have also introduced staff and student names during group games and activities. 

Back to School Vocabulary
Back to School Thematic Unit

Centers

Introduce centers time with fun, hands-on activities to keep students engaged such as crafts, sensory activities, games, preferred activities such as playdoh or potato head, or snack time. 

Back to School Vocabulary Games

Back to School Thematic Unit

Apple Painting Art Activity

Group Yoga Sequence
Classroom Yoga

Class Mission Statement

Set the tone for the year with a positive and inclusive mission statement. Each year my students created a joint mission statement that we all signed and hung in the classroom for easy reference throughout the school year. We also did personal mission statements as an introduction to goal setting at the start of my 1:1 IEP time with students. 

Classroom Mission Statement
Back to School Thematic Unit

If you are interested in several of these activities, I do offer a number of BUNDLES which will save you 20% in my store! 

Back to School Bundle

Morning Meeting Bundle

Predictable Chart Writing in the Special Education Classroom

Comprehensive Literacy Instruction is essential in today's classrooms, including self-contained classrooms and cross-categorical resource rooms. In many cases, reading and writing instruction has fallen by the wayside for our most complex learners however the push toward implementing the Science of Reading in all classrooms emphasizes the need for a shift. 

Comprehensive Literacy for All: Teaching Students with Significant Disabilities to Read and Write by Karen Erickson Ph.D and David Koppenhaver Ph.D. provides Science of Reading research specific to our students with significant disabilities and provides some practical guidance and has been vital to teaching me (and many other teachers) the essential skills needed to incorporate the Science of Reading in our special education classrooms! 

Shared Writing is one component of Comprehensive Literacy Instruction and a highly effective strategy for engaging students with complex needs in shared writing instruction is Predictable Chart Writing (PCW). PCW provides predictability, offers seamless integration of communication, and can be utilized as an activity for the entire classroom, small groups, or even individual sessions. 

Each step in the Predictable Chart Writing Routine takes place during a new session. Typically, this is done during daily writing instruction over the course of a school week. 

Step 1: Write the Chart (Monday)

• Choose a sentence stem. Possible topics could include the current classroom theme, responding to a recent reading passage, or incorporating the use of core words. 

• The students provide a personalized response to the sentence stem. 
• Provide response options using picture-supported icons or AAC devices for students who struggle with word retrieval or expressive communication. 

• Then, the teacher scribes the response on the chart while saying each part aloud. A pocket chart can be a great alternative! 

• Finally, the group will choral read each sentence when done. 

• For non-speaking students, utilize AAC such as a big mack switch, communication board, or communication device to facilitate participation. See the example video below: 

Step 2: Reread the Chart (Tuesday)

• First, the group will reread the entire chart chorally as the teacher points to each word.

• Then, provide opportunities for individual students to find words such as a targeted core word or content vocabulary. 

• Next, focus on a specific element (letter, word, convention) when done.

• Finally, reread a final time.

Step 3: Work with Sentence Strips (Wednesday)

• First, the group will reread the entire chart chorally as the teacher points to each word.

• Next, pass out each student’s contribution to them on sentence strips. 
• You can either prepare these sentence strips ahead of time or use this activity as an opportunity to model.

• Then, demonstrate how to cut the sentence apart into words (after each cut, reread) and reorder.

• Eventually, start reordering incorrectly to help students see if the sentence makes sense.
• Allow students to make mistakes! These are opportunities to recheck work/check for what makes sense.

• After developing an understanding, students will cut apart their own sentences.

Step 4: Be the Sentence (Thursday)

• First, the group will reread the entire chart chorally as the teacher points to each word.

• Then, choose a sentence and give each student a word from the sentence. 

• Next, have them physically arrange themselves to reorder the sentence
• Repeat for 3-4 sentences.

• Finally, end with a final choral reading of sentences

Step 5: Make and Publish the Book (Friday)

• First, the group will reread the entire chart chorally as the teacher points to each word.

• Then, pass out individual sentences typed/written for book.
• You can either prepare these sentence strips ahead of time or use this activity as an opportunity to model.

• Next, they will glue their ordered sentence onto their paper. 

• Then, students will add illustrations
• They can use their own drawings or find pictures on Google images.

• Finally, students will share their book page before adding it to the finished class book for the classroom library.
• You can also publish the class book to Tarheel Reader or Bookcreator.com for independent reading with technology or at home.

To see Predictable Chart Writing in action with a group of learners at a variety of instructional levels, check out this video: 

Ready to get started with a ready-to-use resource?! My Predictable Chart Writing Lesson Plans and Materials features 30 different sentence stems including general and seasonal themes. 

For more information on Comprehensive Literacy Instruction for All and how I have used it to incorporate the Science of Reading into the special education classroom check out my previous post:

The Science of Reading in the Special Education Classroom