Be The Exception In Special Education

As 2023 comes to a close I want to take a moment to highlight some of the top episodes from Be the Exception Podcast. I briefly touch on everything from neurodiversity to lesson planning as we take a look back. Links and Resources Episode 145: Rachelle's Instagram Rachelle's Facebook Rachelle's TpT Store Rachelle's Email Episode 149: Laine's IEP Vision Goal Freebie Transition Abilities TpT Store T...

Feedback is defined as information about a person's performance of a task that is used as a basis for improvement. Feedback is so important for our special education students. It is imperative for their growth and improvement. So how do we master the art of giving feedback?    In this week's episode, I'm sharing 5 different tips for giving effective feedback. These tips will help you become a mast...

Classroom behavior…ick, am I right? Or maybe just sometimes ick…it can just be so challenging to make sure that behaviors are controlled, that we are finding the reasons behind the behaviors and that all of our students are in a place where they can learn.   In this week's episode, I am chatting with my friend Abby from Mrs. Moes Modifications about behavior management insight for the special ed c...

In this festive episode, we explore the importance of inclusive holiday celebrations in special education classrooms. Drawing inspiration from blog posts and highlighting educational benefits, we dive into various Christmas activities that will make this season unforgettable for your students. Plus, we've got special gifts, exclusive memberships, and holiday designs to share with you. Tune in for...

What does it mean to join the digital frontier in your classroom? There is so much technology out there and sometimes educators think that our students are not ready to advance in this area…at least when talking about using digital learning to be successful in future school and employment opportunities.    In today's episode, we're thrilled to explore the innovative world of Digitability with Mich...

This week's podcast is a little different! I have some super special Black Friday sales going on and I wanted you to make sure that you knew exactly what you are getting!    So listen in and find out what is included in each special this week. Connect with Dawn Find me on IG Etsy Shop TpT Store Ultimate Sales Page Subscribe Are you subscribed to my podcast? Trust me, you definitely want to do that...

So what is a sensory room anyway? It is a space that allows students with sensory needs to receive an immersive sensory experience. The space does not have to be an entire room, a corner is better than nothing. It is also not limited to a special education classroom, but rather can serve a purpose in a general education classroom as well.   This week I am sharing ideas of what to put in a sensory...

Do you ever feel like you are being pulled from making a difference with your students because you have to collect more and more data? There are 14,000 things happening at once in your room and you have to stop it all to track progress….double ugh!    Data matters! We know it, we want it…but we also want it to be easier and more efficient. In this week's episode I am chatting with AJ Howard from T...

Task boxes in the simplest form are activities that students should be able to complete independently. They are also one of the most amazing tools for a special education classroom. They can be used for any subject or area, they are great time fillers and they are the perfect review for all students.    In this week's episode, I'm chatting about what special educators need to know about task boxes...

Prompts are cues, whether verbal or visual, that aid our students in meeting expectations in various settings. Prompts are not to be feared; they're valuable tools we use to set our students up for success. We introduce prompts into the environment to help our learners achieve their goals and navigate their routines effectively. In the classroom, prompts manifest in various forms. For instance, re...

Assessments…just the word sounds overwhelming…especially in the special education world. There are SOOOO many options to choose from! How do you pick? Where do you start?   In this week's episode I am chatting with my friend Heather from Full Sped Ahead all about assessments. She is sharing her knowledge on how to choose the right assessment to get the info needed about your students. She lives an...

We all know that we cannot survive in our special education classrooms without our paraprofessionals. This year I have several new members of my team and it has been somewhat of a learning curve. We can't expect our staff to walk in and know exactly what to do in all the day to day situations. It is imperative that we train them, continuously, in what is needed.   In this week's episode, I am shar...

  Have you ever wished that your students with special needs had more opportunities to get involved in physical education, sports and even creative activities? Well, you are not alone! But finding those opportunities can often prove challenging…even when we try our best.   In this week's episode I am chatting with Lucy from Club Activo. Club Activo is an organization that creates those opportuniti...

A morning meeting can look different in every single classroom. Sometimes they focus on basic skills, like understanding a calendar; and sometimes they focus on social-emotional skills, like friendship. No matter the purpose, having a morning meeting in your self-contained classroom is a great way to get your day started.   But what should you include to get the most out of them? How should you st...

Have you ever sat through a professional development, especially as a special educator, and left feeling you wasted so much time? It is always amazing what we sit through that does nothing to help us in our jobs.    In this week's episode I am chatting with Alissa and Megan from PopPD about their new adventure aimed at helping teachers get what they need. PopPD is designed by teachers, for teacher...

You know what? Sick days happen…and you shouldn't have to worry about how things are going in your classroom when you have to take a day off. This means that you have to be prepared beforehand. By creating effective special ed sub plans, you can focus on getting better.   In this week's episode I am sharing some tried and true tips of what you need to include in your sub plans to make the day run...

Do you work with students with hearing disabilities? Do you feel lost in connecting with them and truly meeting their needs? When you are not familiar with sign language it can be challenging to feel like you are able to make an impact on your own.   In this week's episode I am chatting with Cynthia from ASL Teaching Resources about things that you can do to make that impact. She is sharing 3 over...

Back-to-school nights or curriculum nights are essential opportunities for special education teachers to connect with parents and families and provide valuable information about the upcoming school year. For self-contained teachers working with students with multiple needs, these events can be particularly impactful in fostering a strong home-school partnership In this week's episode, we delve int...

  Co-Teaching is a well known term in the special education world. It happens when two teachers are in the same classroom, one general ed and one special ed teacher, working with students with disabilities and students without. There are 6 different methods of co-teaching, all of them work in different situations. Finding what works can be daunting, but allowing students to learn in the least rest...

The first week of school is an exciting time for both teachers and students in a self-contained classroom. Creating a positive learning environment from the very beginning of the first day is crucial for success.  In this week's episode, we'll explore ten engaging activities and lesson plans designed to create a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere during the first five days of school.     In this e...

What the heck is an adapted book and how am I supposed to use it? Adapted books are books that are modified in some way to make reading accessible for students with disabilities. There are so many ways that you can use them in your classroom. Anytime you are doing a reading activity, you can have an adapted book for those who need it. You can make your students feel engaged with all lessons.   In...

In this episode of "Be The Exception," we are thrilled to provide new special education teachers with the guidance and support they need to kick start their year with confidence and success. Join us as we share essential tips, real-world examples, and must-have items for creating a positive and inclusive learning environment for all students.   In this episode you will learn:   The benefits of und...

Summer break is almost over for most of us and the new year is right around the corner. If you are like me you are preparing for this to be the best year ever! If you are transitioning to, or starting the year, in an ECSE classroom you may be a little nervous about all the changes that are bound to happen.   In this week's episode I am chatting with Ashley from Spedtacular Days about her experienc...

A schedule is defined as "a plan for carrying out a process or procedure, giving lists of intended events and times". In special education we are all about processes and procedures that benefit our students. Using schedules is one of those things that has many benefits.   In this week's episode I am sharing the whats, hows and whys of schedules. You will come away knowing the importance of using s...

Have you ever noticed there sometimes seem to be a gap between the special education teacher and general education teacher when it comes to accommodations and modifications? In order to best serve our students with disabilities we must bridge that gap. But how?   In this week's episode I am chatting with Tim Kretchman from Action Driven Education about all things accommodations, modifications and...