STEPPING INTO SPECIAL EDUCATION, Special Education, SPED, Special Ed, Students with Disabilities, Classroom Management

Hey Special Education Teacher, Are you new to the profession or have a few years in and need a refresher on what an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) is? Also, why is an IEP important? What are the components of an IEP?  This episode is wrapping up the last of a 3 part series, all about understanding the pages of an IEP. I go over the last common pages and the IEP pages that are used when needed...

Hey Special Educators, Are you wondering what small group instruction in special education looks like? How do you separate students into small groups? How do you assess special needs students? In today’s episode, I will be sharing what assessments need to be done FIRST before creating your small group instruction! With so many different ways, I will give you a step-by-step format to get the inform...

Hey Special Ed Teacher, How many pages are in an IEP (Individualized Education Plan)? What are the contents of an IEP? What are the main components of this legal document for our students with special needs? This episode is part 2 of a 3-part series all about understanding the pages of an IEP. This document is overwhelming. So, I share what is contained in an IEP in a step-by-step format to finall...

Hey SPED Teacher, How do you handle physical or aggressive behavior with special needs students? What strategies can be used when dealing with aggressive behaviors in your special education classroom? Why do students exhibit aggression in the first place? In today’s episode, I will be sharing steps to what you can do IN THE MOMENT when a physical and/or aggressive behavior is occurring. Knowing wh...

Hey Special Education Teacher, Need to know the components of an IEP (Individualized Education Plan)? What main parts of an IEP are the most important? Are you searching for IEP training for teachers?  This episode will be part 1 of 3 in understanding the pages of an IEP. You will learn the basics of what is included on each page of this document. An IEP is overwhelming & I do not want you to go t...

Hey Special Ed Teacher, After the winter break, did your students with special needs forget what it’s like to behave in the classroom? Are you wondering what are the best classroom management strategies? How can I improve my classroom management skills as a special education teacher? Today I will be sharing 7 ideas for you to re-establish the foundational behavior systems in your sped classroom! Y...

Hey SPED Teacher, Are you struggling to find time to do all the things to be a special ed teacher? Are you wondering how you can improve your time management skills? Are you always thinking to yourself, “Only if I just had more time”! Today I will be sharing 5 steps you can take to find the time you NEED as a special education teacher! You will learn what is taking your attention away and identify...

Hey Special Education Teacher, Reflecting on the past year, what have you learned with being a special ed teacher? What worked in your classroom? What did not? What are your New Year’s resolutions for your career & your personal life? With the 2022 year coming to an end, I will be sharing 3 important lessons I learned about the past year as a special education teacher. Also, what goals I have for...

Hey Special Education Teacher, How do you set boundaries this school year? When do you know when work life is getting in the way of your personal life? Or when your personal life is getting in the way while you are at work? Today I will be sharing 3 questions to ask yourself with how to set boundaries in your personal life and school for a special education and any teacher! You will learn tactical...

Hey Special Ed Teacher, It is the last week of school in December and winter break is coming up quickly! Are you ready to start your vacation? Did you go over your to-do list for this week? Are your IEP (Individualized Education Plan) responsibilities and duties completed? Today I will be sharing the top 4 IEP must-dos that need to be done before leaving your classroom. We all love this week with...

Hey SpEd Teacher, The holidays are almost here! Are you wondering if students should get homework over winter break? Do you think, is holiday homework necessary? If you do decide to give work, what kind of work do you even give? Today I will be sharing 5 critical skills for your students with special needs to practice during the winter break. I will give the reason why it may be a good idea to pro...

Hey Special Ed Teacher, IEP progress reports are due! Are you wondering how often should IEP progress be reported? What should a student progress report include? Wondering how do you prepare a student progress report? Today I share how I prepare for when IEP goal progress reports are due. These steps will help give you a quick start to begin early, so you can enjoy your Winter Break faster! Do not...

Hey Special Education Teacher, Are you up late worried? Thinking if you’re doing a good job? Are you wondering what qualities make a good special ed teacher? You just heard that ONE negative comment or critique about your teaching. Now you’re up late at night, thinking if you have what it takes to be a sped teacher. Today I share 4 questions to ask yourself to get that validation you need as a spe...

Hey SPED Teacher, Confused about how to collect IEP data? Searching for “how to collect special education data” before your next meeting? Need an easy way to keep track of IEP data? Today you will learn 4 steps to collect data and organize it for an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) meeting! Organizing all the paperwork that comes with being a special ed teacher has always been my struggle! But...

Hey Special Ed Teacher, Do you need fall activities for your Mild/Moderate special education students? Wondering what November theme lessons would be fun? How do you make fall special & meaningful for your students with special needs? Today I share 6 fun November Fall activities that you can do in your special education classroom! Many students do not get the opportunity to do fun crafts, so schoo...

Hey SpEd Teacher, Are you wondering how lessons are implemented for small group instruction for students with disabilities? Need small group lesson ideas for your mild/moderate special education classroom? What are the best strategies for small group instruction?  Today I share 6 steps to lesson plan for your small group instruction! As special education teachers, we are always needing various ide...

Hey Special Ed Teacher, Are you confused about how to set up your small groups? Do you know where to start? Are you having trouble grouping your students?  Today you will learn 5 steps to structuring your small groups! Teaching small groups are necessary to give access to the curriculum or to help students reach their IEP (Individualized Education Plan) goals. Our students have eligibilities that...

Hey Special Education Teacher, Is your SPED class schedule ready for the school year? Do you know where to start? Do you know how much time to give for small groups? What about Speech services, how does that fit in? Today I share 7 steps with how to plan and structure your daily class schedule as a special day teacher. Updating our class schedule doesn’t only happen at the beginning of the school...

Hey Special Ed Teacher, Do you often feel alone when it comes to being the special education teacher on campus? Do you know where to get special ed support? Do you feel like you’re on an island all by yourself? Today I share that you don’t need to be alone going through this sped journey. You’ll learn of 4 places you can make connections and build relationships to get that special ed support YOU n...

Hey Special Ed Teacher, Did you go to school for special education, but still confused with what an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) is actually for? Do you know the different uses of how to use an IEP in special education? What important information does an individualized education plan contain to the student’s educational life? Today you will learn an overview of what significant information...

Hey Special Education Teacher, Do you have piles of student paperwork everywhere? Are you struggling to organize your student data? Stressing to find a student paperwork system that works? Today I share 4 easy classroom systems to organize all that student paperwork! I give you tips on how to keep your student data. I share systems that are easy to remember. These systems are functional and will w...

Hey Special Ed Teacher, Do you know which tools will keep you organized as a teacher? Are you tired of searching Pinterest for the prettiest organizational setup? Are you frustrated using up all of your ink, printing pages for the latest digital planner? Today I share 4 simple organizational tools for a special education teacher that you need to set up now! With all that paperwork and dates to rem...

Hey Sped Teacher, Are you unsure of what activities to plan for back to school? Stressing over which lessons will be the most impactful for that first day back? Should you jump right into academics? Today I share 4 fun back-to-school activities for special education elementary teachers that are not only fun but also necessary to establish routines and structure for you and your students. There are...

Hey Teacher,   It’s the beginning of the year, do you know where to start with your student’s IEPs (Individualized Education Plans)? Are IEPs intimidating to you? Confused about what to focus on first? Today I share 5 areas you MUST review in your IEPs at the beginning of the school year. As you go through the student’s IEPs, it can be overwhelming! You’ll be learning all things IEPs and learning...

Hey Special Ed Teacher, Do you have anxiety over your first year of teaching? Are you nervous about what to expect? Are you unsure of where to start? Today you will learn 4 tips to overcome fear and anxiety in your first year of teaching as a new SPED teacher. You are so excited to begin your first year of becoming a REAL Teacher! But you have some doubts, fears, and anxiety about it. These tips w...