2017/2018 Classroom Reveal

Yes, I know its March and that we have already been in school for 7 months, but this year has been crazy busy, so I am just now getting around to doing my classroom reveal. This year I just moved to teaching an elementary significant needs class. Previously I have been teaching middle school, so I was excited that I would get to go a little more "cutesy" than I have in the past. I decided to stick with my "Black and Bright" theme, because let's face it....it looks awesome! I have really enjoyed how clean and classy it looks when it all comes together. 

When putting together a special education classroom, the first thing that I always consider are my boundaries and the different physical locations I want to make in my classroom. I have noticed if I do not break my classroom up, the class becomes a big play area that the students think they can run around in. This first section I'm going to show you is our "break area". 

I like having a break area, so the kids have a safe cozy spot they can go to cool down. Several of my kiddos even work towards some time in the break area. I have bean bags, weighted blankets, and a bungee chair (not pictured). I also keep puzzles, toys/fidgets, and books in here.

I also have a section in my classroom where I have student schedules. I have both visual schedules that my students use, as well as student schedules that my EA's can reference throughout the day. 

I also have an independent task box station in my classroom. It functions like most independent work stations where students match the symbol on their desk to the symbol on the task box.

Notice the task box symbols on the table. (I forgot to get a good picture of just the symbols) But this is a great picture of one of my kiddos working on their Welcome Work that you can also grab in my TPT store.

Another priority when I'm planning my classroom is student work spaces. Some of my students are able to work at our classroom tables with other students, but some need their own space designed specifically for them. I take lots of things into consideration when I'm deciding where these work spaces will be and what they will look like, including how much distraction they can tolerate, how close they are to the outside door, and so much more. Here is an example of one of my student specific work spaces.

This student's work area includes his visual schedule, drawers for my EA's to store his materials, and visuals that go along with his behavior management system.

One of the student's favorite stations in my classroom is the "Technology Area". This is where all of our computers and iPad are stored. Students often earn the privilege to hang out in these areas if we are not using the technology for academic purposes.

Please ignore the clutter underneath the desks! It's been organized since this picture was taken! (Moving classrooms can be a disaster sometimes!)

Now that I've shown you my student areas, I'll give you a glimpse of the spaces I have for the adults in my class. I decided this year that I didn't want a teacher desk in my classroom. I just do all of my work at a regular kidney table, so I can also use it to teach students. Here is a picture of the table that I use as my "desk".

Notice the bulletin board in the corner! I love having a space to hang up student work!

I also made an area for my EA's (paras, paraeducators, whatever you choose to call them). I have a bulletin board that I put all of my para visuals on. It is helpful to just have some of the important stuff posted, so we don't forget. 

You can find these posters in my Paraeducator Bundle on my TPT store.

I also have a teacher toolbox where I keep all of my PECS symbols nice and organized. This has been the best system I've found for doing this. In this area, I also put drawers that I can stick stuff in incase an EA ever has any free time. They can pull things that need to be done out of these drawers.

This about sums up my classroom for this year! I hope you have found this useful or can grab some ideas for you own classroom!

Adapted Books in a Special Education Classroom

I'm just going to be honest....I am OBSESSED with using adapted books in my classroom! They are a good "grab and go" activity, if I have a little extra time after a lesson to fill. My EA's also use these in the general education classrooms, when a reading passage or activity may be over my kiddos' levels.

I organize my books in bins so they are easily accessible to any adult who needs one for a lesson or activity.

In my classroom, I use the counting adapted books to teach basic counting skills. It is nice for my kiddos to change up themes and activities from just the normal counting activities. My students enjoy the different themes and stories that often go a long with them. I even have a couple of counting from 11-20 for my higher kiddos.

I use "WH" questions adapted books that are wonderful to practice or track IEP comprehension goal data. I can use one to go along with an upcoming holiday or to teach a skill that is being taught in their regular education classroom. I have found that it is nice to have the comprehension questions immediately after the passage. It is also helpful to have a visual along with the words for my nonreaders. I am constantly adding new adapted books to my library to keep learning interesting and fun for my students.

This is an adapted book I use to teach my students about Hanukkah. You can find this book here.

All of my adapted books can be found on my Teachers Pay Teachers store, SPEDitorials. 

I also offer an Adapted Books Growing Bundle in my store that I upload new books to regularly. You will definitely get the best bang for your buck with this bundle!

DIY Classroom Magnetic Board

    I'm always in search of new and unique ways for my students to learn and grow. I'm sure you are too! I mean that's why you're here, right? :) I have several students in my class that receive occupational therapy. Earlier this year, our OT came in and told me that having students with fine motor issues work on a vertical surface can help improve some of the student's fine motor skills. So, I took this and ran with it! I mean, if it's going to help my students, I was gonna find a way to make this happen!

My solution? Huge magnetic board work station! And if you knew me, you would know that I had to make this a fun DIY project. My first stop? Home Depot. I bought a sheet of galvanized steel for about $10. It was a pretty big sheet and also can double as a dry erase board. So, it was a great buy.

I decided to mount it on the partition that I have, to make the most use of my space as possible. As you can see, I used bulletin board border to make it look a little cuter. I also put a couple layers of duct tape around all of the edges of the sheet metal because it is VERY sharp and I wasn't going to take a chance of any of my kiddos cutting their hand. 

                                  

I already have letters for my class, so I just but some sticky magnets on the back and it was good to go! I have some kiddos that are also working on colors, shapes, and numbers, so I made work kits that a paras could have available when they needed it.

                     

I went a little Cricut crazy, and cut out shapes, letters, and objects in different colors. Each folder has a pencil case that has all of the materials that the paras need for each activity.     

                  

The paras LOVE it and the students LOVE it! They pull up a bean bag or a floor cushion and the have a blast. The best thing about this is that you can do any type of activity on this board. It can be completely modified depending on what subject and level you teach!

  

"Freeze Time" Telling Time Activity

    It's been a while since I've made a post, and a lot has changed in my little teaching world. This year I have been working in a wonderful significant needs middle school classroom. As my first year teaching in a significant needs classroom, it felt like my first year teaching all over again! And I'm sure we all remember how crazy that first year can be. So, now that you're all caught up on me, I wanted to share an activity that I have been doing in my math class that the kids absolutely LOVE!

This is the basket right by the door, where the students pick up their cards each day.

     In my math class, I focus on teaching functional skills--skills that will help my students with everyday tasks and teach them how to live independently in the future. 

This activity is called "Freeze Time."

When each student walks into class, they pick up a Freeze Time card and a dry erase marker. Students continue class as normal. Throughout the class, I will periodically say "FREEZE". All of my students know that they must pause what they're doing and look up at the clock. They write down whatever time the clock says. At the end of class, they put their cards back in the basket.

Once class is over, I have one of my paras check the cards for correctness. I have set up a reward system with my students: each time every student in the class gets the correct answers, they earn a letter. If they are able to earn every letter to spell out "Freeze Time", I bring them in a surprise, as promised.

   

                   

As you can see, the kids are SO close to finishing! And with each letter they get, they get more and more encouraged to get the right answer and, ultimately, excited to earn their prize. 

This activity has been super great in my classroom because I can make sure my kiddos aren't losing their time telling skills. Now I don't have to take a whole day just to have a review day!

If you'd like to get your own "Freeze Time" cards, please click HERE!    

                  

Smartboard/Powerpoint Money

Last year I found myself teaching in a high school functional/life skills class. When I came in as a student teacher, I found that all of the students were really struggling with identifying and counting money. Worksheets had just not been working. (How well do they ever really work anymore?) Kids, even the students with significant learning needs, LOVE and THRIVE from using technology. I just believe that some sort of technology in the classroom is so essential. It's something that I feel teachers should be really taking advantage of. I personally don't know how teachers survived with out it years ago. But anyways...back to money! Although the students in the class have already been introduced to coins, repetition couldn't hurt. I made a smart board presentation for my students to help hit some of those different learning styles. I started by introducing all of the coins individually.

The green dots help students when they are counting groups of coins. The dime has two dots. They will POINT and SAY "5, 10" as they touch each dot. Seems super simple, but it is extremely effective.

My kids loved, loved, loved this!! It was a change from what their normal teacher did on a daily basis, so they were really engaged. The presentation gives several opportunities for an "I do, we do, you do" method. Feel free to download the presentation FREE by clicking HERE and use in your own class. I know, as teachers, we can be quite busy during the day so sharing resources is a must. 

And again, please let me know if it worked well in your classroom!

Being a first year special education teacher, I have found myself using the trial and error method over and over again. Because I currently work in a full inclusion school, I find myself chasing my students around trying to get them to turn in their missing assignments. What I have found that works the best with having my students to stay on top of their grades is having my pizza party reward system set up. All of my kids know that if they can keep all of their grades a C or above they will get to participate in our pizza party at the end of the quarter. I know that this sounds like such a small thing, but for a bunch of 9th graders food can be the motivator for almost ANYTHING!

I chose to use a pizza pan for the base of the chart. I mean its for a pizza party....it only makes sense, right? :) I made the name tags look like pizza because, again, it's a stinkin' pizza party. It makes sense! (To download the editable versions of the name tags for free, click on the following link:)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B34-fBjybmhYcTRjYjU2VHU3ZzQ/view?usp=sharing

My absolute favorite part about this project is that, because the pizza pan is metal, it's magnetic. Having magnets on the back of the pizza slices make it so easy to take the names on and off as the weeks go on. 

My students love coming in each week to check to make sure that their name is still up on the chart. It has been a good starting place for me to try to implement other things to help my students self regulate their own grades instead of me having to chase them down several times a week. Try it yourself and let me know how is works for you! :)