• Kindness Trick-or-Treat: A Fun Halloween Kindness Activity for Middle and High School

    Why I Love Teaching Kindness in October October is the perfect time to bring creativity and *kindness* into the classroom. That’s why I designed this Halloween SEL activity to help students celebrate with kindness. With all the excitement around Halloween, I love finding ways to channel that energy into something meaningful. That’s exactly why I […]

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  • 3 Engaging Ways to Encourage Writing in High School Special Education Students

    Writing can be a challenging task for many high school special education students, but with the right strategies and activities, it can become a rewarding and enjoyable experience. With my students who don’t like to write, I try to make what they are writing about relevant/something that interests them and I also try to give […]

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  • Empathy Exchange: Fostering Compassion in the Classroom this Valentine’s Day

      As we embrace the month of February and all the love it brings, let’s channel that energy into fostering compassion and empathy in our classrooms. This blog post dives into the art of writing Empathy Exchange Cards, a meaningful activity I created that’s perfect for Valentine’s Day. Beyond the traditional festivities, this activity aligns […]

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  • Creating Calmness: Top Strategies Used in my Classroom

    In the dynamic environment of my emotional support classroom, fostering a sense of tranquility and emotional regulation is most important. Students with diverse emotional needs require a supportive space that encourages them to manage their feelings effectively. In my classroom, employing various calming strategies becomes an essential tool in nurturing a positive learning atmosphere. Let’s […]

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  • Documenting Transition Services and Activities

    Documenting Student Transition Skills and Activities for IEPs

    If you’ve been a follower of mine on Instagram for awhile, you already know I use my Transition Tracking Sheets in my classroom. These sheets have been a great help in developing IEPs and to have at the IEP meeting. They make documenting special education transition services and activities in the classroom easy. Each year […]

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  • Resources that Helped Me Survive Virtual and Hybrid Teaching

    I can officially say this 2020-2021 school year is the longest school year I’ve ever experienced. Switching between hybrid learning, virtual learning, and in-person plus virtual learning was A LOT. It feels SO good to know I survived this year, with minimal tears shed. Ugh. This week, I’ve been working on cleaning/packing my classroom, as […]

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  • Planning for Virtual IEP Meetings

    I’ve officially completed a year of planning for and conducting virtual IEP meetings. Like many (if not all) of you, I NEVER thought I would EVER say that. Seriously. If someone would’ve told me two years ago to create a Zoom Link to send home with my IEP meeting invitations I would’ve thought they were […]

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  • The First 10 Minutes of Class in My Secondary Special Education Classroom

    I’ve always told myself that the first 10 minutes of class sets the tone for the entire class. Now, I’m not saying this is 100% true, but it is what I like to tell myself – haha. In this first 10 minutes of class, my students have time to come in, get situated (sharpen their […]

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  • Co-Teaching in Google Classroom

    I just wrapped up my thirteenth year as a special education teacher. THIRTEENTH.  That blows my mind to think about. I’ve learned so much over the years, through experience spent in the classroom, but year thirteen was unlike any other. Never did I think I would be finishing out the school year teaching from my […]

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