Making Mornings Magical: Resources for Preschoolers in Special Education

August 19, 2025August 20, 2025 AutismadeLeave a comment

Mornings can be tough for little ones and grown-ups alike! For preschoolers in special education, having a predictable, engaging morning routine can make a *big* difference in how the day goes. Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, or teacher, here are some simple, supportive resources to help start the day with confidence, joy, and calm.

Why Morning Routines Matter

Builds predictability.

Supports transitions

Encourages communication

Creates a sense of accomplishment

Here are some ideas to make mornings easier and more fun:

1. VISUAL SCHEDULES

Use pictures to show each step of the morning—wake up, brush teeth, get dressed, eat breakfast, etc.
Daily Classroom SCHEDULE

2. MORNING SONGS AND MOVEMENT

Start the day with music and motion to wake up the body and brain!

Songs to Try

“Hello Song” by Super Simple Songs

“Good Morning” by The Learning Station

“Wake Up Shake Up” by Kiboomu

3. MORNING WORK BINS

Simple, hands-on bins that children can explore after arriving at school or getting ready at home.

IDEAS FOR BINS AND TASK BOXES:

* MATCHING SHAPES AND COLORS

* Simple puzzles or stacking

* Velcro letter boards

* Sensory bins (rice, beans, water beads)

* Printable Worksheets & Activities

* PEG TASK CARDS

While WORKSHEETS need to be short and engaging for preschoolers, there are great modified versions available for all learners.

Try This Morning tracing (lines, shapes, names), matching, simple counting or weather charts.

A simple, consistent home routine helps bridge the gap between home and school.

1. Wake Up

2. Use the Bathroom

3. Brush Teeth

4. Get Dressed

5. Eat Breakfast

6. Put on Shoes

7. Pack Bag

You can create your own chart or grab a FREE TEMPLATE from my TPT Store

Every child is different—what works for one may not work for another. But with a little creativity, structure, and patience, mornings can become a positive and empowering part of the day.

Welcome back-to-school season!

June 30, 2025September 2, 2025 AutismadeLeave a comment

It’s such an exciting time, especially for our littlest learners who thrive with hands-on, visual, and sensory-rich activities. If you’re working with children in a preschool/Kindergarten, special education setting, these transition table-top activities can be a gentle and engaging way to ease into routines while learning to transition between tasks. Here’s a list of 5 simple tabletop activities perfect for those early days back, with a focus on fine motor skills, early literacy, and numeracy:

1. Playdough letter & Number Mats

Squish, roll, press! Create custom laminated mats with each child’s name and numbers 1–5. Let them form the letters and numerals using playdough snakes, encouraging finger strength and shape recognition. Add cookie cutters or rollers for extra sensory fun.

2. Pom-Pom Drop with Tongs

Set up cups labeled with numbers and a bin of colorful pom-poms. Children use tongs or adapted tweezers to transfer the pom-poms into the correct cup—fantastic for counting practice and fine motor coordination. Try textured pom-poms for added tactile input.

3. Alphabet Soup Sensory Tray

Fill a shallow bin with dry pasta or rice and scatter plastic or foam letters inside. Provide spoons, scoops, or small ladles for learners to “scoop” letters out and match to visual cue cards or alphabet mats. Engages multiple senses while working on letter ID.

4. Stickers, Dots, Letters and Numbers

Offer large printouts of letters and numbers and invite children to place small circle stickers (like garage sale dots) along the lines. It’s calming, fun, and fantastic for developing finger dexterity and spatial awareness.

5. Build-a-Tower Counting Game

Provide numbered cards (1–10) alongside a set of stacking blocks or Duplo bricks. Kids draw a card and build a tower with the matching number of blocks. Add visual supports for non-verbal communication—like number boards or thumbs-up visuals—for celebrating each success.

Visual supports are a superpower in the special ed classroom—especially for non-verbal learners! They make abstract concepts concrete, help with transitions and understanding, and boost independence.

These low-prep, hands-on activities are not only accessible for non-verbal kiddos, but they’re also filled with opportunities for choice-making, shared attention, and joyful participation.

For more back to school resources try my TPT Store

Support Hands-On Learning with Visual Recipe Mats!

June 16, 2025November 21, 2025 AutismadeLeave a comment

Visual Recipes Mat | Easy no bake snacks | Cooking Life Skills

Looking for a fun and interactive way to help young learners build real-life skills? Our Visual Recipe Mats are the perfect addition to any early learning classroom!

These engaging, hands-on mats walk students through simple snack recipes using step-by-step picture instructions. Whether it’s making a sandwich, mixing up some chocolate milk, or assembling a breakfast favorite, children will gain confidence and independence as they follow along.

Perfect for preschool, Special Education and early elementary ages, these mats are designed to:

Encourage sequencing and direction-following
Build basic cooking and fine motor skills
Promote independent learning—with plenty of fun along the way!

What’s Included?

🥪 I Can Make a Sandwich
🍳 I Can Make Breakfast
🥛 I Can Make Chocolate Milk

Each mat has 3 easy steps and is durable, easy to clean, and reusable—just wipe and reuse! They’re great for small groups, life skills centers, or one-on-one support.

Bring real-world learning to life in your classroom—one recipe at a time!

Ready to get cooking? Grab your set of Visual Recipe Mats today and make learning deliciously fun!

For more Resources visit my TPT Shop here

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/FREE-Recipe-Reminder-Visuals-Easy-no-bake-snacks-Cooking-Life-Skills-13947968#show-price-update

Free Recipe mats

An Ultimate Classroom Management Plan

April 25, 2025August 22, 2025 AutismadeLeave a comment

For Special Education Teachers

Classroom management in a special education setting isn’t just about keeping order—it’s about creating a space where every student feels safe, supported, and empowered to learn. Whether you’re a new teacher or just looking for a refresher, this ultimate classroom management plan will help you build a strong foundation for success.

1. Set Clear Expectations from Day One

Students thrive when they know what’s expected of them. Establish clear, simple rules and routines early on. Use visual aids, pictures, or even role-playing to reinforce rules. Keep the language consistent and positive—for example:

Use kind words
Raise your hand to speak
Keep hands and feet to yourself

Repetition and reinforcement are key.

Grab a FREE Version here

2. Build Strong Relationships

Connection comes before correction. Get to know your students—what they like, what triggers them, what helps them calm down. A strong teacher-student relationship is the cornerstone of good behavior. Take time to:

Greet students warmly each day
Show interest in their hobbies
Celebrate small wins

3. Structure the Environment for Success

A well-organized classroom can reduce distractions and promote independence. Try this:

Use labeled bins and clear visuals for materials
Create defined spaces (e.g., a calm-down corner, group work area)
Keep transitions smooth with visual schedules or timers

4. Be Proactive, Not Reactive

Anticipate challenges before they happen. For example:

Use sensory breaks for students who get overstimulated
Provide fidgets or alternative seating for students with focus issues
Modify tasks to meet individual needs

Being proactive also means recognizing and praising positive behaviors more often than correcting negative ones.

5. Use a Consistent Behavior Plan

Consistency is key. Choose a behavior management system that works for your group, such as:

Token economies (students earn points or stickers for positive behavior)
Color charts or behavior contracts
Positive reinforcement systems customized to the student (like earning extra iPad time)

Make sure to communicate the plan with paraprofessionals, parents, and anyone else working with your students.

6. Collaborate with Your Team

You’re not in this alone. Collaborate with:

Paraprofessionals
Therapists (OT, speech, etc.)
Parents and caregivers

Share strategies, stay consistent, and support one another.

7. Reflect and Adjust

No plan is perfect—and that’s okay. What works for one group might not work for the next. Reflect regularly:

What’s working well?
What needs tweaking?
How are the students responding?

Stay flexible and be willing to change what’s not working.

Final Thoughts

Effective classroom management in special education is all about structure, relationships, and consistency. When students feel safe and understood, real learning can happen. With a solid plan in place, you can build a classroom where every child has the opportunity to shine.

Resources For Special Education Teachers

Free Calm Down Poster

Free Social Skills Poster | Class rules | Classroom Behavior Management

Calm Down Tools & Token Reward Boards for Classroom Behavior Management

Calm Down Corner Tab book & Posters

Calm Down check in / Social-Emotional learning, Posters and coping tools

Social Emotional Posters for being friends, classroom expectations

Visual Behavior Support cards – Break, Help & Wait Strategies for Autism

A Bundle Social Skill Stories – Social-Emotional Learning

Classroom Support Cards

REASONS TO USE THE FIRST & THEN STRATEGY

April 5, 2025November 21, 2025 AutismadeLeave a comment

The First-Then strategy is incredibly versatile. It can be adapted for a wide range of situations, from simple tasks (like “First, put on your shoes. Then, you can go outside”) to more complex, academic instructions.

It can be used across different environments (home, school, therapy settings), making it a universally applicable tool. Below I’ve listed more reasons to implement this strategy!

To Enhances Self-Regulation and Motivation:

Children better manage their behavior by knowing they must finish one activity (First) before starting another (Then). This builds intrinsic motivation and a sense of accomplishment.

To Facilitates Communication and Language Development:

The First-Then strategy supports communication skills. Using visuals or choice boards helps non-verbal children understand sequencing and choice-making, encouraging language use for communication.

To Reduces Anxiety and Overwhelm:

For many children with special needs, the world can be overwhelming. Not knowing what to expect next can lead to anxiety or avoidance. The First-Then strategy provides predictability, helping children to feel more in control and less anxious about transitions.

To Builds a Positive Reinforcement Cycle:

By using the First-Then strategy with rewards that are meaningful to the child, educators or caregivers can create a positive feedback loop. The child is more likely to follow instructions and engage in activities if they know there’s an enjoyable outcome after completing the task.

Positive reinforcement also helps build trust between the child and teacher or caregiver.

To Increases Independence:

As children become more familiar with the structure of the First-Then strategy, they may begin to independently initiate tasks. Over time, they learn that completing tasks leads to desired outcomes, which can encourage them to take ownership of their actions.

To Strengthens Social Skills:

In group settings, using First-Then can help children learn how to take turns, follow rules, and understand social expectations. For example, “First, you listen to the teacher. Then, you can play with your friends” helps kids practice social behaviors while learning the concept of waiting.