Fun Activities and Resources for Back to School

Its that time of year again – the panic of building back to school lessons, fresh new resources and a shiny clean classroom! But a new class list of children in Special Education can mean new challenges and worries, so be prepared with hands on resources, learn as much as you can about each student and relax into teaching!

This interactive Daily Binder is full of visual strategies to help your students plan their day ahead and keep them focused throughout. Once laminated or placed in a pocket folder a dry wipe marker can be used for students to jot down their name, grade and class, followed by their teachers name, their friends name, things they like and things they don’t. There are pages with the days of the week for your student to practice and tick off what day it is and same for seasons. Handy pages for students to write out their daily schedule and tick off as they go though it. Working for cards and reward choice. What to remember when you feel angry, “first and then” when they get frustrated and what I need visuals for them to choose from.

About Me – Back to school activity sheets especially designed for new class members to fill in and share information about themselves.

Adapted books will enable your students to practice sequencing, curriculum tasks, stories and everyday activities. Instead of laminating and binding use them as cut and paste activities!

The ability to organise, sequence and prioritise helps us to plan daily activities and manage our time effectively. however, a lot of preschool/Special Education children may find communicating, organising, sequencing and prioritising difficult. This visual binder can support students with everyday basic needs.

FREE Back to School Download Activity sheet

Special Education Activities for the First Week of School!

I know that the start of a new school year can be a stressful time for students and teachers alike. But with a little bit of planning and creativity, we can make the first week of school a fun and engaging time for everyone.

I’ve come up with some fun activities over the years that help my students get to know each other, build relationships with their peers, and feel comfortable in their new Classroom. Not only are these activities great to start off a new school year, but they also provide opportunities to show individual levels of social skills and understanding.

One of my favorite first-week activities is the name game. It’s a simple icebreaker that involves each student sharing their name and one thing they like. It’s a great way to help students learn each other’s names and interests, and it often leads to some fun and unexpected conversations.

Another activity that I love is the classroom scavenger hunt. I create a list of items for students to find around the classroom, such as a pencil, a sharpener, and they can tick off when they find them. This activity helps students become familiar with their surroundings and encourages them to work together.

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I often have my students create an all about me poster, I give them a template to start their “All about me Poster” with place for “My Name”, what I like, favorite things and hobbies. Once everyone has finished we hang the posters around the room so everyone can see them.

I hope these activities inspire you with your planning for the first week back to school after a long Summer Break. But remember, get creative and make the classroom inviting too, with a little bit of work you can create a positive environment that will help your student feel welcome and supported!

Back-to-School Ideas for Creating a Positive Learning Environment!

Why I use Task Boxes

Try a Freebie

When helping a child in Special Education to learn a new skill you need to give clear and simple instructions. A visually structured task can provide the small steps needed for them to understand, stay on track and complete an activity.

These type of Task box activities are broken down with one question to answer on each card as not to overload the learner. They enable the child to focus not only on the basic academic skills in front of them but strengthen fine motor skills, help the student develop self esteem and promote the independence I love to see in my classroom.

My workstations provide a calm area that has clear and specific visuals to help my students focus and learn. Adding these type of self-contained tasks at stations have provided continuous structure for my students to learn and master basic skills with no need for them to wander off and find other materials!

They are so handy to grab for my small group sessions as well as in the independent areas. I’ve organized them into their Curriculum groups and were able to fit into sandwich size containers! Now they’re labelled, easily stored and always ready and on hand.

It took some time to prepare them all in the beginning but now they’re just always ready to grab and go!

PICK UP FREEBIE Task Cards Here

“Click Below” For more Task box ideas Visit my TPT Store!

Basic Math Task boxes

Color Task Box Activity

Task Cards – Find the Same

Color, Shape, Number, pegging

Opposites Task Cards

Letter Tracing Task Cards

Fall Task Cards – I can write numbers to 10

Craft Ideas

For Busy Preschool Teachers

Teachers never seem to have enough time in the day to plan and create fresh, effective and engaging resources. That’s why Id like to share some of my minibeast craft sheets that my kids have loved painting and creating this week. Iv been so proud seeing them using different techniques to decorate their ladybirds, butterfly’s and caterpillars.

I started off by letting them choose a template of their favourite bug and laying out craft materials, paints and tools to encourage their creative minds to run free!

Each student knew what they wanted to use and I was able to see their own unique way of expressing themselves in their art work!

These simple bug crafts kept my young learners focused for ages and and turned out absolutely brilliant!

Click here to download some FREE Bug templates to use with your kids!

For more activities and resources visit my TPT Store

Counting and Number Recognition 1-5

Bugs Interactive Workbook

Playdough Activity Mats for Autism in Special Education Classrooms

Bug Jars Counting 1-10

End of year for Preschool & Special Education

Well the countdown begins! So I’m going to take it easy in the run up to the end of the year. I still like to be prepared for those last few days though, I also want to keep those little ones learning in a fun way and tiny fingers busy, right to the end!

A lot of preschool and children with Special Education can find organising, sequencing and prioritising difficult so I thought Id target some of those skills and keep them practicing.

Keeping my little ones engaged and motivated is important to me, but can be hard work preparing and organising, so having these no-prep sheets ready are a huge life saver and fun for students to work on! I’ve also laminated a copy and popped them in a binder for my students to use at their independent work centres.

For more end of Summer fine motor activities

For More of my End of year Activities press on the links below.

End of School -no prep Sequencing fun

End of year Flip Book – My summer plans

Things that go together – kindergarten, Autism, Special Ed