Tag: Special Education resources

Effective Behavior Management Tips for Special Ed Teachers

AutismadeLeave a comment

Are you tired of spending your day as a teacher constantly battling disruptive student behaviors! Well, you’re not alone. In this article, we’ll provide you with some handy ideas for behavior management in your Special Ed Classroom!

As educators we understand the importance of creating an inclusive and positive learning environment for our students, particularly those with Special Needs. So with this logical flow of ideas, lets dive in and explore some creative and effective strategies for Behavior Management you can use.

1. Token Rewards

Token Rewards – A powerful method of strengthening new skills, the tokens are a way of reinforcing positive behavior and rewarding students for completing tasks, they then trade the tokens for desired activities or items they choose beforehand.

QUICK TIP – I use this board when I start teaching the Token Reward strategy, its a classroom resource that I can adapt with motivator choices that’s adapted for individual needs.

2. Critical Communication Cards

Critical Communication Cards – To teach new skills such as requesting “break please”, “help” and “wait” self -management strategies.

QUICK TIP – I place them on the edge of tables to remind students on their choices.

3. Self Regulation Tools

Self regulation tools – I’ve made tools individually accessible for my students to use in a handy little booklet.

QUICK TIP – I bind then as a book and keep them on hand for self management, each one tailored to individual needs that help them to self-regulate.

4. First and Then Strategies

First and Then – By using this strategy my students know what they must complete before having what they want, it also provides structure in their behaviour support plans.

QUICK TIP – If my students are finding it difficult to stay on track, I use the first and then strategy to remind them of what they are working for before they can get the item or activity they want.

5. Calm Down Corner

Calm Down Area – Sort out a corner of the room with a beanbag on the floor and a little book shelf for privacy, I kept it very plain and simple with just the calm down tools on hand… WOW it looks great, and my kids love it! Next I wanted to gave my kids a chance to take a break before things got to tricky, so I made these colourful break cards and purchased a sand timer.

QUICK TIP – Have a visual choice board ready with pictures of nice, peaceful activities that would help to distract from upset and some visual calm down tools to practice.

6. Classroom Posters

Posters – Visual Support reminders to Teach essential emotional regulation techniques and set them up in calm areas, display class rules and social skills posters in easy to see areas.

QUICK TIP – Print and display posters around the classroom or in a calm down area, use them to remind students of your classroom behavior expectations.

Find more Resources see below

Reward Systems

Self Regulation

Bundles

All TPT Resources

Visual Behavior Support Folder – Token Rewards Tools, schedules, First & Then,

Visual Supports: Token Reward System/First & Then – Strategies for Special Ed

Classroom Behavior Management Strategies: First, Next and Then Tools

Token Reward folder: Visual support tools with “first & then” Behavior Strategy

First, Next and Then table Schedule Templates with Visual Supports

First Then boards and Help cards: Autism visual supports

Visual Supports:”First, next, then” with Token Rewards Systems

Understanding Errorless Learning in Special Education

AutismadeLeave a comment

Have you ever heard of errorless learning? if not, your not alone! When I first came across this approach I was skeptical. How can learning take place without errors? But when I delved deeper I discovered that errorless learning activities can be a valuable resource in Special Ed Classrooms.

Imagine tasks that don’t have a wrong answer and only successful completion, sounds like a dream, but its a reality for many students.

In this article we will explore the concepts of errorless learning and its benefits for students with Special needs. We will also look at the different skills that can be developed though these activities and the types of tasks that can be used.

Learning Objectives

These type of tasks not only improve student task routines and promote independent completion as well as teaching them to work from left to right. but also helps to build their confidence and fine motor skills. Students can practice using their pincer grip to manipulate the visuals to give the answers.

Skills

Recognise items

Fine motor grip

Build independent work skills

learn to work left to right

Gain confidence and work independently

Folder Games

These Errorless folder games can be seasonal or linked to topics and basic learning skills for independent stations

Adapted Books

Errorless adapted books can be applied to almost any subject and enable students to join in with stories and reading skills.

Task Cards

Errorless Task cards can be taught at independent stations and in fine motor skill sessions.

Setting up Behavior Resources & Visual Directions in the Classroom

AutismadeLeave a comment

As a Teacher you know you need to have a well stocked toolbox!  But for a Special Ed teacher this is especially true in order to run a successful classroom.

Students with such diverse needs will need more specialised resources to support their learning. In this article I would like to share with you a handful of essential tools that I’ve discovered, created and have helped with behavior management in my Special Ed classroom.

10 resources I find the most useful in my classroom for you to check out

  1. Calm Down check in / Social-Emotional learning, Posters and coping tools
  2. Classroom Behavior Management Tools | Reward charts, First and Then, schedules)
  3. Visual Direction | Cue card instructions
  4. Editable Visual Schedules
  5. Token Reward Boards a Positive Reinforcement System for Autism/Special Ed
  6. Classroom Support Cards | Classroom Behavior Management | Special Education
  7. Classroom Support Visuals on a Ring | Behavior Management
  8. Behavior Support Pack – Token Boards, Choice cards and How are you feeling?
  9. Editable Schedules for Classroom Management
  10. Socials Skill Stories for Classroom Behavior Management

5 FREE resources for you to download and try

  1. Help me calm down | Free Poster
  2. 2 Free Classroom Management Posters for Back to School
  3. Reward Boards – Free Token Economy for Behavior Management
  4. How are you feeling Emoji Free cards
  5. FREE – Good Choice, Bad Choice Activity Boards

It is important to remember that these resources are not just tools, but opportunities to empower and uplift students, and an opportunity for you to explore and implement them in your own classroom.

Fun Activities and Resources for Back to School

AutismadeLeave a comment

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

Engaging Students: A Guide to Creating Interactive Adapted Books for kids

AutismadeLeave a comment

“Are you struggling to keep your special education students engaged in pre-reading material? Look no further! In this post, we will guide you through creating interactive adapted books that will effortlessly engage your students and make reading fun and exciting.”

Not only will these adapted books provide a fun and interactive pre-reading experience for your students, but they will also meet the specific needs and abilities of each individual student. By incorporating visual aids, manipulatives, and other interactive elements, these books will enhance comprehension and build a love for learning. Follow along as we break down the steps to creating your own adapted books.

Incorporating Interactive Elements for Enhanced Learning

An adapted book can be simplified for young learners and kids in Special Education to access. The main objectives of these type of adapted books is to comment on what they see on the page, identify the visual to answer the “I can see” question, learn story vocabulary and answer “who”questions about the animal characters in the story.

  • So attaching detachable visuals will enable the learner to answer questions.
  • Having a selection of visuals to choose from will establish a correspondence check for accuracy.
  • Using a comprehensive accompanied book with visuals will check understanding.
  • Vocabulary check cards can help with naming the corresponding characters, items or animals.
  • The Benefits of these Interactive Adapted Books
  1. Using interactive resources can help your young learners and non verbal students access popular stories and their characters, practice story sequencing skills, increasing motivation and interest, promote independence, and enhancing comprehension.
  2. Learners are able to practice receptive and expressive language skills, Vocabulary, sequencing and Math and Literacy.