Sharing my experience in the classroom as a life skills special ed transition teacher by providing resources and solutions for fellow educators
Please do NOT buy that fidget box full of random rainbow-colored fidgets, and I hope it will meet the needs of teens and adults! You are bound to find that they are small in size, simple, and limited in use.
So, I made a list of the best fidget toys out there for older kids,...
I think every special education teacher has had the feeling of wanting to teach new skills or address IEP goals with a student and knowing all the ways that haven't worked. Educators often turn to other coworkers looking for the right tools, including ideas, insight, and suggestions for...
This list goes beyond the cliche suggestions of playing board games, trying new card games, and making stress balls and sensory bottles (although those can be fun activities, too)! Aiming to be age-appropriate for adults and skill—and ability-conscious, it includes ten ideas for ten...
Early in my time teaching transition my fellow special education teachers and I split up the responsibility of visiting job sites and teaching vocational skills classes. Like any true novice teacher, I focused most of my vocational skills class time on writing text-based resumes and mock...
Some of my favorite memories of teaching stem from my beloved cooking lessons. It was always a mix of chaos, laughs, near misses, and young adults with special needs scarfing down their deliciously messy plates. I was actually observed by my assistant department chair, department...
I love a really good transition assessment. I love when parents/family members give quality feedback. I love when staff share their ideas and insight about a student’s future. But, I really love when students are open, honest, and (most importantly) realistic* about their...
What is ‘functional reading?’ I believe it’s being able to read and understand enough to get what you want or need AND what you don’t want or don’t need. This includes weeding out the fluff stuff that doesn’t matter. The fluff detracts you from your...
You are sitting down to write a student’s IEP and you get to the Transition Plan section. You plug in the same phrasing you use to every other student.
GASP!!!!
You would never do that!!! You are a better educator than to copy + paste (even if it would save you a...
You know that starting off each school day with consistent structure, meaningful engaging activities, and skill-focused conversation will really set up your students for a great day.
Well, I always wished I had a daily resource with fresh questions that were life skill related,...
I can picture it now…
You are an effective, student-focused teacher who wants to provide valuable vocational experiences to give students work-based practice beyond a vocational box in the classroom. You want them to get out of your room, work with new, less familiar...
Let me preface this by saying that YOU won’t be doing any work for your well earned summer break. Instead, you’ll give your families a summer to-do list to help them be ready to dive into the benefits/service/support application process in the fall.
Here are...
Importance of Knowing How to Behave in a Sit Down Restaurant and How to Tip
Your students may enjoy a sit down restaurant every week with family, they may go periodically on the weekend with friends, or they may go a couple times a year for special celebrations. Either way, they...
For some students, ordering food from a restaurant is basically a part of their everyday life, but for others, it's an important life skill they might use a handful of times a month. Regardless, food is a basic necessity and students are bound to access a restaurant (either by visiting...
Importance of Navigating a Store
Importance of Online Banking and ATM
Importance of Teaching How to Budget
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