Sharing my experience in the classroom as a life skills special ed transition teacher by providing resources and solutions for fellow educators

100 Fun & Engaging Activities for Adults with Special Needs  

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...

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125 Pre Vocational IEP Goals for High School and Transition

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...

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Cooking Skills Worksheets for Students with Special Needs

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...

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What’s Available to Help Disabled Young Adults in Illinois: Funding, Services, and Supports

Whether the young adult needs funding (i.e. money), services (like therapy), or support (such as help with daily tasks like showering and cooking meals), there are programs available to help pay for these needs.  

While I dream about the day that young adults and their families in...

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3 Valentine’s Day (ish) Activities for Special Ed High School and Transition

It’s early February and everything is red and pink, Reese cups are now in the shape of hearts, and you basically trip over love-themed stuffed animals whenever you walk into a store.  Valentine’s day is coming!  

If you are looking for some Valentine’s Day-themed...

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What You Need to Know When Applying for SSI

What is SSI?  Supplemental Security Income, or SSI for short, is a monthly payment issued to an individual with a disability to help cover the cost of living expenses.   SSI funds can be used to cover the costs of respite, transportation, care providers, rent, food, and...

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Renting Lesson: Understanding a Lease, Manage Paying Bills, and More!
I’m sharing an in-depth resource review of my most recent Renting lesson unitWhile my original Rent lesson unit covers the necessary basics, this new resource includes all your favorite things but dives a bit deeper into renting.  So, if you are looking for materials to teach...
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4 Small Business Ideas for Students with High Support Needs

The mindset that students with higher support needs (aka severe to profound, multi-needs, low functioning) don’t have the ability or interest to engage in vocational training is outdated.   

 

Working 9-5 is not everyone’s dream and meaningfully contributing to...

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Meaningful Vocational Experience for Students with High Support Needs
If you are placing students in community (or school based) jobs and are struggling to find just the right fit for some students with higher support needs, keep reading!  I’m sharing the approach we used in my former program to meaningfully connect students with community and...
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Back to School Resources for the 1st Week of School and Beyond
 

Whether you feel excitement about a new school year or dread, you have to be prepared or you will be eaten alive (not to sound dramatic, but we all know it’s true).  Knowing what you need to start the first day and week of school and having the time to create and perfect said...

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Over 30 Community Vocational Student Volunteer Site Ideas
If you are ready to switch up your student’s community vocational sites, want more vocational experience options for students to choose from, or just know your community has more to offer than just hotels and restaurants, then review the list below!

 

 

I’m sharing over 30...
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5 Resume Tips When Applying for a SpEd Transition Teacher Position
Whether you teach high school, middle school, or elementary, when you long to teach transition (special education programming for 18-22 yr olds) you’ll search far and wide for that coveted position.  Since so many schools are interviewing candidates, now seems like the best time to...
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IEP Goal Bank : Transition Skills

Are you tired of ‘Dollar Over’ being your go-to functional math and independent living goal when drafting annual goals or transition planning?  Because let’s be honest, do most people in the real world carry a $20 bill, $10 bill, $5 bill, and four $1 bills with...

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Lesson Ideas for ESY for the High School & Transition Life Skill Classroom
By IDEA definition, ‘extended school year services means special education and related services that are provided to a child with a disability beyond the normal school year of the public agency; in accordance with the child’s IEP; and at no cost to the parents of the child.’
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Safety Skills Worksheets: The Comprehensive Weekly Workbook You Need

 

When you think of safety skills you probably think of teaching students to wear oven mitts when using the oven, to not share their personal information with strangers, and to lock the door when they are home alone.
 
You probably embed safety skills into specific lessons (like kitchen...
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Vocational Skills Worksheets for Students with Special Needs

I love routine.  I love having to think 1 time and just automate from there.  It frees up my brain and allows my students to know what to expect and when, which we all know is helpful on multiple levels.

 

Well, I’ve been expanding my ‘weekly’ resources (beyond...

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A (FREE) Guide for How to Write an IEP Transition Plan

Whether you are new to teaching special education or a 15 year veteran…

Teach middle school or high school students…

Or even transition-age young adults preparing for the adult world…

Students are on track to attend community college, university, or a rehab day...

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What is the PUNS list in Illinois? Making the PUNS List Make Sense for Parents

If you live in Illinois and your student is in Special Education then you may have heard of PUNS at an IEP meeting or from fellow parents/family members.  With a funny name and less than stellar history, it probably left you either scratching your head or with a sour taste in your...

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Transition Plan Student Workbook for High School and Transition Students

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...

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Functional Reading Comprehension Worksheets for High School and Transition Students

What is ‘functional reading?’ According to me, 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...

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