Hey, it's been a while! I'm happy to be back online after a 2-year hiatus from the blogging world. Last time I wrote a post I was sharing the news that I was expecting twins. Since then, I became a member of a very beloved club which is the Preemie Parents Community after having our... Continue Reading →
My favourite thing about a new school year is CHANGE. While the bulk of my program stays the same from year to year, I thrive on the opportunity to find new ideas and implement them into my classroom to either improve an area of my teaching or enhance what is already there. This year I... Continue Reading →
The beginning of any school year comes with a lot of anticipation and anxiety. As teachers my husband and I prepare ourselves for the transition from a restful summer to the hustle of back to school by setting our alarms earlier and earlier everyday for the last week of summer. It never works, and after... Continue Reading →
When the school year ends, I like to reflect on the journey from September to June from the lens of the staff and the student. When I think of success in teaching, I think, what was the most rewarding part of my year? It may not have been goals met or marks achieved, but rather, a day... Continue Reading →
Discovering a passion for Special Education early in my career, I never gained experience in nor desired to have a "mainstream" class of my own - not yet anyway. In my current position I focus on behaviour needs and have the opportunity to visit many different classrooms outside of Special Education settings - many being... Continue Reading →
The #makeschooldifferent challenge calls upon educators to look critically at our current education system and how it affects our students. As I read some great posts by other educators, I find that some of the issues that arise around public education and 'mainstream' teaching produce commonalities that are also found in Special Education. I hope... Continue Reading →
The word 'individual' is used in abundance in Special Education to describe the nature of the student's school day. Their programs are individualized, their schedules are individualized, and worktime is often completed one-on-one with an adult to ensure that 'individualized' goals are met. "The underlying goal of any Special Education program is to provide students with the skills to... Continue Reading →
"What do you do with your students all day?" Structured Work Systems are based on TEACCH values that suggest through evidence that teaching through a visually organized system promotes understanding and clarity for individuals with Autism. The Work Space is... Free(ish) of distractions Each student has a deskspace but are close together for staff to roll... Continue Reading →
Why implement a visual schedule in your classroom? Improves receptive language Expands child's interests Increases flexibility Reduces inappropriate behaviours caused by anxiety Transition tool Develops independence, organization - put it in the IEP! One schedule does not fit all, and just like any other teaching tool schedules need to be differentiated to fit the individual... Continue Reading →
I began the third year of my Special Education career opening a brand new, freshly built Primary Community Classroom in an existing school. What an amazing opportunity to completely design my very own classroom space and start from scratch with my own program. With some help from S.B. Linton, I set up my classroom in a... Continue Reading →
ASD Teach 