Unconventional Ways to Recruit Help in the Special Education Classroom

Seriously, this job is huge.  There is no possible way that you can do it alone. (If you can... send me a message because I want to learn your ways!) You need help. More often than not that help does not come in the form of staffing.  You need to actively seek out an army of volunteers.  Check out my 6 out of the box ideas for getting volunteers into your special education classroom.

1. Middle School/High School Helpers - Many districts have a community service requirement for middle school and high school students.  What better place for them to give back than in your classroom?

2. Transition Students - Does your district offer a transition program for students age 18-21? If so, consider collaborating with the instructor to see if your classroom can serve as a job site.

3. College Interns - There are many opportunities to open your classroom to college interns, not just official student teachers.  Reach out to local colleges and universities to see if they are looking for additional classroom placements.

4. Military - Did you know that many branches of the military have school liaison officers who serve as a link between military families and schools?  While their primary role is to support students and families, they also support educators with training and resources.  Consider checking with your local school liaison officers to see if they can coordinate volunteers to support military students in the classroom.

5. PTA - Are you running short on parent volunteers from your class?  Check with your PTA to see if there are any parents from other classrooms who may be interested in helping out in your room.

6. Boy Scouts - Do you need help with a specific project? Check with your local boy scout troop.  They are often looking for service opportunities within their community.  Building furniture, designing adaptive equipment, and supporting their peers are all worth while projects that the Boy Scouts may be willing to take on.

Do you have any unconventional ways to recruit help in your classroom?  Please share!

Prioritizing Your Special Education Workload Using Google Keep

Over the past few years Google has slowly been taking over my life.  I use Gmail, store all of my files in Google Drive, use Google Calendar to schedule all of my meetings, and use Google Forms to collect data (for more info about how I use Google Forms, check out The Simple Way I Track Behavior in My Class... Digitally!).  What's the one area where I continue to use a paper and pen?  Lists!  I love a good to-do list and have a bazillion sticky notes to prove it!

Last week I talked about using the 4-square method for prioritizing your work load.  You can find the post HERE.  It is basically a simple way of mapping out the level of importance and urgency of each task.  It is often done in a grid with the level of urgency across the top and the level of importance down the side.  If you like the paper version, you can pick up a free copy HERE.

If you are more of a digital note taker, or you want to become one, Google Keep is a great option.  It is a simple application that lets you customize digital sticky notes.  The great thing about Google Keep is that you can access it from nearly any device.  This is a huge bonus if you are working on your to-do list outside of the classroom.

Assuming that you already have a Google account, you can access Google Keep for free.  To find it, click on the Google grid in the upper right corner of your Google Drive.  If you don't notice the app in the menu,  click on the option to check out more from Google.

Once you have access to Google Keep, you can start designing your notes.  Just click on "take a note" and start typing.  I prefer to have one note for each quadrant of the 4-sqare, and I add the heading of the quadrant to the title of each note.

Important and Urgent
Important but Not Urgent
Urgent but Not Important
Not Urgent and Not Important

Google Keep gives two options for viewing your notes - grid view and list view.  Grid view gives you more of the "4 quadrant" feel, however, it adjusts the placement based on the screen size so it often puts 3 notes across.  I prefer list view.  This stacks the notes so I can put them in order of priority.

Google Keep also gives you the option to add checkboxes.  This is a no-brainer for me.  Of course I want checkboxes.  I am notorious for putting super simple tasks on my to-do list just so I can check them off!  To add check boxes, just hover over the note and click on the 3 dots.  Choose - show checkboxes.

Are you into color coding?  Find the paint palette in the tool bar at the bottom of each note and select a color.  You can also add a picture, but I never use this feature as it tends to take up way too much space.

Google Keep also gives you some more advanced options. You can set a reminder or add a collaborator from the tool bar in each note.

Google Keep also allows you to add labels to your notes.  This are handy when you have a bunch of notes to keep track of.  The labels serve as keywords.  So, you can have multiple labels for the same note.  You will see you labels off to the left.

Have you used Google Keep to help you stay organized?  Do you have any tips or tricks?  Please share!

The Procrastinating Teacher's Guide to Prioritizing Your Special Education Workload

If left to my own devices I would use all of my classroom planning time organizing my supplies and labeling ALL THE THINGS.  While I enjoy these tasks, there are typically things that should be doing instead.  I need a bit more guidance if I plan to get anything important accomplished.  Making a to-do list is helpful, I am often overwhelmed by the number of tasks I need to complete.  The work never seems to end!

To-do lists are a great place to start, but they don't help you prioritize what is really important.  I like to use a 4-square method (also known as the Eisenhower grid) when prioritizing my to-do list.  Never heard of it?  It is a simple way of mapping out the level of importance and urgency of each task.

This can help you decide what you need to work on now, and what can wait until later.  Now don't get me wrong, if I really have my heart set on procrastinating I still pick something from the not important/not urgent section, but for the most part I try to spend my time in the upper left corner.

I like to start a 4-square list at the beginning of each week.  I add in items and cross things out every day.  In addition, I often move items from one section to another as the week progresses.

Do you want to try it out for yourself?  Pick up this FREEBIE with a few different 4-sqare options.

Paper and pen not your thing? Click HERE check out how I use Google Keep as a digital alternative.

What about you? How do you prioritize your work load? Please share!

The Simple Way I Track Behavior in My Class... Digitally!

I am always looking for ways to streamline data collection.  In the past, I was only tracking the behavior of students if it was related to an IEP goal, or if we were beginning to notice a spike in behavior.  And while this worked, it isn't always enough.  This year I found a way to track all of my students' behavior in less than one minute a day... AND I don't even need to pick up a pen!

To make this happen, I use two things: Google Forms (check below for the FREEBIE!) and an Amazon Fire tablet.  While you don't need the tablet to use Google Forms, it does make it more convenient for staff to document behavior without having to access the computer.  Google Forms is free and easy to use.  It is basically a survey that gathers and analyzes any type of information.

I will be honest, I have always been a bit resistant to using a tablet for data collection for a couple of reasons.

1. I give all of my tech to my students.
2. TECH IS EXPENSIVE! (or so I thought...)

The Amazon Fire tablet is actually pretty inexpensive.  You can typically find them for less than $50, which is a killer deal. Now that I have the tablet I find that I use it for far more than just data collection, but that's a topic for another post!


Now that you know what I use, here is how you can make it for yourself!

First, download a copy of the Google Forms Digital Classroom Behavior Log.  Open the file and click on the link.  You will be prompted to save a copy of the Google Forms template.

Next, type all of your students' names in the left column.  You can also change titles for each behavior rating to meet the needs of your classroom.  And... that's it!  Your form is all set up!  Pretty easy, right!?!
Now it is time to give it a test run and view your responses.  Don't worry, you can delete your responses later.  Click on the preview icon in the upper right corner.  This will bring you to the actual form that you will fill out to track behavior.

Select one of the behavior options for each student and add a note at the bottom to detail any incidents that happened during the day.  Then hit the submit button to record your information. 

Click "submit another response" to head back to the form.

Are you ready to take a look at your responses? Click on the orange pencil in the upper right corner to get into editing mode.

Next, click on the responses tab.  This will give you a your data in a bar graph.  Hover over each bar to get more detailed information.  You can also download the responses in a Google Sheets file.  This is a great option if you need to find information from a specific date or time period.

Now that you have had a chance to play around with the form, you may want to delete the information that you submitted so that you can start fresh with your students.  Just click on the 3 dots in the upper right corner and select "delete all responses."

This Google Form is easy to access from anywhere with an internet connection.  All you need to do is access the URL.  This can be done by creating a bookmark, or saving the link to your desktop.

Would you like to see a video of these steps in action?  Click on the video below and I will walk you through of the entire process. 

Are you ready to give it a try?  I would love to hear how it goes for you!

(This post contains Amazon affiliate links.  I only link to products that I personally use and find beneficial.  Please click HERE for more information.) 

Getting Students Involved in Spring Cleaning the Classroom (without them even knowing!)

It's that time of year again!  Time to clean out the cabinets, purge old worksheets, and deep clean... EVERYTHING!  Here are some of my favorite ways to get students involved in cleaning up the classroom at the end of the year.

1. Snowball fight - You know those extra worksheets that never got used?  Give them one final hurrah before you toss them in the recycling bin. Have the students answer questions, solve problems, or complete a task to earn a piece of paper.  They can then crumple it up to prepare for an epic snowball battle.  Do you want to step it up a notch?  Turn this into a fine motor task by challenging your students to crumple up the paper using only the fingertips of one hand!

2. Shaving cream desk cleaner - Shaving cream is a messy, but fun sensory activity.  Added bonus?  It cleans all of the grit and grime off of the table.  Turn it into an academic activity by having the students write spelling words or solve math problems in the shaving cream.  The scent of regular shaving cream can be a bit overwhelming for some people.  I recommend checking your local dollar store for woman's shaving cream.  They tend to come in more pleasing scents, so your classroom will smell like a spa instead of the bathroom of an 80 year old man.

3. Car wash sensory bin - My kids LOVE this sensory bin! I don't pull out water bins very often so this one always feels like a special treat.  Little do they know they are actually doing me a huge favor by cleaning all of our toy cars.  I add a few sponges and brushes to a bin full of cars and water.  The kids love scrubbing the cars and setting them aside to dry.  I have also used this bin as a food washing center.  It really works with just about any toy that can get wet.

4. Shredded paper art - I have a shed pile that never seems to disappear.  If you have access to a shredder in your classroom, let the kids do the work for you (with supervision, of course!).  Shredded paper can be used in a variety of art projects.  We like to stuff it in brown paper lunch sacks, wrap a pipe cleaner around the top, and paint the bag; red for an apple, orange for a pumpkin, and white for a cloud (attach rainbow streamers to make it even more beautiful!).

5. Liquid watercolor out of dried up markers - I can't be the only teacher who ends up with a giant tub full of dried up markers by the end of the year.  Let's be real... the tub is pretty full by December.  DON'T THROW THEM AWAY!!  It is simple to create liquid watercolor out of dried up markers.  Have the kids sort the dried up markers by color.  Add around 1/2 cup of water to a jar.  Place 5-10 markers into the jar, tip side down.  Let the markers sit for about a week.  That's it!

Do you have any favorite end of the year clean up activities?  Please share!

Incorporating Fine Motor into your Math Instruction

Do you know what I don't have time for?  More.

More testing.
More themes.
More projects.
More ......

There is so much to squeeze into the day.  How do you fit it all in?

Whenever possible, I like to find a way to work on two skills at once.  One of my favorite ways to maximize my time is by incorporating fine motor practice into my math instruction.

Here are my top 15 activities:

1. Sensory bins - Who doesn't love a good sensory bin!?!  Toss in a few manipulatives and have the students pull them out with tweezers.  Use the manipulatives to count, create a pattern, or as a sorting task.  I love to use the mini erasers from the Target Dollar Spot.

2. Number beads - It is surprising how much skill and focus it takes to string beads onto a pipe-cleaner.  These cards are from my Summer Counting Pack, but they are also easy to make!  Cut an index card in half, write a number on the card, punch a hole and attach half a pipe cleaner.

3. Lego counting - Why not incorporate play AND fine motor into your math activities!?!  My students love to work on sequencing numbers using Legos.  They are perfect for counting up to 10, counting backwards, and skip counting.

4. Salt tray - I typically use these salt trays during handwriting.  However, I also like to pull them out during math for the students to practice writing their numbers.  These trays are part of the Roll-a-Dough Letter kit from Learning Without Tears. This isn’t an affiliate link, I just love them!  I set aside the letter mats and play dough and use them as a separate activity. I used a silver permanent marker to draw a mid-line on the tray.  While I love the Roll-a-Dough trays, they are a bit pricey. Pencil boxes filled with salt work just as well.

5. Paperclip spinner - Who knew it was so easy to create a spinner!  Flicking a spinner is a simple and fun way to build fine motor strength.  Use a pencil to stabilize the paperclip and give it a spin! This spin and win activity is part of my Back to School Counting Pack, but you can also make a base for the spinner out of a simple piece of paper or an index card.

6. Clothes pin number sequence - I love any activity that involves clothes pins!  I keep a few bins of clothes pins in different areas of the classroom so that they are always on hand.  For this activity I used a simple paint stick that I picked up from a local hardware store (for free!). This is perfect for ordering numbers, skip counting, and even working on your phone number.  

7. Lacing plates - You can easily differentiate this activity to focus on nearly any sequencing skill - Counting, skip counting, or ordering the numbers of a phone number.  

8. Tweezers - I love to have my students use tweezers to count out manipulatives.  I found these extra large tweezers at the Dollar Tree.  This 20 frame mat is from my Back to School Counting Pack.

9. Hole punch number cards - Need a last minute activity?  Grab a hole punch and index cards.  Using a hole punch is a great way to build hand strength, not to mention the kids jump at the chance to punch holes in the paper!

10. Bubble wrap numbers - So simple, yet so motivating!  Like most kids, my students LOVE to pop bubble wrap. There are so many ways that you can turn this into an academic activity.  Have them pop the numbers in a sequence, count with 1:1 correspondence, or complete addition problems and pop the answers.

11. Cut up worksheet - Cutting up a worksheet full of math problems has two benefits.  1. It is great fine motor practice. 2. It makes the worksheet appear less overwhelming.  My students love to cut up the worksheets and glue each problem onto a piece of construction paper.  Sometimes they even race with their peers to see who can fill up their page first.

12. Hair bands on tongue depressor - This is an inexpensive activity that works on 1:1 counting and dexterity.  I was able to pick up a pack of 100 hair bands at my local dollar store.

13. Clip cards - I keep a tub full of clothes pins next to each of my group tables.  Clip cards are the perfect way to increase fine motor strength while working on academic activities!  Do you want to know a secret?  Not all of my clip cards are this pretty... I often make them on the fly using an index card.  These cards are from my Summer Counting Pack.

14. Stickers - Peeling stickers is a great way to build up tiny finger muscles.  Do you want to make it even more motivating?  Find a pack of stickers with your students' favorite things.  My sticker bin is full of princesses, Disney characters, superheros, and cars.

15. Lacing shapes - I have a GIANT bin full of these lacing activities.  For years they sat unused.  One day, one of my amazing paraeducators had the idea to write numbers on the back to help our students practice counting.  This has been a game changer.  These activities are finally getting used!

What are your favorite ways to incorporate fine motor into your academic activities?  Please share!

Top Fidgets for the Special Education Classroom

Alright friends, here are my top fidgets for the special education classroom.

1. Beaded Keyring - If you read my post from last month, you know that I LOVE these fidgets!  They are super easy to make and practically free.  Check out this post for step by step directions.

2. Tangle Jr. - This fidget is fun to twist around your fingers, but not SO fun that it becomes a distraction.  It is reasonably priced and comes in a pack of 3!

3. Fidget Pencil Toppers - Do you want to know what I love about these?  With a little bit of guidance, they can replace pencil tapping! The spinners are pretty quiet and can easily be transferred to a different pencil at any time. 

4. Spinner Ring - Ok, this may be a bit unconventional, but spinner rings are a great option when you are looking for a discrete fidget that is always available.  

What are your favorite fidgets?  Please share!

(This post may contain Amazon affiliate links.  I only link to products that I personally use and find beneficial.  Please click HERE for more information.)