Entries by Silent Mind

7 Things to Do to Not Work Beyond Contract Hours

Teachers, especially special education teachers, often feel pressured to work beyond their contracted hours to get everything done. However, there are effective strategies to help manage the immense workload and maintain a healthy work-life balance. By implementing specific techniques, teachers can complete their tasks efficiently during the school day and avoid the stress of working […]

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Tips for Teaching High School Special Ed

Teaching high school students with special needs requires a unique set of strategies and approaches to ensure that every student can thrive in an educational environment. Here are 20 tips to help guide teachers in creating an effective and supportive classroom for high school special education students. Strategies and Tips for Teaching High School Special […]

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Conferences for Special Education Teachers

Teachers are always learning and are always searching for new strategies, instructional methodology, and ideas to help their students learn. Sure, we have professional development sessions provided by the districts and schools we work for… but they aren’t always geared towards special education teachers. Or it’s a slideshow that’s repeated each year. Thankfully there are […]

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Fun Active Listening Activities for the Classroom

Are you doing enough active listening activities with your students? Active listening is a crucial skill that helps students engage more fully in their learning experiences. It involves not just hearing words but understanding, interpreting, and responding to them. Active listening fosters better communication, enhances comprehension, and promotes a supportive classroom environment – all things […]

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OT Tips for Winter Crafts

Who doesn’t love a good seasonal craft?! As a school-based occupational therapist (OT), I LOVE a good craft. Simply Special Ed has so many adorable, easy-to-use and super engaging visual crafts that I love to use. They are especially engaging and motivating for my students in self-contained classrooms. I love how easy they are to […]

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How to Calendar Math in a Self-Contained Classroom

Most self-contained classroom schedules include calendar time. It is a time when students practice the functional skill of reading a calendar and making connections with the real world. This is also a great time to introduce math skills! In this blog post, I share how I teach calendar math in a self-contained classroom. What is […]

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10 Field Trips for Self-Contained Classrooms

Choosing the best field trips for your self-contained classroom can seem daunting. For your convenience, I have compiled a list of 10 field trips that work for self-contained classrooms! Please keep in mind your students’ goals, the needed support, and, most importantly, their safety during the trip. 1. Local Park Each fall, my classroom takes […]

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Teaching ESY: What Content to Cover and How to Collect Data

Extended School Year (ESY), aka summer school, can be extremely beneficial for students with special needs. It allows them to continue to follow a daily routine and prevents them from the dreaded “summer slide”. Here are some tips for what content teachers can cover in ESY, as well as how to collect data on student […]

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Spring Cooking Activities: Simple Recipes for Life Skills Practice

My students and I LOVE cooking in the classroom! Cooking is an awesome way to give your students some crucial life skills practice. I love watching my students build independence as they follow visual recipes, and it is so fun to see them try new foods! Looking to incorporate this life skill into your classroom? […]

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