SPED Summer Blog Hop: Week 5 The 1st Week of School

This is the fifth and final week of the SPED Summer Blog Hop!  Thanks so much to Kyle at Kinderspedventures for being such a wonderful host!

This week's topic is The 1st Week of School!

The first week of school is always such a blur!  It's a time to get to know your students, to make contact with your parents, and get your schedule figured out!

 I also like to bring my resource class kids to my room, so they can become familiar with it and so they know where to find me if they need me for something within the first few days of school.  To help my students get used to my room, I created a Back to School Scavenger Hunt.  The scavenger hunt has two parts.  The first part is about hunting for items in the room.  This allows they to explore the new space and find where all of the important stuff is located.  The second part is a get to know you activity where the students have to find a friend that fits the characteristics listed in the box.  You can download the scavenger hunt for FREE by clicking the picture below!

We only have 7 weekdays left until we are back to school!  Wow! This summer really flew by!

How much longer do you have left for your summer break?

I hope you have enjoyed the Sped Summer Blog Hop!  Don't forget to hop on over to Pam's Blog:

#weteachsped Back 2 School Ebook {Freebies and Giveaways Galore!}

I am so excited to bring this special treat to you!!  20+ of my best blogging buddies and myself have compiled a BTS ebook great for special education (and regular education) teachers!!  Each page is written by a different blogger and features a tip for back to school and FREEBIES!!  That's right!  Freebies on EVERY page!!!

To get your copy of this amazing e-book, click on the ebook cover image below!

And for some more fun...

My giveaway features a $20 TARGET gift card!!

Enter the giveaway below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

An InLinkz Link-up

Sped Summer Blog Hop: Week 4 Working with Paraprofessionals

Welcome to Week 4 of the Sped Summer Blog Hop!  

If you have missed any of the past Sped Blog Hop posts, click below for the link you need!

Week 1:  Scheduling

Week 2:  Classroom Setup

Week 3:  Back to School Forms

This week, as you can see above is about working with paraprofessionals (classroom assistants, instructional assistants, etc).  You know what they don't teach in college coursework?  How to work with paraprofessionals!  That's okay...now...I've had several years of experience working with paraprofessionals and I feel pretty good about it now.  However, when I was straight out of college and many of the people I worked with were older than me and had been in special education longer than I had been, well, it was intimidating to say the least.  I have some tips for all of you to make working with paraprofessionals a little more comfortable.

1.  Respect!  Respect their opinions, their ideas, their perspective.  Some of my paras have been in special education or working with students for years and some have been brand new.  Everyone brings something special to the table, everyone has their own life experiences and it is so important to get to know the people that will be working with you day in day out.  Ask your paras what they expect, what they think the job they are doing is about, for suggestions, and listen to what they say.  You never know when someone is going to know or say something that is going to be useful for your students.

2.  Leave the adult "stuff" at home.  As mentioned in number 1, everyone is bringing something different to the table.  We all have our own "junk," but keep in mind that you and your paras are here for the kids, first and foremost.  If there is something going on, be sympathetic, be a good listener, but be professional and keep the student first and deal with the other stuff at a different time.  

3.  Communicate! If there are things going on at home or school, keep those lines of communication open.  My para and I shared a room and were able to talk daily, but there have been schools I've been in that I don't see my paras all day, everyday and at the end of the day everyone is ready to go home.  Schedule a time to meet with your staff.  This allows you time to address needs and gives your staff time to express needs.  This is something I would actually like to implement myself this year.  Sometimes, I have great intentions, but really need to be more intentional...this is my year for that! :)

3.  Training.  As a special educator, you have the experience and the schooling that qualifies you to teach students with special needs, but your para probably will have little to no training.  It is important to train your para about various types of disabilities (depending on your student needs), how to handle specific situations, and set clear expectations about what he/she should be doing with the students or in the classroom.

4.  Teach expectations!  We teach expectations to our students, but sometimes we leave this important piece out when training an adult.  Sometimes we assume that because the para is an adult working with children with special needs, that they should know or already have the same expectations as you.  That is not always the case.  I have and have had WONDERFUL paraprofessionals, but it can be confusing for that person if I have not told them what I expect of them.  At the beginning of the year it would be a good idea to have a meeting or conversation with your paras to outline your expectations.  

{You can find my paraprofessional handbook that lays out all of the expectations at my TPT store: The ABC Guide to Paraprofessionals' Roles and Responsibilities.  This is one of my best sellers and has great reviews!}

Another great way to communicate your expectations is with your schedule.  I shared in Week 1 of this blog hop my para schedules.  Decide who/what/where you want your para to be with based on IEP needs and then schedule that para accordingly.  I like to include 4 columns on the paraprofessional's schedule:

Time

Location (classroom, resource room, lunch room, playground...)

Students needing assistance

Task to complete

I have found this to be extremely helpful and important!

Example of Paraprofessional Schedule

5.  Paras sometimes get the dirty job...seriously!  From changing diapers to cleaning vomit...the life of a para can be less than glamorous.  Show your appreciation to your paraprofessional.  Switch places with them sometimes.  Don't ask your para to do anything you wouldn't do yourself and give them a break sometime and actually do those less desirable jobs yourself!

Paraprofessionals are so important in the special education classroom!  I am so happy for the amazing paras (that are in da buildin'-----Amy---that one's for you!) and I couldn't do my job without them!!

Kim

Hop along to Pam's blog!! 

http://www.mrspspecialties.com/

Special Ed Summer Blog Hop: Week 3 Back to School Forms

Welcome Back for another great week of tips and information from your favorite 

special ed. bloggers!

This week we will be bringing you Back to School Forms:

I love the beginning of a new school year!  It brings me so much excitement!  I love meeting my new students and parents or getting back in contact with my kids from the previous year.  I consider myself lucky to be able to have the same kids for 3 years in a row, since I work with grades 3-5.  I get to see so much progress across those three years and build some amazing relationships!  

To get ready for the beginning of a new school year, there are several forms I like to send home and prepare for myself so I can become familiar with my students from Day 1.  

1.  A letter home to parents to introduce myself 

2.  A parent survey to allow parents to tell me about their child (including strengths/needs and goals)

You can purchase my Parent Communication Pack (which includes the letter and survey) HERE

I also set up a special education binder with each of my students' information in one handy place.  My binder includes:

• IEP at a Glance
• Copy of the most recent IEP and Behavior Plan (if applicable)
• Parent Contact Log
• Accommodation Checklist
• Copies of blank notes to send home  (I'm adding these blank notes this year as a reminder to myself to send home some positive notes everyone once in a while)

This is the cover for my caseload binder!  If you would like to have one of your own, click on the picture and download yours for free! :)  (Font by Hello Fonts and Graphics by Melonheadz)

AND...

My IEP at a Glance can be downloaded HERE or clicking on the picture below :)

I hope you are enjoying your summer and this great blog hop!  

Head on over to Pam's blog:

#SPEDDollarDeals

Who loves a bargain?!  I know as a teacher and a mommy I am always looking for a good deal!  Well, I have one to share with you today (and today only)!

Several of my special education blogger friends and I are offering Dollar Deals at our TPT stores.

Here's what you need to know to find all of the great deals on TPT:

1. Head on over to TPT and type in #speddollardeals in the search engine

2.  Choose from some amazing products at a great deal.  Items are typically priced in the $2-4 range.

3.  What are you waiting for!?   

A couple of my best sellers will be available at my TPT for just ONE DOLLAR!!

Happy Shopping!!!

Special Ed. Summer Blog Hop: Week 2 Classroom Setup

Welcome back for Week 2 of our Special Ed. Summer Blog Hop!

 I hope you enjoyed Week 1 and you were able to learn something that you could take back to your classroom this upcoming school year.  This week's topic is...

As a special education teacher, there are some years that I spend more time in the resource room and other years I spend most of my day out in the general education classrooms doing coteaching with my partner teachers.  This year, much like last year, will be a healthy dose of both settings.  The setup of my resource classroom is based on student needs from year to year.  There are some years when I only really need a table to do small group intervention and then there are years (like last year)  that I had several grade and ability levels of students all in the resource room at one time and I had to design and then redesign my room to help manage my classroom effectively.  

Any way the needs of my students go, I feel like there are areas of my room that are important to incorporate.  The graphic above gives an outline to this post and what I consider when setting up my classroom from year to year.

 I think that my room needs to echo the design of a "regular" classroom as much as possible.  I believe that helps my students feel more comfortable and makes my room feel like all of the other classrooms in the building.

Here is a list of the areas that I like to incorporate into my classroom setup:

1.  Small Group Intervention 

2.  Individual Work Station (or 1:1 Teaching Area)

3.  Computer/Technology

4.  Library

5.  Cool Down Space

6.  Teacher Area

7.  Materials/Classroom Supplies

My classroom is currently in a state of disarray for summer cleaning, so I will post updated pictures of my room closer to the beginning of the school year.  Until then, I'll share with you an easy way I have found to "work" on my classroom without actually being there or moving the first piece of furniture.  By using PowerPoint, I can design my classroom at home :)  The gray pieces are furniture that can be moved around and the blue pieces are fixtures in my classroom that must stay where they are.

I do not overdecorate in my classroom for a couple of reasons.  First of all, I personally do not like a lot of "stuff" around.  If I do not really work on keeping my space organized then I can quickly let it get out of control.  So, if I start with only what is actually need then I am less likely to create a mess of all of the cutesy, teacher things laying around.  Second of all, the students that I work with typically have diagnoses of ADHD or ADD, anxiety, autism, learning disorders, etc. and limiting the visual clutter in my classroom helps them become less distracted.  I have been in rooms that even I can't concentrate in because of all of the posters on the wall or bright colors.  Now, I'm not hating if you are that type of teacher, it just doesn't work for me and typically doesn't work for my students.  Neat, labeled and organized helps my students and help teaches them to be that way by example.  

Lastly, classroom management is extremely important in the resource room.  Beyond setting up high expectations, clearly outlined rules, and a structured environment, a good behavior management and incentive program has always been helpful in my classroom.  I have students for a very short period of time during the day, but we have a LOT to get done in that amount of time.  It is important that each and every minute is used efficiently and effectively.  A visual behavior system has been useful to implement in my resource room over the years.  

In the past I have used a clip chart system with students earning a point if they stay on green for the class.  

I have also used a class store.  This worked well for me last year, because my reading program incorporated points and I used the reading points and behavior points as currency to shop from the store.  

This year, I have a few different ideas that I promise to share with you as the new school year gets closer!

To find out more about how others setup up their classrooms, hop on to the next blog:

It's CURRENTLY July!

It's July!  That's crazy!  Only 5 more weeks until school starts back here....now THAT'S crazy!!  Today I'm joining up with Farley from Oh' Boy 4th Grade for her July Currently...

Listening:  My kids discovered the movie "The Emperor's New Groove" this morning.  They missed this movie the first time around and can't get enough of it this morning.  I think they have the right idea on this dreary, rainy day!  It's a great day for snuggles, blankets, snacks and movie watching!

Loving:  For the past 3 weeks I have been teaching at Camp TLC.  This is a 3 hour camp that goes on 3 days a week during the summer.  The camp is for students in my school district that have autism.  This is my first year to work the camp and I have to say that I have had a really great time.  We have time for morning work, social skills lessons, sensory, art/crafts, gross motor play, snack (that the kids help make), and a weekly field trip.  If you follow me on Instagram you can see some of the fun we have been having at camp!  And if you don't follow...well what are you waiting for?  Go to instagram.com/mrshsresourceroom!  

Week 1: Camp Theme  

We went on a nature hike, ate smores trail mix and painted with marshmallows!

Week 2:  Beach Theme

Beach themed cupcakes and sand painting (the sand was actually made from colored salt that we made ourselves) rounded out this fun week!

Week 3:  Happy 4th of July Week

This week is all about being Star-Spangled!

Thinking:  I can't quit thinking about school.  I think working camp has kept me in the school mode this summer.  I have some really great ideas swirling around in my brain and have already created a few things for some of my students for next year that I can't wait to share with them and their parents. I also am excited about some new additions to our staff!  We will have an even more amazing special ed staff next year!!! 

Wanting:  Although, this rainy day is enjoyable, I'm ready for an all day hot, sunshin-y day!

Needing:  I need to clean the kitchen.  Meh!

All Star:  I am an all star collaborator!  :)  One of the best parts of my job is to be able to collaborate with others.  Parents, teachers, administration, and my blogging friends are all people that I get to collaborate with.  These people keep ideas flowing through my mind constantly! 

So, for now...I hope you are having a wonderful summer break!  Remember to come right back here every Sunday for the Special Ed Summer Blog Hop!!