How to Effectively Teach Work Initiation & Getting Started
Executive functioning skills are a hot topic. They seem really abstract, and they can be for so many of our students. Not all of us realize that some of the frustrations we face...
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Morning Meeting Ideas for Distance, Hybrid, or In-Person Learning
Morning meeting is such a must in our classrooms. It provides an important start to the day for both students and teachers and much needed connection. This is especially crucial in the era of COVID-19...
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YouTube Videos & Channels for Social Emotional Learning
I LOVE using social emotional learning (SEL) videos in elementary and middle school classrooms. Through hours (I mean, HOURS) of watching YouTube, I have compiled some of my FAVORITE videos to target these crucial skills...
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Veteran Teacher Advice for the First Year Teacher
Teaching! The best job, the hardest job. It makes sense why I get asked often for advice for new teachers. I have also been asked many times if I would recommend being a special educator...
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Why SEL, Equity, and Anti-Racism Go Hand in Hand
Why do SEL, equity and anti-racism go hand in hand? Because they don’t work independently. If you want to prioritize, focus on, or embrace one – you need to dive all in. While I...
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Using the Klassroom App to Connect with Student Families
This collaboration is brought to you by Klassroom and features my unbiased experience using the app. Distance learning is upon us. Sigh. As someone who works with teachers in many different school settings, I...
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Increasing Student Independence with Classroom Plants
As special educators, we are always working to foster student independence, and have them leave our classrooms as independent as possible. When I was a classroom teacher, I had a classroom pet, as well as...
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Unpacking Executive Functioning Skills
Everyone talks about executive functioning skills, but they often seem elusive, really abstract, and like a catch-all term. So, what ARE they and how do we target them if they are areas of need for...
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3 Ways to Support Students That Elope
Ah, student elopement. No, I don’t mean secretly getting married – that actually sounds intriguing! I mean students who run away – from the area, from the setting, from the classroom, from the building. It’s...
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10 Simple Ways to Support Students with Anxiety
Student anxiety is real! It’s a misconception that anxiety is an adult problem. It’s a human problem! Here are 10 simple ways teachers can support students experiencing anxiety in and out of school. 1.) Stay...
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