Be The Exception In Special Education

So what is a sensory room anyway? It is a space that allows students with sensory needs to receive an immersive sensory experience. The space does not have to be an entire room, a corner is better than nothing. It is also not limited to a special education classroom, but rather can serve a purpose in a general education classroom as well.

This week I am sharing ideas of what to put in a sensory space and how to get one started on a budget. You will come away with practical ideas of where to start so that your students' needs are completely met.

In this episode you will learn:

• The benefits of having a sensory space.
• How to adapt a corner of your classroom to meet these needs of your students.
• How to use grants to get the items you need for your sensory space.
• About different resources you can put in your sensory space.

Links and Resources

Digital Planner for Special Education Teachers

Sign Language Poster

How to Write a Grant

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Sensory Items on Amazon

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Inclusion teaching has many names, but always the same purpose. As an inclusion teacher you partner with a general education teacher to accomodate students with disabilities in the general setting.

This week I'm joined by Ashley Lutz from Spedtacular Days to share some tips on being a better inclusion teacher. Whether you have worked in special education before or this is your first year, I guarantee you will learn something from this episode.

In this episode you will learn:

• The benefits of building a relationship with your general education partner.
• How to adapt your own teaching style to fit in someone else's classroom.
• How to create a space for yourself in someone else's classroom.
• About ways to feel like a "real" teacher in the room and not just support.

Links and Resources

Back to School Case Manager Bundle

Virtual Community Based Instruction Field Trips

Connect with Ashley Lutz

Spedtacular Days TpT Store

Spedtacular Days Blog

Spedtacular Days Instagram

Spedtacular Days Facebook

Connect with Dawn

Digital Planner for Special Education Teachers

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Students need independent work. It is so important for so many reasons. We need to be able to work one on one with other students during this time and independence builds confidence in our students. But what can we give our students for independent work?

In this week's episode of the Be the Exception Podcast I am discussing the use of task boxes in the special education classroom. They do require a little work for you on the front end, but once they are completed, they can be used over and over again by multiple students.

In this episode you will learn:

• The benefits of using task boxes
• What is needed to set them up
• How to adapt the lessons you have already taught into task box lessons
• How to use task boxes for independent work
• About how to find new ideas or updates for your task boxes

Links and Resources

Back to School Bundle

Stickers for Special Education Teachers

Done-For-You Email Templates for Special Educators

Task Box Idea Facebook Group

Connect with Dawn

Find me on IG

On The Blog

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The end of summer is almost here...which means the beginning of school is right around the corner. Preparation for the new school year will be your best friend. But what are things can you do now that will be the most effective in the long term?

Erin Hagey from You AUTa Know is joining me this week to share with me what she has learned about starting the year in her eleven year journey. She loves to say "Being a special education teacher doesn't get easier, you just get better." And she is one of the best.

In this episode you will learn:

• The benefits of creating a year at a glance calendar with all your IEP dates
• How to adapt to an ever changing schedule
• How to use the strengths of your paraprofessionals
• About using preference assessments in the first few days of school

Links and Resources

Back to School Special Ed Bundle

Be the Exception Podcast 67

Connect with Erin Hagey

Erin's Website

Erin's Instagram

Erin's Facebook

Erin's Freebie

Connect with Dawn

Digital Planner for Special Education Teachers

Data Collection Freebie

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Back to school, back to simple. Make every day easier with a few handy tips for special ed teachers. Summer is halfway over and I'm having a difficult time adjusting to that fact. But, I know that I need to put my big girl panties on and start preparing for what is to come. In truth, I miss my kiddos and my co-workers and I am looking forward to having a better routine again. So how do we get ready for the new year?

In this week's episode, I am sharing some ideas of things that you can do now to make the start of school a little easier for you. We all know how chaotic the month of August can seem, but a small amount of to-do's now will smooth the way to a great beginning!

In this episode you will learn:

• The benefits of reading through your students' IEPs now.
• How to adapt an IEP at a glance to include all the needed information in one spot
• How to set up data collection binders
• About ways to get to know your paraprofessionals before school starts

Links and Resources

Back To School: Special Ed Edition Blog Post

Special Ed Digital Notebook

Data Collection Freebie

Special Ed Digital Planner

Back to School Caseload Bundle

Connect with Dawn

Find me on IG

Back to School Blog

Special Ed Teacher Tips Blog

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Lunch, PE, Music...oh my! How will I fit everything that my students need? Building a master schedule in the special education classroom can be somewhat of a challenge. You have to balance the needs of each individual with the needs of the group. You also have to fit into the school master schedule. Then there are things like speech and OT services to consider. Being flexible is absolutely the key.

Heather Cacioppo from Full Sped Ahead is here to share all her tips and tricks to make scheduling easier for you. With her ideas you will feel confident in making sure that you students are getting what they need and so much more.

In this episode you will learn:

• The benefits of time blocking from the beginning
• How to adapt when speech or OT needs to change the schedule
• Where to begin building your schedule
• About using the resources you already have to make your schedule work

Links and Resources

Master Schedule Blog

Parent Communication Blog

Parent BTS Form

Parent IEP Input Form

Connect with Heather Cacioppo

Website

Instagram

Facebook

Connect with Dawn

TpT Store

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Professional development is so important for teachers. We need to learn updated techniques to continue to be our best for our students. As special educators, we often get pushed together with our general ed colleagues, and while we learn some things, it is difficult to find PD that is specific to our needs. So I went on the hunt for trainings that are geared towards us and our students.

In this week's episode I am sharing three different opportunities for you to learn from some of the best in the business this summer.

In this episode you will learn:

• The benefits of professional development that is geared towards special education teachers
• How to grow for your students from the comfort of your home
• How to use a small part of your summer break to become a better teacher
• About some amazing opportunities for professional development

Links and Resources

Free Digital Planner

Digital Planner

The Intentional IEP Registration Page

Teach It Special Registration Page

You Can Thrive in SPED Registration Page

Connect with Dawn

Be the Exception Episode 52

Be the Exception Episode 60

Be the Exception Episode 62

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As special education teachers, we are often living in a state of chaos. We have tons of paperwork, meetings and most importantly, teaching our classes. There are deadlines galore. Since we live in a digital world there are tons of resources that can make calming the chaos a little easier.

This week, Kristi Deroche with Kristi Digitals is joining me to talk about ways you can use digital tools to up your game as an educator.

In this episode you will learn:

• The benefits of having a solid morning OR afternoon routine
• Why timers can be your best friend
• How to make the switch to a digital planner
• About leaving work, even if everything is not fully accomplished

Links and Resources

Connect with Kristi

Plan Teach Prosper Waitlist

Plan Teach Prosper Course

Kristi's Instagram

Kristi's Website

Connect with Dawn

Dawn's Digital Planner for Special Education Teachers

Free Planner Page

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How do you combine a lesson on fine motor skills, understanding emotions and vocabulary? Believe it or not, there is a way to do this...board games! Yes, they are fun, but they can also be educational. This week I'm sharing how you can use 15 different board games in your classroom.

In this episode you will learn:

• The benefits of board games for your students' learning
• How to find a game for the many skills our students need
• How to find funding for the purchase of the games so you aren't spending out of pocket
• About using board games as a positive reinforcement for social skills

Connect with Dawn

Amazon List of Games

How To Write Classroom Grants

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Cultivating Exceptional Minds TPT

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We often feel like writing an IEP is the most difficult thing in our jobs as special educators. But if you break down the process, it can actually feel doable instead of overwhelming. Stephanie DeLussey from Mrs. D's Corner and the Intentional IEP joins me in this week's episode to discuss the 4 rules of writing an effective IEP. By learning to ask for help and working through some simple professional development, you will be well on your way to being an IEP master.

In this episode you will learn:

• The benefits of including the parent in the IEP
• How to learn the laws of IEPs without reading the entire law
• How to understand how the pieces of an IEP fit together
• About using what you already have in place and adapting it to fit the new

This summer, Stephanie is hosting a professional development geared towards all things special education! The line-up is impressed and jam-packed with actionable takeaways so you don't want to miss it. It is actually summer professional development that you can implement in your classroom this fall. Click here to learn more information.

Links and Resources

What To Do Freebie

Summer PD Series

IEP Week

The Intentional IEP Training

Connect with Stephanie

Mrs. D's Corner

The Intentional IEP

Connect with Dawn

Find me on IG

Subscribe

Are you subscribed to my podcast? Trust me, you definitely want to do that so you don't miss a thing! Click here to subscribe in iTunes!