Help for Special Educators

Are you a teacher who needs advice on getting started with AAC (augmentative and alternative communication)? My guest, Heather Cacioppo, and I have been in your shoes and will help answer your questions and give you the next steps to pursue. This episode gives a quick introduction to AAC for teachers just getting a student with a communication device and don't know where to start. (We've been in your shoes!) Today I have a conversation with Heather Cacioppo of the Teachers Pay Teac...

In this podcast episode, I will share strategies to improve one-handed scissor skills, which is helpful when a child cannot use one hand/arm due to weakness, paralysis, missing fingers, etc.First I go over some strategies for beginning cutters, whether the child has a weakness/disability with a hand/arm or not. Then I go over strategies and adaptations for holding the paper and rotating paper when cutting with one hand. Finally, I also talk a little bit about adaptive scissors.Bonus: May is T...

Think out the box to make morning meetings work for everyone in your special ed class.We are close to the middle of the school year so I thought I would discuss morning meetings in multi-grade self-contained classes. By this time of year, you might have gotten more students, with more grade levels, and are finding that your morning meeting activities don't meet the needs of all of your students anymore. So you need to make changes. I taught mild/moderate self-contained classes for years ...

How can we better prepare students for when the teacher or other staff member takes a sick day?Many special ed teachers say they cannot stay home for even a day because of the interruptions it will cause in their class. Not to mention the fact that the school might not even be able to find a substitute teacher when they need a sick day. In this podcast episode, we are going to talk about why you shouldn’t feel guilty when you need to take a sick day from school (even if the 2021-22 school yea...

Have you seen or heard of wheelchair costumes where a child's wheelchair (or other mobility device) is turned into part of the costume? Well, it’s October 15th, and many kids have probably already planned out their Halloween costumes. But what about kids who use wheelchairs? Do they feel like they can't join in the festivities because they are in a wheelchair? Well, I believe that with a little cardboard, paint, tape, and creativity they can turn their wheelchair into part of their cos...

Today we’re going to tackle a tough topic: Puberty and Sexuality in Special Education Classes. We will look at several real-life scenarios teachers face and how to respond!However, if you think that topic doesn't apply to your grade levels or student population, think again. (I learned a lot I didn't know in this episode!) My guest, Dr. Rachel Schwartz, helps us to understand that sex ed starts with how we build trust with even our youngest students. All humans are sexual beings, whether they...

The Emmy and Golden Globe winner Harvey Korman was a staple on the Carol Burnett Show making America laugh in the 1960s and 1970s. During that time he was also raising a family, including his son, Christopher, who had a learning disability and speech impediment. In this episode, you will learn how Harvey Korman's legacy lives on through his son and their contributions to the special education community. Special Educators will hear about techniques Chris learned from his dad and the theater th...

In Part 2 of my interview with Emma Haring, we discuss schedules and lesson plans for moderate/severe classes. Emma gives some great ideas on how to write everything out so all adults and visitors know what is going on with her students who may be medically fragile in a multiple disabilities classroom. She gives ideas on how to set up your schedule and remember to include everything on it. In fact, she created a freebie to help teachers out as a supplement to the podcast episode. There a...

In Part 1 of this two-part series, Emma Haring and I discuss tips for teaching students with Multiple Disabilities. Emma has been a teacher in this type of class (we called it a medically fragile class in our district) for many years. She has a ton of experience and wisdom that she shares generously! In Part 1 (Episode 25), she gives a lot of tips on how to discover what your students like and dislike, how to care for them as people, and how to give them a voice (even if they are nonverbal). ...

This activity was originally a segment of Episode 24. I am publishing each one separately so you can access individual activities easier. It is really important to do simple but effective self-care tasks each day to relieve stress and avoid teacher burnout. The activities in this series take one minute or less. They are designed to help you stop, and refocus - for only a minute. Repeat as needed throughout your day. "Activity 10: Prayer/Silence" can be done alone, with your family, co-worke...