Welcome to Our Blog!

Our blog has been designed to keep our educators, parents and clinicians up-to-date on trending topics in special education.

The Importance of Classroom Environment

Have you ever felt like your classroom is working against you? You have spent time, energy, and - let’s face it - money to create lessons that are engaging and meet the needs of your students. When those lessons don’t go according to plan, one of the factors that can impact the success of instruction is the Physical Environment.

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5 Ways to Develop a Learning Rich Classroom Environment

The environment we create in our classrooms sets the stage and affects students’ ability to learn and retain information. Making adjustments, even small ones, to a classroom environment at any time of the year can feel like a daunting task. However, these changes have the potential to set a new tone for your classroom and will lead to higher rates of learning for all students. Let's examine several ways a classroom environment can be adjusted to best meet the needs of the students within it.

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Understanding Specially Designed Instruction

To ensure SDI is implemented in the classroom, legally binding IEPs, or Individualized Education Programs, play a critical role. SDI outlines the specific goals, objectives, and accommodations for each student receiving special education services. In this blog, we’ll unpack the role of specially designed instruction in special education and why it’s beneficial for students with moderate to severe disabilities.

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Explore Functional Academics for Students with Disabilities

Students with moderate to severe disabilities are significantly more likely to struggle with postschool life, including finding employment, community involvement, postsecondary education, and independent living. As we know, students have a finite amount of time in the public education system to prepare for adulthood, and it is vital that their education incorporates functional academics. In this blog, we’ll explore what functional academics entail and how functional academics can be incorporated in instruction for students with moderate to severe disabilities.

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Best Practices to Structure Your Self-Contained Classroom

Teaching in a self-contained classroom this year? Or maybe you’ve been teaching in a self-contained setting for years and are looking for some tips to help you restructure? Either or - you’ve come to the right place! Structuring your self-contained classroom can take quite a bit of planning and organization to make sure that a supportive and engaging learning environment is the result. While students with low incidence disabilities in your classroom may have similar academic needs, each student still requires personalized instruction - which can make striking a balance between overall classroom structure and maintaining individual needs challenging. In this blog, we’ll provide you with different measures you can take to build a classroom environment that enhances instructional time, strengthens independence, promotes positive behaviors and maximizes student outcomes!

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Navigating the Top 5 Challenges in Special Education

While working with students with moderate to severe disabilities can be incredibly rewarding, it also poses its own set of unique challenges. The one-size-fits-all instructional approach that may work in general education cannot be replicated for students receiving specially designed instruction and related services (and rightfully so!). A personalized approach to learning for special education students requires careful consideration and a solid understanding of the federal education laws in place to protect our student population. In this eBook, we will uncover the top 5 pressing pain points that special educators face and offer strategies to help you navigate them effectively to ensure your students have every opportunity to thrive.

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Effective ABA Strategies for Students with Autism

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is the most widely studied use for using interventions to teach children with autism. ABA interventions serve as a valuable early intervention tool for students from pre-kindergarten through the transition to adulthood. The idea is to use targeted teaching strategies that boost skills and cater to each student's unique needs These strategies are typically individualized for students as different students will have different needs. Students with autism may benefit from repetition of material, tasks being broken down into smaller steps, and having additional visuals alongside text or verbal directions.

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Systematic instruction for students with disabilities

As educators, working toward meeting (and exceeding!) your students’ education goals is always top of mind. Goals are built into student IEPs, covered in your daily classroom routines, woven into your lesson plans, etc., which is why including systematic instruction while teaching your students is key.

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Creating an Equitable and Inclusive Learning Environment for Students with Disabilities

In today's ever-changing educational landscape, the pursuit of equitable and inclusive education remains a paramount goal. However, achieving this goal often requires a nuanced and comprehensive understanding of the unique needs of all students, particularly those in special education programs. Research has highlighted the significance of providing tailored support, fostering a supportive environment, and implementing evidence-based strategies to ensure that special education students receive the quality education they deserve.

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A Daily Schedule in Special Education

Whether you’re early on in your career as a special education teacher or you’re a seasoned pro, developing a daily schedule for your classroom has its benefits. And, although creating a daily schedule at the start of the school year may seem like a tedious action item, it will help you, your paraprofessional (if you have one), and your students with extensive support needs stay on task throughout the year.

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