Special Educators Resource Room

Social Emotional Learning has a BIG impact on classroom community, but how do you fit it into an already jam-packed school day? I'm sharing 3 practical tips for adding SEL to your classroom WITHOUT disrupting the routine. Try this ideas with your own students! Links mentioned in this episode of Special Educators Resource Room:Restorative Practice Read Aloud Suggestions:https://positivelylearningblog.com/product/restorative-practice-circles-for-k-2/Social Emotional Learning Lesson Plans with Task Boxes:https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Social-Emotional-Learning-Task-Boxes-Lesson-Plans-Year-Long-Special-Ed-Bundle-10557532?st=1a775303285120864fdcad7c0dce1efbIf you're a busy special education teacher looking for tips, tricks, and resources to save you precious time, I've got you covered! I'm here to help you regain your confidence in the classroom and feel calm and collected as a special educator.Tune in every Wednesday for practical tips, tools, and the support you need to to THRIVE in the classroom.Grab your FREE Special Educators Cheat Sheets at positivelylearningblog.com/free-resource-library/Join the Facebook groupI'd love to hear what's working for you! Send me a message on Instagram @positivelylearning

Welcome to "Backward Planning 101: A Special Educator’s Secret Weapon." In this episode, we're diving into how backward planning can transform your teaching and boost student success in the special education setting. It's all about starting with your end goal and designing each lesson to achieve those outcomes, ensuring that every minute in the classroom counts.In this episode I'm sharing why I consistently used this strategy and practical tips to make it work for you! Looking for more helpful information on using backward planning design? Check out the blogpost full of tips on getting started: https://positivelylearningblog.com/backward-planning-a-strategic-approach-for-special-educators/If you're a busy special education teacher looking for tips, tricks, and resources to save you precious time, I've got you covered! I'm here to help you regain your confidence in the classroom and feel calm and collected as a special educator.Tune in every Wednesday for practical tips, tools, and the support you need to to THRIVE in the classroom.Grab your FREE Special Educators Cheat Sheets at positivelylearningblog.com/free-resource-library/Join the Facebook groupI'd love to hear what's working for you! Send me a message on Instagram @positivelylearning

Happy Paraprofessional Appreciation Day! This episode is full of advice on how we can express appreciation for support staff in the special education setting anytime of year. Be sure to listen to Episode 15 and download the free Paraprofessional Appreciation Sticky Notes for a quick token of appreciation: The Best Paraprofessional Appreciation Ideas (that are free or mostly free!) Still navigating the coworker relationship? Check out these talking points to help you lead the next conversation: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Paraprofessional-Training-Scripts-Editable-Talking-Points-Special-Education-9920556?st=bc1f044eef7d2af50631629bbd6ce2e8If you're a busy special education teacher looking for tips, tricks, and resources to save you precious time, I've got you covered! I'm here to help you regain your confidence in the classroom and feel calm and collected as a special educator.Tune in every Wednesday for practical tips, tools, and the support you need to to THRIVE in the classroom.Grab your FREE Special Educators Cheat Sheets at positivelylearningblog.com/free-resource-library/Join the Facebook groupI'd love to hear what's working for you! Send me a message on Instagram @positivelylearning

If you're struggling with coteaching or maybe feeling nervous about getting along with coteachers, this special podcast episode is for you! This is Part 2 of the CoTeacher Conversations. Be sure to check out Part 1 - Special Educators Resource Room Episode 67. Not sure what to say  - especially when having difficult conversations at school? Here's the help guide every special educator can use throughout the school year:Special Education Scripts - Bundle of Editable Talking PointsIf you're a busy special education teacher looking for tips, tricks, and resources to save you precious time, I've got you covered! I'm here to help you regain your confidence in the classroom and feel calm and collected as a special educator.Tune in every Wednesday for practical tips, tools, and the support you need to to THRIVE in the classroom.Grab your FREE Special Educators Cheat Sheets at positivelylearningblog.com/free-resource-library/Join the Facebook groupI'd love to hear what's working for you! Send me a message on Instagram @positivelylearning

Co-Teacher Conversations Part One - Navigating Tricky Coteaching PartnershipsWhat do you do when coteaching isn't working out? In this episode, I'm sharing the reality of coteaching and tips to get through less than stellar inclusion teaching scenarios. For more information on improving communication and the coteaching relationship in the inclusion classroom setting, check out this special education blogpost:https://positivelylearningblog.com/special-education-co-teaching/If you're a busy special education teacher looking for tips, tricks, and resources to save you precious time, I've got you covered! I'm here to help you regain your confidence in the classroom and feel calm and collected as a special educator.Tune in every Wednesday for practical tips, tools, and the support you need to to THRIVE in the classroom.Grab your FREE Special Educators Cheat Sheets at positivelylearningblog.com/free-resource-library/Join the Facebook groupI'd love to hear what's working for you! Send me a message on Instagram @positivelylearning

As special educators, we are often on the lookout for supplemental resources to support struggling students. There are so many choices out there,  but if you've ever looked you already know that not all educational materials are created equal. Learn more about finding "just right" resources for your students:https://positivelylearningblog.com/choosing-supplementary-resources-in-special-education/If you're a busy special education teacher looking for tips, tricks, and resources to save you precious time, I've got you covered! I'm here to help you regain your confidence in the classroom and feel calm and collected as a special educator.Tune in every Wednesday for practical tips, tools, and the support you need to to THRIVE in the classroom.Grab your FREE Special Educators Cheat Sheets at positivelylearningblog.com/free-resource-library/Join the Facebook groupI'd love to hear what's working for you! Send me a message on Instagram @positivelylearning

No matter how long we've been in education, there are still new things to learn! Recently I had the opportunity to learn from a podcast by someone I greatly admire.You can check out Dr. Christine Reeve's podcast here:Autism Classroom Resources: https://autismclassroomresources.com/podcasts/In February 2024, Dr. Reeve did an entire podcast series on independent work systems and there's so many gems! I'm sharing two big takeaways in this episode, but I encourage you to listen to the series, maybe even more than once. I also highly recommend this reference book:Building Independence: How to Create and Use Structured Work Systems By Christine Reeve and Susan KabotIn this episode, I share how the Task Box Dollar Club can help special educators quickly set up a low prep independent work system that works. Learn more about the monthly membership here:Task Box Dollar Club: https://positivelylearningblog.com/task-boxes-for-special-educators/Task Box Dollar Club Catalog: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RYY45QMrS1g8jKq3Iy3_9lAljWSmxDFe/view?usp=drive_linkIf you're a busy special education teacher looking for tips, tricks, and resources to save you precious time, I've got you covered! I'm here to help you regain your confidence in the classroom and feel calm and collected as a special educator.Tune in every Wednesday for practical tips, tools, and the support you need to to THRIVE in the classroom.Grab your FREE Special Educators Cheat Sheets at positivelylearningblog.com/free-resource-library/Join the Facebook groupI'd love to hear what's working for you! Send me a message on Instagram @positivelylearning

Should we use a break pass system as a behavior strategy? In this episode, I share my classroom struggles with elopement and what we tried (and tried) to implement. This is a honest look at utilizing different behavior tools to support student learning. If you're ready to tackle student behavior and think a break system is the ticket, check out this ready-to-go classroom resource:https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Break-Passes-to-Reduce-Elopement-I-Need-a-Break-Token-Board-Data-Tracking-4764582If you're a busy special education teacher looking for tips, tricks, and resources to save you precious time, I've got you covered! I'm here to help you regain your confidence in the classroom and feel calm and collected as a special educator.Tune in every Wednesday for practical tips, tools, and the support you need to to THRIVE in the classroom.Grab your FREE Special Educators Cheat Sheets at positivelylearningblog.com/free-resource-library/Join the Facebook groupI'd love to hear what's working for you! Send me a message on Instagram @positivelylearning

Special Educators, let's get nosy! Sometimes the very best professional development comes from each other, not workshops or textbooks. In this episode, learn more about what other special educators are talking about and using in their classrooms. Want to keep learning from each other? Be sure to join the Special Educators Resource Room Facebook community here:https://www.facebook.com/groups/599918080857066Other resources mentioned:Data Collection File Folder OrganizationIEP Skills File FoldersTask Boxes for All YearBreak PassesSnow Day PacketIf you're a busy special education teacher looking for tips, tricks, and resources to save you precious time, I've got you covered! I'm here to help you regain your confidence in the classroom and feel calm and collected as a special educator.Tune in every Wednesday for practical tips, tools, and the support you need to to THRIVE in the classroom.Grab your FREE Special Educators Cheat Sheets at positivelylearningblog.com/free-resource-library/Join the Facebook groupI'd love to hear what's working for you! Send me a message on Instagram @positivelylearning

Tips for setting paraprofessional expectations - where does a special educator begin? The great news is that you don't need to start from scratch! In this episode, you'll learn exactly what you'll want to make sure is included and the best tips for communicating roles and expectations with support staff in the special education setting. Be sure to hop over and check out the blog post for more ideas in action! https://positivelylearningblog.com/tips-for-setting-paraprofessional-expectations/If you're a busy special education teacher looking for tips, tricks, and resources to save you precious time, I've got you covered! I'm here to help you regain your confidence in the classroom and feel calm and collected as a special educator.Tune in every Wednesday for practical tips, tools, and the support you need to to THRIVE in the classroom.Grab your FREE Special Educators Cheat Sheets at positivelylearningblog.com/free-resource-library/Join the Facebook groupI'd love to hear what's working for you! Send me a message on Instagram @positivelylearning

Special Educators, do you struggle balancing IEP goals and general education requirements? How do you find time for all the testing accommodations?This is an area I found difficult and I was always reflecting on how I can keep the focus where it belongs - on students! In this episode of Special Educators Resource Room, I'm sharing exactly what daily instruction looked like in the resource room setting. It was BUSY, but it worked for us. I'd love to hear what YOU think! Please leave a rating and feedback, plus share with another teacher. Thank you! If you're a busy special education teacher looking for tips, tricks, and resources to save you precious time, I've got you covered! I'm here to help you regain your confidence in the classroom and feel calm and collected as a special educator.Tune in every Wednesday for practical tips, tools, and the support you need to to THRIVE in the classroom.Grab your FREE Special Educators Cheat Sheets at positivelylearningblog.com/free-resource-library/Join the Facebook groupI'd love to hear what's working for you! Send me a message on Instagram @positivelylearning

Mindfulness in the Classroom - Is it the missing ingredient to behavior management? In this episode, learn why adding mindfulness strategies could have a dramatic positive impact on your classroom and enhance any incentive, behavior plan, and system you may already have in place. Be sure to click over to the blog post show notes to see practical suggestions and real-life examples of incorporating mindfulness into everyday interactions. https://positivelylearningblog.com/mindfulness-ideas-for-the-classroom/If you're a busy special education teacher looking for tips, tricks, and resources to save you precious time, I've got you covered! I'm here to help you regain your confidence in the classroom and feel calm and collected as a special educator.Tune in every Wednesday for practical tips, tools, and the support you need to to THRIVE in the classroom.Grab your FREE Special Educators Cheat Sheets at positivelylearningblog.com/free-resource-library/Join the Facebook groupI'd love to hear what's working for you! Send me a message on Instagram @positivelylearning

Welcome to your next IEP Meeting - led by your students!  It's time to amplify ALL students' voices. This episode gives you a behind the scenes look at preparing even our youngest students to become active participants in IEP meetings and take control of their educational goals. Be sure to check out the blogpost: Student Led IEP Meetings for more actionable steps and preparation ideas to support both your students AND you in the IEP process:https://positivelylearningblog.com/student-led-iep-meetings/If you're a busy special education teacher looking for tips, tricks, and resources to save you precious time, I've got you covered! I'm here to help you regain your confidence in the classroom and feel calm and collected as a special educator.Tune in every Wednesday for practical tips, tools, and the support you need to to THRIVE in the classroom.Grab your FREE Special Educators Cheat Sheets at positivelylearningblog.com/free-resource-library/Join the Facebook groupI'd love to hear what's working for you! Send me a message on Instagram @positivelylearning

Google Forms can be an amazing tool for special educators! Digital data collection makes it easy to collect, analyze, and collaborate important information. This episode dives into all the pros (and cons) to using digital Google Forms as part of your busy role as a special educator. Be sure to follow the links to get started!Free Google Forms - inside the Special Educators Resource Room Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/599918080857066Google Forms for Special Educators - this blogpost dives into setting up your first Google Form and how to use or customize a done-for-you data tracking form.22 Must-Have Google Forms for Special Educators - ready to dive all in? You don't need EVERY form out there. This is a time-saving set of forms are all you really need to get your special education data collection organized. If you're a busy special education teacher looking for tips, tricks, and resources to save you precious time, I've got you covered! I'm here to help you regain your confidence in the classroom and feel calm and collected as a special educator.Tune in every Wednesday for practical tips, tools, and the support you need to to THRIVE in the classroom.Grab your FREE Special Educators Cheat Sheets at positivelylearningblog.com/free-resource-library/Join the Facebook groupI'd love to hear what's working for you! Send me a message on Instagram @positivelylearning

Special Educators - you're invited! Join the free Task Box Taylor-Made Challenge that starts soon! This BONUS podcast episode has all the details about the upcoming free event for busy teachers interested in independent work systems. Follow this link to sign up for free and not miss a thing!https://positivelylearningblog.com/where-teaching-meets-taylor-the-ultimate-task-box-tour-experience/Be sure to request to join the FB group:Task Boxes Teaching - Facebook Group Can't wait to connect with you through this fun and free event! If you're a busy special education teacher looking for tips, tricks, and resources to save you precious time, I've got you covered! I'm here to help you regain your confidence in the classroom and feel calm and collected as a special educator.Tune in every Wednesday for practical tips, tools, and the support you need to to THRIVE in the classroom.Grab your FREE Special Educators Cheat Sheets at positivelylearningblog.com/free-resource-library/Join the Facebook groupI'd love to hear what's working for you! Send me a message on Instagram @positivelylearning

Hey Special Educators! We're keeping it real about working with paraprofessionals. This new episode breaks down the essentials of building a solid team with your classroom's unsung heroes. You'll get straight-to-the-point advice on setting clear expectations, empowering  paras and support staff, and maintaining open communication.Ready to ditch the micromanaging and boost your classroom vibe? Dive in and discover how to make your teacher-paraprofessional partnership work for everyone!Your Para Support Playlist:Episode 46 - Let's Talk About Supporting ParaprofessionalsEpisode 15 - Para Appreciation IdeasEpisode 3 - How to Set Up a Paraprofessional Training BinderMore Done-for-You Time-Savers:Paraprofessional Editable Training Binder from Positively LearningTask Box Lesson Plans BundleIf you're a busy special education teacher looking for tips, tricks, and resources to save you precious time, I've got you covered! I'm here to help you regain your confidence in the classroom and feel calm and collected as a special educator.Tune in every Wednesday for practical tips, tools, and the support you need to to THRIVE in the classroom.Grab your FREE Special Educators Cheat Sheets at positivelylearningblog.com/free-resource-library/Join the Facebook groupI'd love to hear what's working for you! Send me a message on Instagram @positivelylearning

Happy New Year!Do you make resolutions and set new goals each year? This episode is NOT about resolutions, but instead about choosing one little word to guide you through the new year. Listen to my word and how I'll be using it - feel free to borrow it OR choose your own from the many suggestions in this episode!Be sure to hop over to the blogpost for more new year inspiration and ideas:https://positivelylearningblog.com/new-years-resolutions-a-fresh-start-for-special-educators/If you're a busy special education teacher looking for tips, tricks, and resources to save you precious time, I've got you covered! I'm here to help you regain your confidence in the classroom and feel calm and collected as a special educator.Tune in every Wednesday for practical tips, tools, and the support you need to to THRIVE in the classroom.Grab your FREE Special Educators Cheat Sheets at positivelylearningblog.com/free-resource-library/Join the Facebook groupI'd love to hear what's working for you! Send me a message on Instagram @positivelylearning

Special education isolation is real - have you ever felt stranded on an island? Maybe it's all PDs you're sitting through or maybe it's the weekly PLC meetings - have you ever wondered "None of this aligns with what my students need!"This podcast episode shares the value of an education community and extends an invitiation to get off the island of isolation! Please consider joining our communities! Closed for confidentiality, they are safe spaces to ask and answer questions and feel included in a professional group. Join one or both of these Positively Learning communities:Task Boxes Teaching - A Dollar Club CommunityThis is a new group dedicated to all things task boxes! If you're already a member of the Task Box Dollar Club, you'll see visuals and announcements in this group, too. Special Educators Resource RoomYes, this group has grown to over 10K educators, but we've carefully kept the close-knit community. Free of judgement and spam, this is a great community to ask your important questions! If you're a busy special education teacher looking for tips, tricks, and resources to save you precious time, I've got you covered! I'm here to help you regain your confidence in the classroom and feel calm and collected as a special educator.Tune in every Wednesday for practical tips, tools, and the support you need to to THRIVE in the classroom.Grab your FREE Special Educators Cheat Sheets at positivelylearningblog.com/free-resource-library/Join the Facebook groupI'd love to hear what's working for you! Send me a message on Instagram @positivelylearning

A new I.E.P. just dropped on your teacher desk! Now what? This episode walks through the exact 3 steps I took as a special educator. Not only will these steps help you internalize all the important information and understand the IEP goals and objectives, they will also save you time when it comes to quarterly IEP Report Cards.  Important links from Special Educators Resource Room Episode 53:Google Quizzes Task Box Catalog If you're a busy special education teacher looking for tips, tricks, and resources to save you precious time, I've got you covered! I'm here to help you regain your confidence in the classroom and feel calm and collected as a special educator.Tune in every Wednesday for practical tips, tools, and the support you need to to THRIVE in the classroom.Grab your FREE Special Educators Cheat Sheets at positivelylearningblog.com/free-resource-library/Join the Facebook groupI'd love to hear what's working for you! Send me a message on Instagram @positivelylearning

Special educators - it's time to celebrate! We are wrapping up a long year AND 52 episodes of the Special Educators Resource Room. Thank you for your support all year long!This podcast episode is full of helpful links just for you! Be sure to click and bookmark so you can come back and grab the special education goodies when you're ready.Special Educators To Do List - this is the type of list every teacher needs!Professional Development - Free PD on the topics that actually make a difference.Winter Break - What to do the first week back from a long break.This episode also features the Top 5 Lists for busy special educators: Positively Learning YouTube ChannelPositively Learning Blog Shop (freebies)Special Educators Resource Room PodcastThanks for your support all year long! Can't wait to keep learning together. If you're a busy special education teacher looking for tips, tricks, and resources to save you precious time, I've got you covered! I'm here to help you regain your confidence in the classroom and feel calm and collected as a special educator.Tune in every Wednesday for practical tips, tools, and the support you need to to THRIVE in the classroom.Grab your FREE Special Educators Cheat Sheets at positivelylearningblog.com/free-resource-library/Join the Facebook groupI'd love to hear what's working for you! Send me a message on Instagram @positivelylearning