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If you've ever sat down at your desk once the kids got on the bus and stared blankly at your computer screen, thinking about all the things that had to be done now, you're not alone. This student needs a more specific behavior chart. I need to plan lessons for my math groups. I need to collect data for progress reports. My paras need training on prompting. Somehow you're supposed to prioritize all of it, without dropping anything important. But here's the truth that teachers

Teaching feels impossible right now—and it’s not because you’re doing something wrong. High behaviors, constant interruptions, and lack of time are signs of missing classroom systems, not teacher failure. This post explores why teaching feels so hard and how building simple, sustainable systems can help special education classrooms run more smoothly.

Imagine you’re teaching a lesson, you pose a question, and one of your students who doesn’t use verbal speech lights up and gives you a giant thumbs up. The entire class notices, and suddenly, the student is part of the conversation. That’s the power of intentional engagement for non-verbal learners.

I’m so excited to welcome the amazing Kim Lund,  also known in the Instagram-verse as @thelifeofkimmied . She is a passionate special...

You walk into your classroom, coffee in hand…when you get the text that one of your paras has called out sick. Unfortunately, para shortages and lack of substitutes are a reality in the education system. It can be hard enough to find paraprofessionals to fill positions, but then add on the difficulty of keeping them healthy when they are working with a classroom full of small children- it makes last-minute call outs too common.

It seems like the school year just ended, and Extended School Year (ESY) is already sneaking up on us. It’s okay to feel behind. The truth is, there’s not always a lot of time to prepare for ESY, and you’re likely still trying to wrap up the school year. Here are a few tips for a smoother ESY session with little time to plan.

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) has revolutionized how educators support students with communication challenges, offering a bridge to more effective interaction and learning. Among the myriad applications of AAC in the classroom, its role in the writing process stands out as particularly transformative. This blog post explores how teachers can leverage AAC and predictable chart writing to support their students during writing activities.

Teaching writing in a self-contained special education classroom can feel overwhelming for both students and teachers. Many students with disabilities come in with limited writing instruction or inconsistent experiences. And let’s be real: there aren’t a lot of writing programs out there that are truly accessible for our learners. That’s why explicit writing instruction is essential.

The start of a new school year brings fresh faces, new IEPs, and one big question: Where do I begin? Baseline assessments are your answer. In special education, especially when working with students with cognitive disabilities, early assessments are essential to shape instruction, set meaningful goals, and provide the right support from day one.