Why Every Teacher Needs an IEP Lesson Planner
Discover how an IEP lesson planner helps special education teachers stay organized, track goals, and support students effectively all year long.
How to Use Explicit Instruction to Support IEP Goals
When it comes to helping students with disabilities succeed, not all teaching methods are created equal. One of the most effective teaching strategies in special education is explicit instruction. It is clear, direct, and leaves little room for confusion. If you’re a special education teacher or a member of an IEP team, understanding how to […]
How to Use Task Analysis and Collect Data in the Special Education Classroom
Teaching life skills, routines, and academic tasks in special education often requires breaking things down into small, manageable steps. And that’s where using a task analysis comes in to be your new best friend. A task analysis is a powerful instructional strategy that helps students with disabilities learn complex skills by teaching one step at […]
Scaffolding vs. Differentiation in Instruction
When it comes to teaching and instructional strategies, two commonly used terms are scaffolding and differentiation. While both are aimed at supporting students’ learning, they serve distinct purposes and are implemented in different ways. Let’s dive into the details of each to better understand their applications and benefits. Scaffolding in Instruction Scaffolding refers to the […]
Different Types of Learning Styles
Understanding how your students learn best enables you to create more appropriate, engaging lessons that they will be able to comprehend. But what are the ways most people learn? Uncover the top three learning styles below and explore some of the lesser-known styles as well. Understanding them will help you become a better educator and […]
What is Differentiation in Education?
Differentiation in education is a concept that refers to the instruction and assessment of students based on their individual learning needs. Differentiated instruction allows educators to provide each student with a personalized learning experience, allowing them to work at their own pace, move ahead faster or slower than their peers, and set challenging goals for […]
What Does Access to the Curriculum Mean?
When it comes to special ed terminology and acronyms, it is easy for families to get confused. While not all special ed terms seem like they could be confusing, some of the most common ones are. As special education professionals, it is up to us to make sure that parents and school staff understand exactly […]
Growing List of ELA and Math Programs for Special Ed Students
Finding the right math and language arts programs to use with your special ed students can be tricky. There are always new programs being introduced and old favorites phasing out. It can be a lot to stay on top of what is available and what is not. This growing list of ELA and math programs […]
IEPs and Grade Level State Standards
When it comes time to writing IEP goals for your students that are aligned with grade level state standards, assigning standards to those goals can prove to be confusing, conflicting, and honestly – overwhelming… especially when our students are multiple grade levels behind their peers. Many educators wonder whether the standards assigned to each goal […]
Structuring IEP Goal Work in Special Education Classrooms
When students have multiple goals it can be challenging to keep track of all of them. Multiply that by the number of students on your caseload and it can quickly become overwhelming. That is why structuring IEP goal work is essential for successful management of a caseload and the ultimate success of students. How to […]
9 Types of Lesson Adaptations
There are so many different ways to adapt and modify a lesson or activity to make it appropriate for your students. As teachers, we often fall into a rut where we find our favorite adaptations and stick with them. It is fine to have favorites, but it is also important to look at the big […]
Using Morning Work to Prepare Students for IEP Goal Work
Recently a first-year teacher asked how morning work could benefit her class, especially if it was repetitive. Would it be beneficial if students had mastered the skills already? Would it be boring and ineffective? While some morning work may not be appropriate, teachers have found that repetitive tasks are a great way to prepare students […]
How to Set Up IEP Work Bins for Your Students
Helping students make progress on and master their IEP goals is key to every child’s success, not just for that year’s annual IEP – but for the child’s success with “…further education, employment, and independent living.” But with dozens of students on a caseload, it can be challenging to find enough hours in the school […]
The Debate Over Shortened Assignments
Recently a teacher friend and I were discussing an IEP and a question arose over shortened assignments. While shortening the assignments the student was presented with what seemed reasonable, but was it actually an accommodation or a modification? Is there one that is preferred over the other and – if so, why? IEP goal accommodations […]