We are excited to share with you that we recently added a line of science lapbooks! Click "Read More" to learn about lapbooks and how you can use them for homeschool science.
Do you have a budding paleontologist in the house? Creating a unit study can be overwhelming. That is why we compiled this comprehensive resource list to help you learn more about dinosaurs or create a whole dinosaur unit study! We hope the following resources are helpful and useful for doing your own Unit Study at […]
Wondering about adapted paper? This list of free adapted paper includes links to find free printable lined paper and adaptive paper.
Today I'm writing about how I adapted Well-Ordered Language to fit our homeschool. I love products from Classical Academic Press and am always excited to see what new curricula they produce.
Creating adapted books is a lot of work. I found this wonderful website with over 400 free printable adapted books you can download. Read more...
Are you new to homeschooling (due to the pandemic)? If you are taking on this new role of mom/homeschool teacher, you are probably scramblin...
Grammar Galaxy is a fun & interactive Language Arts program that is truly out of this world! If you don't love your program, learn why we love ours.
If you want to teach your little ones about the concept of opposites you will want to check out these fun opposites worksheets and activities.
If you're looking for interoception activities for kids to improve internal body awareness and self-regulation, these ideas will inspire you!
Grab a TON of FREE Math Mania Games to strengthen your students' addition & subtraction! Snag easy printable math games for 1st & 2nd grade!
If you like enjoying STEAM activities for kids in your home, you are going to love these free printable scientific method worksheets. They walk your kids through the scientific method and can be adapted for any STEM project!
7 free resources to help you take an informative and fun assessment on students Pre-K to 1st grade. Perfect for homeschool or summer supplemental learning.
What is a homeschool morning menu you may ask? A morning menu is a group of practices, recitations, or skills that a child will repeat each morning in printable form. A homeschool morning menu can be adapted for specific age groups and added throughout the year.
What Colleges Like to See from Homeschoolers. Homeschool high schoolers who are aiming for college get helpful tips from academic advisors Marilyn and Barb.
You might know I LOVE adapting books. And for good reason! Adding symbols and/or interactive pieces to books helps give students confidence and a purpose while reading. Recently, I adapted this book B is for Breathe using Widgit Online and it was so simple! I wanted to share the steps here with you, so you can adapt books of your own. And also, I'll share the symbols for this book as well. Using Widgit Online Software Widgit Online is very user friendly. It is similar to other word processing software, but when you type words, symbols appear with it! You can type in a regular word-type document, or you can choose a template to get started. For this book, I decided to use one of the templates. I picked the custom grid and simply added symbols to the grid! It is literally as easy as just typing in the boxes and the symbols appear! Here's a couple quick tips when using widgit online. How to change text on a symbol: See below. I wanted the symbol to say talk about feelings but wanted the feelings symbol. So I first typed "feelings", and then went up to the symbol with cat with the green box under it. When I click that symbol, it allows me to change the text that goes with that symbol. Super easy! How to change skin color for symbols: This button shows below allows you to change the skin color to any of the options below. And the button to the left of that one changes it from colors to black and white. Adapting the Book Often I add symbol sentences to books, but for this book I decided to add symbols to each page to focus on the calm down strategy offered on each page. First, I printed two copies of the symbols I created in Widgit Online. The first copy I cut apart (using a paper cutter, saves time and your fingers!) and then used packing tape* to attach each picture to the appropriate page. (*Note: For a sturdier copy of the book for heavy use or with rough students, take the book apart, glue symbols on and then laminate.) I put the pictures in a different spot on each page and this was for two reasons. The first, so that the book would still lay somewhat flat when all the velcro and extra pieces were added (as opposed to keeping them in the same spot). Also, this way I could make sure the symbols didn't cover up much of the artwork on each page. I added soft Velcro on top of each symbol after securing with the packing tape. And I actually cut the dots in half, because otherwise sometimes the pull can be so strong! Smaller dots would have also worked as well. The second copy I laminated. Then I added hard Velcro to the backs and then cut apart (with my paper cutter). That's all! Now the book is ready to use. Using the Adapted Book I usually just take off the symbols and place them next to the student or on a Velcro page or piece of carpet that Velcro sticks too for the students to take the pieces off while they read. Another option would be to print a third copy of the symbol page, laminate and attach the symbol pieces to that while reading or storing! As the student reads each page, they can match the calming strategy symbol to the each page. This is helpful because it gives the student something concrete to do on each page while reading the book, giving the book more of a purpose. Also, students can see how many pieces are left and know how much more of the book they have left! I also think it would be awesome to go through and practice these strategies with your class and discuss with students which strategies they think help them the most! You can even keeping one of the symbol pages in your class and when students need to calm down, they can look at those options for a coping strategy. Want to adapt your own copy of B is for Breathe? Buy the book HERE (amazon affiliate link) Download the symbols for free HERE Let me know if you have any questions about adapting books!
Learn about science curriculum created for self-contained special education classrooms by a real special education teacher!
We all know the changes that the Common Core State Standards brought to our curriculum. I adapted my fractions unit accordingly, so read about it here!
This year, delve into a fun and multi-faceted theme with these FREE Farming Unit Studies, Printables, & Resources!
Made For Me Literacy provides special education teachers with engaging, comprehensive reading units meticulously crafted with special learners in mind covering various subject areas, including basic reading, writing, math, science, and fine motor skills.
Get hooked on adapted books! Find out why they're a game-changer for learning. Check out these 10 compelling reasons to join the fun now!
Creating adapted books is a lot of work. I found this wonderful website with over 400 free printable adapted books you can download. Read more...
By Presto Plans A few years ago I became a part-time student and enrolled in a master's course called Writing Instruction. The professor took a unique approach by having us, a group of English teachers, write our own poetry and fiction. It was an eye-opener. I realized that somewhere between high school and my first teaching job, I forgot the lonely and uneasy feeling of staring at a blank page, not knowing where to begin. When the professor allowed us to work with another teacher on the next writing piece, there was a sense of comfort in that I had someone to discuss, collaborate, and share ideas with. Collaborative writing not only broke down my reserve and hesitation, but also allowed me to foster a relationship of trust and partnership with my co-author. I wanted to bring this experience into my own classroom, so I made a point to allow more opportunities for students to write creatively with a partner or a group. Try 5 of my favorite engaging, low-prep collaborative writing activities that you can use in your class tomorrow. Snowball writing is an activity that your middle and high school students will always remember. It can be used with almost any writing genre and is highly-engaging for even your most reluctant writers. I use this method for narrative, poetry, descriptive, and essay writing. I even use it as an introductory icebreaker activity during back-to-school or a semester change! How It Works: - One student starts the writing process for a timed period decided by the teacher. - When time is up, the teacher tells students to crumple up their work into a “snowball” and throw it somewhere else in the room. Get ready to see lots of confused faces J. - Students retrieve one of the snowballs, smooth out the paper, and continue the writing process! (Tip: have students use a pen to make the writing easier to read for the next student) This process is repeated as needed. When all parts are completed, the paper goes back to the original writer who creates a final copy. If you want to know more about how I use this for narrative writing, read this detailed blog post that gives the step-by-step process in more detail. Have your students write a descriptive paragraph using vivid imagery with an activity called Shared Sensory Writing. How it works: - Put students into groups of three and give them an object to describe. - As a group, they decide which of the 3 senses they will focus on (sight, taste, smell, touch, hearing). Each person is assigned a sense, and they write a short paragraph describing the object based only on the sense they receive. - The group combines elements from each of the paragraphs to create a final descriptive piece. Download this activity for FREE by clicking here: Shared Sensory Writing One of the challenging parts of creative fictional writing is developing the story elements that will form the plot. Use the graffiti fiction brainstorming technique as a way for students to work together to spark fictional writing. How It Works: - Set up 4 chart-paper stations around the room with the following titles: Conflicts, Character Traits, Settings, and Themes. Break the class up into 4 groups and have each group go to one of the stations. - The group members work together to “graffiti” the page with potential conflicts, character traits, settings, and themes that could emerge in a fictional story. I fill in a couple of my own examples to get them started. - Have each group spend 3-4 minutes filling the chart paper up with their ideas. Then, have them all circulate to the next station to repeat the process. - When they are done, have each student select one character trait, conflict, setting, and theme from the graffitied pages to develop a unique narrative. You can choose to have them write independently or with a partner. Tapestry poetry was developed by Avril Meallem (of Israel) and Shernaz Wadia (of India). The two women started writing tapestry poetry collaboratively via email. The form consists of two authors writing a 9-line poem based on the same title, and then working together to meld it into one seamless finished product. How It Works: - Put your students into pairs (or let them choose a partner). - Have one of the students select a title for the poem. This student who selects the title is the only one who has the option of using it in the poem (to avoid repetition). - Both students write a 9-line poem. - When they are done, the pair works together to interlace the poem into one. All 18 lines must be included. Students are permitted to make grammatical changes (singular to plural, verb tenses etc.), and adjustments to adjectives and adverbs, but the majority of the poems should remain the same. Download this activity for FREE by clicking here: Tapestry Poetry Sketch and scribble writing is meant to be used with descriptive/narrative writing and will particularly appeal to those artistic students in your classroom. How It Works: - Have students form a group of three. Give each of the students a picture as a writing prompt. The picture prompts below are the ones I use. The images should allow them to use a narrative voice to describe a scene. They should keep the prompt hidden from the other members of the group. - Once the time is up, each student passes the writing to another student in the group who will read it and draw the scene based on the description (no words allowed). - When the drawings are done, they are given to the final student who must write a paragraph based on the drawing. In the end, have students compare and contrast the drawings to the original picture writing prompt as well as the two pieces of writing. Want even more ideas for collaborative writing? Check out these activities from some of the other Secondary English Coffee Shop bloggers! Tandem Writing from The SuperHERO Teacher Group Writing Challenges from Room 213 Two Truths and a Lie from Secondary Sara Round Robin Writing from Nouvelle ELA Have other ideas for collaborative writing? Click the comment button at the top of the post to join the conversation! SaveSave SaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSave
This foldable will help your students identify 6 common simple machines that we use in our every day life. This resource may be used: ➜ with students from grades 3-5. ➜ with whole group, small groups or individual configurations. ★ This resource is adapted to address different learning styles and was tested in my classroom. ************************************************************************ What teachers have said about this resource: ♥ I really liked how you provided the different templates! It made it easy to select the ones to use for my students either to write or use the one already written or draw or use the one already drawn. You were very thorough in making this for teachers and their students! Thank you! Ruby Y. ♥ My students had fun making and putting these in their interactive science journal. Rhonda N. ♥ I like the idea of a foldable booklet very much.Very well done, practical and the kids love it. Buyer ♥ We had so much fun making these! Thanks! Mary Ann F. ************************************************************************ Here are a few suggestions on how to use this resource: ✔ homework ✔ mini-assessment ✔ review ✔ study guide ✔ science centers activities. ************************************************************************ Please take the time to look at the preview to have an idea of what is included. This file is a .pdf. ************************************************************************ What is included in “Simple Machines-Interactive Notebook Foldables”: ✔ Notes to the teacher ✔ 2 versions of petal book/foldable with definitions-color version ✔ 2 versions of petal book/foldable with definitions -ink saver version ✔ 2 versions of petal book/foldable simples machines examples- color and ink saver. ✔ Copyright and credits ************************************************************************ 6 definitions of simple machines ✔ inclined plane ✔ wedge ✔ screw ✔ lever ✔ wheel and axle ✔ pulley ************************************************************************ ✅Click here to follow me and be first to hear about new resources, sales and updates! ************************************************************************ ♥ You may also like ♥: Cells Cell foldable. Cell flip book. Solar System Solar System Bundle. Solar System foldable-Definitions. Solar System foldable-Facts. Solar System Posters. Scientific Method Scientific Method foldable . Scientific Method-posters and mini-posters. Science safety rules-posters. Science safety rules-foldable. Atom foldable. If you like this product, please leave some feedback so I can get back to you :). You will also receive FREE credits towards your future purchases. You may blog about this activity but please link back to my store. ************************************************************************ Looking for a specific petal book or something else ? I can create it for you! Please complete the form below :) http://goo.gl/forms/fnMgRJon5H ************************************************************************ Copyright © Satsumas and Bees. All rights reserved by author. Not for public display. For personal use only. This product is to be used by the original downloader only. Failure to comply is a copyright infringement and a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright
It was a three day weekend, so I got busy finishing up two projects for working on answering “where” questions with my preschoolers with autism. I find that many of my preschoolers who …
Keeping a grade book is unique to each teacher; what works for one teacher may not work for another. So, as a new teacher, it is important to learn the basics and then adapt them to suit your needs and preferences. A teacher must maintain strict organization to keep themselves, students and parents aware of student ...
Find the perfect adapted books for special education students. Learn how they work, create your own, and explore our teacher-tested selection.
Don’t get me wrong — I love candy. And, a jolly rancher, a tootsie roll, or a starburst can work wonders in the classroom for student motivation and enthusiasm. So can pizza parties, and cupcake days, and brunch, and…I’ve had so many types of food parties I can’t even keep track! Recently, however, I’ve been […]
Finding curriculum written by and for homeschoolers in Canada can be a serious challenge. Here are some Canadian curriculum options for your homeschool.
These picture books about adapting to change show characters dealing with obstacles and facing uncertainty and disappointment head-on.
These food themed interactive / adapted books are perfect for sneaking in some left / right and top / bottom direction skills. Students can follow directions to set the table, make a pizza, scoop ice cream, and make a sub sandwich. Print and prep yourself! Prep options include: putting velcro on both spots (left and right) on each page so that students aren't just following the velcro, but will really have to think about following the direction! For students who are just learning, you might find you just want to put the velcro in the correct spot. Ways to Use this Interactive Book with Multiple Levels: Interactive Pieces Level 1: Students match the picture from each page to the end choice page while they read. Level 2: Students take off the picture from the choice page and match to the page to follow the direction (directions include picture visuals so student know what option to use. Prep these books using lamination and velcro! This resource is perfect for special education and autism classrooms, and even early childhood education! ☆☆Check out more Adapted Books HERE!☆☆ Want a prepped and shipped version? Grab it here!
