These classroom management strategies are one of the most important parts of running your classroom. In fact, it’s probably the most important piece to the classroom puzzle. There are so many different strategies available now to use for classroom management. And this can make it daunting to decide which one is best for you, your
Sometimes you get bogged down with negative thoughts about autism. Check out these 25 awesome things about autism for the encouragement you need! (Plus get the FREE printable with 50+ awesome things about autism!)
All too often autism is portrayed in the media as something negative, or even as some kind of affliction. It is easy to overlook the…
A blog about autism resources and support from a special ed teacher with first-hand experience.
Autistic children often engage in wandering behavior. These 30 tips will help you prevent your autistic child or your kid with disabilities from wandering.
10 simple but effective transition strategies for kids with autism to make day-to-day tasks and classroom transitions less overwhelming.
Sensory processing is a critical part of every child's development and is a function of the brain that stays with us for our whole life. Find out exactly what sensory processing is and when to be concerned about sensory issues.
Refusing to eat, or difficult behaviors during meals, can be frustrating to say the least. These are my 12 ways to help a picky eater on the autism spectrum learn to eat new foods, different types and textures of foods, new flavors and more. Let’s bring the fun back to mealtimes! My Getting Picky Eaters...
An epic collection of Sensory Play Activities for kids with Autism. If you're looking for sensory activities for kids with ASD or Sensory Processing
79 meaningful and unique autism tattoos for moms and dads designed to celebrate the diversity, courage, and beauty that is autism.
Discover four effective strategies to help your autistic child excel in math. Learn how to make math accessible with these practical tips.
Potty training and autism. Here are some tips to toilet train an autistic child. Don't give up on potty training!
Use this guide to help you better understand sensory issues with clothing. Learn practical ways to help and find solutions.
Great FREE Printables for AAC/PECS to use with students with Autism and PMLD. Awesome free printable communication boards for special ed.
If you will have a student with Autism in your classroom this year, you may be wondering what you can do to help. All About Me for students with autism. You want your student to make a smooth transition and experience success in an inclusion setting. Students with Autism may experience sensory challenges, auditory processing ... Read More about Inclusion Tips to Help Start the Year off Right for Your Student with Autism. Free Download!
The gluten free casein free diet is one of many alternative autism treatments that can help manage the symptoms of autism, and we're sharing 29 tips and kid-approved recipes to help you get started!
Are you wondering about the connection between autism and sleep? Keep reading and learn more about autism sleep problems and solutions here.
When I posted a couple of my products on Teachers Pay Teachers this summer, I had not yet used them myself. I had brainstormed the ideas over the summer for my new kiddos! I knew that I would be receiving more kids than any other year (and no additional adults) and I needed more ways to incorporate independent work for my students to keep them busy and learning all day (which prevents boredom and temper tantrums!). For my students with higher academic and social skills, I was not too worried...I have plenty of stuff to keep them busy and they are great at adapting to new activities (check out this post for what my higher academic students do at Reading/Math Centers). However, for some of my lower functioning students independent work is harder to come up with and new activities do not go over very well (this group of students in my class struggles a lot with any sort of change). As you probably know if you have read my blog, I love using work in binders for my students. It keeps the work predictable and lets students know exactly how much work they have to complete. It also allows for switching different work in and out without the student feeling like too much has changed. I store these binders in a little plastic bin. I put a piece of velcro on the side of the binders....that way when a student is bringing their schedule picture to the station, they attach it right to the binder they are responsible for completing. This is what is in my reading binders for students who can match letters. This is from my Functional Spelling Product on TPT. The product also comes with pages that have blank boxes, for kids who are beginning to spell words on their own. I store the pieces in a labeled baggie on the back of the previous page. I use these in my reading binders as well. This is from my product Sorting Pictures by Letter from A-Z on TPT. Each kid only has 3 or 4 letters worth of pages in their binder and we switch them around every couple weeks. Again, pieces are stored in a baggie (I ask for these as school supplies in the beginning of the year since we use so many). For the example below, students sort pictures of alligators to the left side page and apples to the right side page. I also have some students who are not yet able to match something as complicated as a letter and cannot yet sort. For these students, in their reading binders, I use matching pages from my Easy Matching product on TPT. When I made this, I tried to make each item on the pages (there are only 4-6 pictures per page) a different color to help aid in visual discrimination for some of those beginning matchers. Not all of my students make it to my "Math Centers" station which takes place in the afternoon because we get so busy with inclusion and functional skills stations (life skills classroom, science lessons, social time, drama time, etc.) Don't worry, we still work on math...just not independently as often as reading. So, these binders are a bit less developed. Right now, I am just using pages from my product Patterns and Beginning Math Skills on TPT. Students match patterns in blank boxes below a given pattern. I tried to use picture of common items/things my students like to make this activity more engaging. That was kind of a long post...happy Tuesday!
Advocacy tips and IEP resources for parents, including example IEP accommodations, resources for teaching self-advocacy skills, & printable resources!
Social Skills - Kindergarten/Autism/Special EdThis visual tool was created for students that struggle with biting.This story supports these students by looking at the different things their mouth and teeth are for and what they can do to calm down.I have printed and laminated each page of this story...
Activities to Help Children with Rigid Thinking #anxiety #childhoodanxiety #adhd #autism #biglifejournal #growthmindset
The signs of high functioning autism are more subtle than classic autism and may go unnoticed until your child is older and there are more social demands.
Tonight I decided to check my email for this blog and I had a lot of emails with requests for more materials (specifically VB-MAPP data sheets). I was really touched knowing there are people out there reading this blog... and I was also completely guilt stricken for taking a 5 month hiatus from sharing with you all! Last night and today I spent about 7 hours in total making picture cards and a data sheet that can be used to test the Level 2-7 TACT objective on the VB-MAPP. I am pretty proud of this document because I sized each item to perfection and I am usually rather awful at anything computer related! The materials provided are for the objective that is testing the ability to tact 50 items, across 3 examples each. I thought of 50 items that are common for preschoolers, broke them into categories, and looked for 3 different pictures for each item. There are 150 pictures total. The document is almost 40 pages long so get ready to dominate the printer! Download the picture cards HERE!!! Download the data sheet HERE!!! I hope you all enjoy! Please send more emails so that I stay connected and accountable! EDIT: updated on Jan. 27, 2014: I have a new data sheet posted that is much better than the one included in this post. check it out here An example of one of my pages!
Stop laminating? In my special education classroom? I know, I know. But trust me. Save time, money and the Earth with 3 additions to your supply cabinet.
Autistic teens need advance preparation in order to navigate their period successfully. Advance prep will make this event less stressful.
Sensory processing disorder (SPD) is often confused with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) due to the similarities and connections that exist.
Used in schools internationally, zones of regulation is a tool for children to identify a feeling and management techniques for self regulation. Parents can use the zones of regulation at home to build familiarity around emotional language and identifying feelings, help to communicate and connect and develop regulation skills that are so important for children’s mental wellbeing. So, what is each zone? BLUE symbolises our lowest level of energy or mood. It encompasses emotions such as tired, sad, sick, bored and lonely. If we are in blue zone, regulation activities that give us more energy or stimulation are often helpful. In the classroom or home these can often be brain breaks, stretching, drinking water, quick burst exercises, talking to a friend or dancing. GREEN zone is where our neutral energy is. It is generally where we feel happy, calm and focused. Some schools use this zone as an ‘aim’ to get to for learning, but at Craftly we like to say that all zones are ok. This is because sometimes we need different energy levels for different things. For example, we need low energy to fall asleep at night. We might need higher energy for a swimming race! Some of the tools to use in green zone support an overall healthy mental mindset, so eating a healthy food, playing, talking with friends or learning something new are all helpful here. YELLOW zone is where our bigger emotions and higher energy levels are at. Although it’s a heightened level of feeling in the yellow zone, we still have a sense of control over them. These emotions may be excited, anxious, frustrated or silly. Yellow zone can help us to fuel competitions, sport, playing but if our goal is to rest, learn, study or feel calm, then we may need to use some regulation tools. Some choices could be to take deep breaths, use a fidget toy, bounce or say positive affirmations. RED zone is where the most intense, overwhelming emotions are - this isn’t just anger, it could be elation or fear. This zone can help us in times of danger as we react quickly, but learning to manage these feelings is valuable. The tools we use here are generally calming, help us to claw back a sense of control and keep safe. These might look like mindful breathing, finding a quiet space, running and taking a break. Remember - all zones are okay! The goal of zones of regulation is to recognise we feel a diverse range of emotions, energy levels and concentration everyday. The more we are aware of these, the better we can become at meeting our goals in the day and using the best regulation tools to do so. If we’re feeling excited in the yellow zone and we’re about to run a race, great! We don’t need to use a regulation tool here because we need that higher level of energy to sprint. Suitable for all children from around 4 years + Made from 0.3mm aluminium metal and printed onto an A4 sheet Includes 15 metal tokens of your choice
Hitting and Pinching in Autism Units and Self Contained- Tips and tricks to teach students to stop hitting and pinching. The Nook podcast from Noodlenook.net
Awareness of autism is on the rise and we're getting better at identifying non-stereotypical presentations in children. However, this leaves a lost generation of Autistic adults who have gone through their lives undiagnosed. This article unpacks what autism is, Autistic masking and two common presen
This is a 13-part in depth guide for parents about how to discipline a child with autism using evidence based positive behavior intervention strategies.
"Are the symptoms of high functioning autism the same in males and females?" Like ADHD, symptoms of ASD level 1, or High Functioning Autism (HFA), are different in girls than boys. Consequently, more boys are referred for an assessment than girls; a ratio as high as 10:1 has been suggested. Despite that, epidemiological research suggests a ratio of 4:1 (or less) is more accurate, which means that there are potentially thousands of young girls on the spectrum who never get diagnosed. The primary differences between HFA diagnoses in girls and boys seem to be caused by basic differences in the ways they express themselves. Aggressive behavior is more noticeable, and a youngster who is overly aggressive is more likely to be evaluated. Because girls have a greater ability to express their emotions, they're less likely to act out when they're upset, confused or overwhelmed. Without this behavioral "compass," the other aspects of autism are more likely to go unnoticed. ==> Parenting Children and Teens with High-Functioning Autism: Parents' Comprehensive Handbook Another similarity between ADHD and HFA in girls is that the symptoms are more passive in nature, which makes them more difficult to notice. Because the symptoms are milder, moms and dads are also more reluctant to bring their child in for a diagnosis. Some experts speculate that one reason fewer girls are diagnosed is because their friends are more likely to help them cope in social situations, which is where symptoms are most readily identifiable. Nurturing is instinctive in girls, and so the peers of a young girl with autism will intuitively comfort her when she's upset, or guide her through social interactions. In contrast, boys tend to be more 'predatory' and therefore more likely to tease a boy with HFA. Because a girl's peers do their best to help her, her parents and teachers may never see symptoms - or may not see them often enough - that would warrant a clinical diagnosis. One of the key symptoms common between boys and girls is a hyper-focused interest one particular thing or topic. For boys, the special interests are often in areas of science or transportation (e.g., trains or airplanes). In girls, the focus is often on animals or classic literature. ==> Parenting Children and Teens with High-Functioning Autism: Parents' Comprehensive Handbook The interest in and of itself isn't unusual, but a youngster with HFA will have an unusually intimate knowledge of his or her topic of interest. Young girls may play with dolls and have imaginary friends, which doesn't seem at all unusual. However, their interest in these things will continue even when they become older teenagers. Because social situations are stressful and awkward for girls with autism, they often learn to mimic people who have stronger social skills. They may adopt someone else's mannerisms, facial expressions and even vocal intonations. Again, this is sometimes misinterpreted and may be misdiagnosed as a personality disorder. Moms and dads should seek the advice of a trained medical professional if they suspect that their child has HFA. Be sure to take note of the behaviors in question, including frequency and environment in which the behavior takes place. Because symptoms are so much more subtle in girls, parents should consult with someone who specializes in autism spectrum disorders. As with other behavioral or learning disabilities, kids on the spectrum have specific educational rights. Moms and dads of a youngster who's been diagnosed with ASD should familiarize themselves with the school district's policy about things like specialized learning plans. Often, a young girl with autism just needs a little extra attention to keep her on track toward reaching her academic and personal potential. ==> Click here for much more information on autism spectrum disorders in females... More resources for parents of children and teens on the autism spectrum: ==> How to Prevent Meltdowns and Tantrums in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder ==> Parenting System that Reduces Defiant Behavior in Teens with Autism Spectrum Disorder ==> Launching Adult Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Guide for Parents Who Want to Promote Self-Reliance ==> Teaching Social-Skills and Emotion-Management to Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder ==> Parenting Children and Teens with High-Functioning Autism: Parents' Comprehensive Handbook ==> Unraveling the Mystery Behind High-Functioning Autism: Audio Book ==> Crucial Research-Based Parenting Strategies for Children and Teens with High-Functioning Autism ==> Videos for Parents of Children and Teens with ASD ---------- Resources for Neurodiverse Couples: ==> Online Group Therapy for Men with ASD ==> Online Group Therapy for NT Wives ==> Living with ASD: eBook and Audio Instruction for Neurodiverse Couples ==> One-on-One Counseling for Struggling Individuals & Couples Affected by ASD ==> Online Group Therapy for Couples Affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder ==> Cassandra Syndrome Recovery for NT Wives ==> ASD Men's MasterClass: Social-Skills Training and Emotional-Literacy Development ==> Pressed for time? Watch these "less-than-one-minute" videos for on the go.
