An IEP binder for teachers is the key to tidying up your daily caseload, organizing special ed info, and focusing more on your students than the paperwork.
As the ONLY special education teacher in my building, I ALWAYS wanted to get a peek inside other classrooms. Get a peek inside 10 classroom tours!
Special eduction law can be a bit gray at times. Although it should be clear cut, it can be difficult to get explicit answers to some of the basic questions that pop up in the day-to-day life of a special education teacher. Here is a scenario that you may have run into before. You need to set up an IEP meeting, but have been unable to confirm a meeting time with the family. How many attempts do you need to make to set up an IEP meeting with a family? What do you do if they don't respond? Can it all be done through email and phone calls or does one of the attempts need to be a letter? Does one attempt need to be a certified letter? While there are laws related to these questions (which you can find HERE), you may find the answer given still leaves you a bit confused. When it comes to these questions, and many more, the law does not give specifics. The specifics tend to come from each state's interpretation of the law and from court case rulings. So how is a special education teacher supposed to make sense of the scattered out information and try to teach at the same time? Well... it's really hard. Some districts have incredible administrators who have a deep understanding of the law, current court cases, and best practice. Many of these districts also reach out to lawyers for guidance. They do the leg work so you can focus on providing your students with what they need to be successful. With that being said, it is still in everyone's best interest to know how to seek out the answers to your own questions. If you do not have this level of support in your district, you will have to take the extra steps to become informed of your role and responsibilities as a special education teacher. I cannot answer all of your questions here. However, I can provide you with some links and resources that will empower you to become more informed and confident in your understanding of special education law. I am going to share a ton of information. I recommend bookmarking this page so that you can refer back to it as questions arise throughout the school year. But first, let's start with the basics. There are three main federal laws that address disabilities. I recommend you click on the links and skim through each of the laws. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) - The primary purpose of IDEA is "to ensure that all children with disabilities have available to them a free appropriate public education that emphasizes special education and related services designed to meet their unique needs and prepare them for further education, employment, and independent living." IDEA (2004) This is a major law in the world of special education and there is a lot jam packed into this act. You can use the search feature on this page to find information related to a specific topic. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) - This is a civil rights law prohibiting discrimination based on disability. This law is less applicable to public education, but is still valuable to review. Section 504 Rehabilitation Act - Section 504 extended civil rights to people with disabilities in education and other settings. The act outlines the need for a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) which may include reasonable accommodations. Unlike IDEA, students do not need to qualify for an IEP to fall under the umbrella of 504 services. Please note - this is why it is extremely important that the accommodations listed in the IEP or 504 plan are being followed. If they are not, it becomes a civil rights issue, not just a special education issue. Click on Subpart D for information related directly to preschool, elementary, and secondary education. If reading through those three acts seems daunting, don't worry. I am going to share with you some great resources for synthesizing the plethora of information found above. WrightsLaw - I cannot recommend this site enough. It is run by Pete Wright, an attorney who represents children with special needs, and Pam Wright, a psychotherapist who has worked with children and families since the 70s. They summarize court cases in a way that is easy to understand and provide concrete takeaways from the rulings. They have also written numerous books related to special education law and provide training around law and advocacy throughout the country. Make sure you sign up for their newsletter to stay on top of current court cases. The website has quite a bit of information and can be a little difficult to navigate. However, you can click HERE to watch a quick video about how to sift through all of the information. Center for Parent Information and Resources - This website was produced under the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs. While it is geared primarily toward parents, it serves as a great resource for anyone working with students with special needs. Their resource library provides links to documents related to disability services and special education. This site is easy to navigate and the information is accurate and concise. National Education Association (IDEA & Special Education) - This site offers "IDEA Briefs" to explain developments about and aspects of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). They are presented in a question and answer format, and are quick and easy to read. The site also offers a nice summary of the 2004 reauthorization of IDEA found HERE. Department of Education - The specifics surrounding special education law can vary between states. Search your state's department of education website for state specific laws, codes, and policies. You can search for your state HERE and get a list of helpful links. State Specific Education Association - Many states have their own rules and regulations that expand upon those found in IDEA. Your local union (if applicable) may have resources to help you learn more about special education law in your state. If you are unable to find answers on the website, don't hesitate to reach out to your local union reps to see if there are any resources or training opportunities that may be available for special education teachers. Understanding the law is a huge undertaking and I hope that this post has given you some guidence and resources to make it a bit easier. Do you have any other go-to resources for special education law? Please share in the comments below!
What do you do as a special ed. teacher when a student with autism refuses to work? It depends on the function of the behavior! Learn the 12 Best Strategies!
Making sure our students have enough math practice is vital. Thankfully, there are math websites that are great for special ed!
Interview prep questions for new special education teachers and teachers who are interviewing this year! Download the list!
What do you do as a special ed. teacher when a student with autism refuses to work? It depends on the function of the behavior! Learn the 12 Best Strategies!
If you need practical tips on differentiation , here are effective strategies to use in your special education classroom!
Research based teaching strategies you can use today with a free printable chart.
Making sure our students have enough math practice is vital. Thankfully, there are math websites that are great for special ed!
IEP goal bins will help you keep your students' goals and materials organized so you can focus on what's important: the students.
What do you do as a special ed. teacher when a student with autism refuses to work? It depends on the function of the behavior! Learn the 12 Best Strategies!
In a perfect world, general ed and special ed teachers would have all of the time in the world to collaborate together. These 5 tips make it happen.
If you are a special education teacher chances are you are fairly familiar with velcro. Whether you are just starting out or a veteran teacher, I’m sharing all of my velcro tips and tricks in this blog post! ((This blog post contains affiliate links for your convenience. You don’t pay any more by clicking my […]
A blog about autism resources and support from a special ed teacher with first-hand experience.
Finding an intentional time or a method for regular and special education to collaborate can be difficult, especially for teachers who co-teach. This co-teaching planning guide can be shared between a general education and special education teacher to plan together digitally. The form gives space for intentional co-teaching strategies, assessment, and any needed accommodations that may need to be planned for. Looking for more resources to help you document special education services, accommodations and more? Check out these resources below! Google Forms for Special Ed: Service Logs Google Forms for Special Ed: Accommodation Documentation Google Forms for Special Ed: Caseload Management Google Forms for Special Ed: IEP Meetings Or check out the Google Forms for Special Ed BUNDLE! TERMS OF USE By purchasing this file, you are agreeing to use this file in your classroom only. You may not modify content, translate the file, share the file, or resell the content in any way. If your colleagues would like to use this file, please purchase additional licenses at a discount. You may not post this resource anywhere on the Internet.
You aren't making these teacher mistakes in your special education class, are you? Here's 6 mistakes teachers and paras in SpEd make PLUS 5 easy fixes too!
Preschool IEP goal bank for your special education teachers. Helps with IEP goal development, progress monitoring, and writing objectives.
Whether you're fresh out of college or a veteran teaching who needs a change, it always feels good to be prepared for an upcoming interview. This list of 58 - and growing! - interview questions for special ed teachers will help you feel prepared and confident for your upcoming interview. Blog post at Mrs. D's Corner.
One year of teaching, I had a student who LOVED science experiments… but I found that a lot of the resources out there had TOO many steps and TOO many words for my type of classroom. I created these visual experiments JUST like my visual cooking recipes– simple, concise, and students centered! Here’s a look […]
I am so excited to share some of the best hacks and advice with you for your special education classroom from our very own SSE Blogger Team!
IEP snapshot brochures help build a positive rapport between special education and general education teachers. It’s the tiny things that sometimes hold the biggest value! If there’s anything I have learned from my experience in my years of special education, it’s that a big percentage of the time general education teachers take the newly copied […]
If you are a special education teacher chances are you are fairly familiar with velcro. Whether you are just starting out or a veteran teacher, I’m sharing all of my velcro tips and tricks in this blog post! ((This blog post contains affiliate links for your convenience. You don’t pay any more by clicking my […]
Read on as I guide you, the new special education teacher, through steps to take this summer to feel confident and ready before the first day of school.
If break time isn't working in your classroom, click through to see what might help!
Whether you're fresh out of college or a veteran teaching who needs a change, it always feels good to be prepared for an upcoming interview. This list of 58 - and growing! - interview questions for special ed teachers will help you feel prepared and confident for your upcoming interview. Blog post at Mrs. D's Corner.
I am so excited to share some of the best hacks and advice with you for your special education classroom from our very own SSE Blogger Team!
Do your students have goals to answer WH questions? Look no further than this post for the best resource to target WH goals!
The Special Education Science Bundle, the ultimate adapted science units for special education resources are for teachers looking to provide engaging and accessible science special education lessons to students with diverse learning needs. This comprehensive bundle includes 10 units of specially designed task cards, worksheets, adapted books, digital activities, and errorless activities, covering a wide range of science topics. Adapted science units special education Science special education Special education science Adapted science unit special education Each unit is carefully crafted to accommodate the unique learning styles and abilities of special education students. The task cards provide hands-on and interactive learning opportunities, while the worksheets offer structured exercises for practice and assessment. The adapted books are designed to simplify complex scientific concepts and enhance reading comprehension, while the digital activities offer a fun and interactive way to reinforce key ideas. With the Science Special Education Bundle, teachers can easily differentiate instruction and meet the needs of students with various learning challenges. The errorless activities are particularly helpful for students with disabilities such as autism spectrum disorder or intellectual disabilities, providing a low-stress way to learn and practice important scientific concepts. This bundle includes 10 complete units covering topics such as the human body, weather, plants, animals, and more. With the Special Education Science Bundle, teachers can confidently teach science to all students, regardless of their abilities or learning styles. Get your hands on these adapted science units for special education and watch your students thrive in the world of science! Save time and meet ALL student needs and save time with ready-to-go, differentiated special education science units! The adapted science units special education in this bundle are a great option for ESY summer school and the traditional school year. This adapted science curriculum covers a full year, and includes hands-on and digital activities. The 100+ worksheets and activities provide simple practice and repetition to your students, and provide you with no-prep, adapted science curriculum. What You Get: 100+ Worksheets 10+ Digital Activities 10 Assessments with Answer Keys Included (newly added) Anchor Charts For Each Unit (Newly Added) Adapted Books for Each Unit (With Questions and Data Trackers) Interactive PDFs Task Cards Errorless File Folder games Videos Anchor Charts Assessments for each unit + answer keys Included Topics: Living and Non-Living Things Plant Parts | Plant Life Cycle Recycling | Conserving States of Matter Physical Features of Earth Habitats & Environments Weather and Seasons Force And Motion Planets & Outer Space Day & Night Our 10 unit science curriculum is designed specifically for special education teachers who teach in a self-contained setting. The curriculum includes a variety of materials to engage and support students with special needs. The curriculum includes adapted books, task cards, digital activities assessments and worksheets to provide a multi-sensory approach to learning. The curriculum covers a range of science topics and is designed to be flexible to meet the diverse needs of students. The curriculum is easy to use and can be adapted to fit the unique needs of each classroom. With this curriculum, special education teachers can feel confident in providing their students with a comprehensive science education. Need more science activities? Check out these other great science products! Simple Science Activities: Food Chain Simple Science Activities: Measurement of Liquids Follow me & receive product updates: • Look for the green star next to my store logo. • Click it to become a follower. • Yay! You will now receive email updates about new products in my store. Follow us on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook to stay up to date on new products! Tag us on social media when using our products so that we can see all of the great ways you are utilizing them in your classrooms! The blog is also full of ideas for you to use in your special education classroom! Want to earn Free Credits?: • Please go to your My Purchases page. • Beside each purchase you'll see a Provide Feedback button. • Click it. Give a quick rating & leave a short comment for the product. • Your feedback will give you credits to use on future TPT purchases. • If there is a small mistake on an item, or you have suggestions/constructive criticism, please let me know under the Q and A section before leaving negative feedback! Please give me a chance to fix it and improve my product. Thanks!☺
I loved being a resource room teacher. No two days are the same. There is always a surprise from a student just around the corner. It could be learning a...
Special Education Acronyms and Terms - a free handout with the most commonly used acronyms in special ed.
Are you scrambling to navigate the virtual world of online teaching? Times have changed due to the Pandemic and special education teachers have a new set of challenges in teaching remotely. Here are tips to help you succeed in remote teaching special ed.
I hope you've had a great start to your year. It's been quite the start for me, so I thought I would post this light and somewhat funny post for you all. So I bring you.... You might be a Special Ed Teacher if... 1. You hear “Student A needs his AT when he goes to OT. Make sure to review his ETR and IEP and follow it to the letter because IDEA says that he needs to be in his LRE.” and you understand that! 2. You never thought you’d say “No, it is NOT okay to lick your friend!” Or “Do NOT eat the fuzzies off of the gym mat!” 3. You have tried to take data on your own friends, kids, spouse, you name it, you’ve tried to take data on it. 4. You’ve ever hidden Velcro in a "safe place" (aka your desk drawer, under the false bottom, so no one can find it…ever.) 5. You’ve tried to analyze the function of your family’s bad behavior. 6. You’ve spent a considerable amount of time trying to figure out how to use positive reinforcement to get your family to complete their household chores. 7. You can complete paperwork with your eyes closed, hands behind your back, while standing on one foot. 8. You differentiate in your sleep. 9. You’re kind of like a superhero. You can write IEP’s, deal with parents, collaborate with general education teachers, relate accommodations to specials teacher, communicate regularly with related services, and tailor lessons to individual students in a single day! 10. Your bladder is bigger than most. You’re a busy person. Going to the bathroom takes some time and some days you just don’t have time for that. 11. Your heart is bigger than most also. You love your students and are excited to watch them grow, learn, and make progress. Sometimes the progress is as little as being able to say hi to a friend at recess, other times it’s as huge as helping your 3rd grader finally read! So what makes you a Special Education Teacher? Leave a comment below! I'd love to hear from you.
Never feel unprepared for a substitute again with this sub binder for special ed teachers. You can rest easy on your day off. Learn more at Mrs. D's Corner.
Grading rubrics in special ed allow a teacher, para, service provider, and/or admin to break down lessons and skills into competencies and criterion.
We will explore various assessment tools and techniques specifically designed for young special education students, enabling us to unlock
Communicating with parents is one of the most important aspect of being a Special Ed teacher. These messaging platforms make it easy.
4 Must Do's on the First Day of Pre-K. Worried you missed something while lesson planning for the first day of school?
