New Special Education Blog

Psalm 119:2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart

Thanks for checking out my new special education blog! This is my twelfth year as a special education teacher. I taught high school for eleven years and this year I am teaching elementary. I am not a fancy blogger but I will be sharing the weekly activities that go on in my special education classroom. I teach at a small school so we have a resource/self. contained classroom. I am the only special education teacher for grades 4-6 regardless of their disability or severity.  I teach at a public school in a low income,  rural town. Our entire population k-12 is under 700 students. 

My new room was an adjustment because it is one of the oldest in the school. People have told me fifty years ago it was part of the cafeteria. I had fun decorating it and working to make it a cheerful place for my students. This little nook is the best feature in my room. To the left of the tables are the student tubs (they are actually called art portfolios). Each student goes and gets their tub as they enter the classroom. 

I couldn't resist the Scholastic class quiz when it went on sale in the spring. This is my first year in elementary and I have never used a pocket chart before (:  

I have used this sign and re-purposed it several times. It is a piece of foam board from the hardware store. Since it is light weight it is EASY to take home and redecorate. I hang it with Command Strips (I think I hang everything with them). We have two desktop computers, two laptops and about ten IPADS.

See that polk dotted door? That is a closet! I have never had a closet in my classroom before and I am loving it. 

Each student two desks so they have a place to put their tub which contains their supplies for my room only ( journal, pencils, etc.).  If you look close the guy on the left has his feet on a BENDY BAND. These have been very helpful for my ADHD kids and most general ed. teachers are using them, too.  I ordered mine off Amazon and need to buy a couple more. I don't even put the blue cup on the bottom on them because our chairs are big enough that the band alone stays in place.  LIFESAVER!!! 

This second polka-dotted door goes to a neighboring classroom. We are lucky to have a room to share (through the open door) that has a restroom for kids, copier, and washer and dryer. I thought it was odd having a washer and dryer but I have already had to use it several times and we have only been in school for a week.

 See how the walls are split behind the cabinet? That is where they used to slide in a table back in the cafeteria days. I had to position the cabinets to block it because it would have made a fun hiding spot for my kiddos!

 I read about using a handyman's rolling seat to roll from seat to seat when helping students. See it there-bright red? Most of the time it hides nicely underneath my desk (my desk is huge) to keep the kids off of it,  but it is a very comfortable way to lean over and help students. I got mine at Harbor Freight.

Thanks for checking out my new blog! I will posting our first week of school activities this afternoon :)