Sharing my experience in the classroom as a life skills special ed transition teacher by providing resources and solutions for fellow educators
Meaningful Homework for Students In Life Skills (Special Education)
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It never fails, one family each year on my caseload requests that I send homework for their student to practice after school and on the weekends. I completely agree when families ask for ways for their students to practice the skills they have learned in school at home.
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How To Teach: Phone Skills
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Importance of Phone Skills
Answering and talking on the phone may be a life line in the case of an emergency. Making a phone call may be necessary to set-up a doctor's appointment. Texting may be the best way to communicate with a manager or supervisor. Phone skills are important for our...
Teaching Life Skills: Washing the Dishes [Special Education]
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Importance of Doing the Dishes
If you eat, you create dirty dishes. Since we all eat, about 3 times a day, we are bound to create at least 10 dirty dishes.It's the skill that can be an independent work task (like after eating a quick lunch) or whole group activity (like during holiday meals...
Technology I Use as a Special Education Transition Teacher
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If you teach special education, then you know technology can really be both your best friend and worst enemy. Below I’ve listed my favorite technology websites, features, and programs and I’m a harsh critique as I have a list of the technology that falls under Worst Enemy.
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How To Teach: Laundry Skills
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Importance of Doing Laundry
Washing, drying, and hanging clothes is a mundane chore that will truly never end. Students can greatly increase their self confidence by learning how to sort clothes, start the washer, flip clothes, unload the dryer, and fold and hang. Laundry also incorporates...
Book Recommendation for Special Education Transition Teachers
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One thing that came from the recent pandemic for me was time to read and I’ve made a conscious effort to continue the practice as the world began to open up.
While I may not have nearly the amount of free time now that I did back then, I still found time to read and learn.
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How To Teach: Time Management Skills
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Importance of Time Management
Like it or not, being able to manage one’s time is a quality that is often judged. If you are late, then you are lazy, unaware, or unmotivated. If you are early then you are prepared, punctual, and responsible. Being able to manage time is a skill and it...
Consumer Math Weekly Practice Resource
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When something works well, there isn’t a need to fix it. However, when you can improve it and expand it, why not?
The Functional Weekly Practice worksheets are a big hit and a single page version is included in every Consumer Math Lesson Unit.
I was recently reflecting on my ...
How To Teach: Problem Solving Skills
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Importance of Problem Solving
If, ‘Ow, looks like we have a problem to solve.’ isn’t a part of your teacher phrases, then consider adding it! An important step to living more independently and holding down a volunteer or competitive job is to be able to identify and solve...
How To Teach: Email Writing and Management
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Importance of Writing an Email
I hear families say over and over again that they wish their child could socialize with their peers in the evenings and on weekends. Teaching students how to email gives them an avenue to communicate with others. A student doesn’t need to be verbal to...
What I Pack for Community Based Instruction Outings
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My schedule allows me to take my young adults into the community every day of the week. Yes, 5 days a week! Since so much of our time is spent on community based instruction (CBI) outings, we need to be prepared for anything and everything at all times.
With many years of...
How To Teach: Recreation Leisure Skills
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Importance of Recreation Leisure skills
Humans engage in recreation leisure activities because it makes them feel happy, it reduces stress, and it provides a mental break from other thoughts or tasks. Since these are all good things, we must support our students in being able to find the ...
Buying Special Education Classroom Furniture: What To Consider
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My co-teacher and I did some ‘window’ shopping to find new tables/desks for our class. The tables and desks we had in our room were no longer going to meet the needs of our incoming students, so we requested funds to purchase new furniture and were approved!
Whenever...
How To Teach: Internet Safety
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Importance of Digital Citizenship
Regardless of if a student is obsessed with their smartphone and uses all the social media apps or if they have no interest in computers or smartphones, knowing how to handle themselves when they do go online is important to keeping themselves and their money...
Facebook Groups to Join as a Special Education Transition Teacher
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I’m newer to Facebook. I mean, I had a profile when I was in college because back then it was limited to only college students. Since graduating college I let that part of my social media life go and focused on Instagram, mainly because I’m a visual learner and that spoke to my...
How To Teach: Safety Skills
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Importance of Being Safe
The goal is to always be safe and protected from all of life’s disasters. Sadly, that isn’t reality and our students need assistance in knowing how to move forward in different situations.
Helping them to look at a situation and decide what...
Priority #2: Connect Students and Families with Government and Community Benefits
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As a high school life skills special education teacher for juniors and seniors or a transition teacher (or transition coordinator), we all have specific time in our school day for teaching class. Unfortunately, there is never time designated for helping students create opportunities to continue...
How to Teach: Caring For Your Body During a Period (Menstruation)
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Importance of Period and Menstrual Care
Some bodies experience menstruation. Since they do, it’s important to address. While menstruation typically occurs once a month, some students may experience their cycle more or less frequently. Either way, students should know how to care for...
What I Do as a Transition Facilitator: Roles and Responsibilities
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I used to say that as a transition teacher I worked at Disney World because it is notorious for being the happiest place on Earth. While I still work at Disney World, per say, I am now splitting my time between the classroom and serving as a Transition Facilitator for my school district.
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Teaching Life Skills: Nail Care Lesson Plan [Special Education]
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Importance of Nail Care
Nail care can easily be seen as a skill that can be pushed off for another day (or another school year). However, having long, jagged, dirty nails can hinder progress in other personal hygiene goals.
While taking care of your fingernails and toenails isn’t a...
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