As a special education transition teacher for young adults with the highest support needs, it wasn't uncommon for me to find a few chewies around my classroom at the end of the school day. And it is common for students to go through periods of wanting to use a chewie more than others or for some...

Early in my time teaching transition my fellow special education teachers and I split up the responsibility of visiting job sites and teaching vocational skills classes.  Like any true novice teacher, I focused most of my vocational skills class time on writing text-based resumes and mock...

Whether the young adult needs funding (i.e. money), services (like therapy), or support (such as help with daily tasks like showering and cooking meals), there are programs available to help pay for these needs.  

While I dream about the day that young adults and their families in...

It’s early February and everything is red and pink, Reese cups are now in the shape of hearts, and you basically trip over love-themed stuffed animals whenever you walk into a store.  Valentine’s day is coming!  

If you are looking for some Valentine’s Day-themed...

What is SSI?  Supplemental Security Income, or SSI for short, is a monthly payment issued to an individual with a disability to help cover the cost of living expenses.   SSI funds can be used to cover the costs of respite, transportation, care providers, rent, food, and...

I’m sharing an in-depth resource review of my most recent Renting lesson unit.  While my original Rent lesson unit covers the necessary basics, this new resource includes all your favorite things but dives a bit deeper into renting.  So, if you are looking for materials to teach...

The mindset that students with higher support needs (aka severe to profound, multi-needs, low functioning) don’t have the ability or interest to engage in vocational training is outdated.   

Working 9-5 is not everyone’s dream and meaningfully contributing to...

If you are placing students in community (or school based) jobs and are struggling to find just the right fit for some students with higher support needs, keep reading!  I’m sharing the approach we used in my former program to meaningfully connect students with community and...

 Whether you feel excitement about a new school year or dread, you have to be prepared or you will be eaten alive (not to sound dramatic, but we all know it’s true).  Knowing what you need to start the first day and week of school and having the time to create and perfect said...

If you are ready to switch up your student’s community vocational sites, want more vocational experience options for students to choose from, or just know your community has more to offer than just hotels and restaurants, then review the list below!

I’m sharing over 30...

Whether you teach high school, middle school, or elementary, when you long to teach transition (special education programming for 18-22 yr olds) you’ll search far and wide for that coveted position.  Since so many schools are interviewing candidates, now seems like the best time to...

By IDEA definition, ‘extended school year services means special education and related services that are provided to a child with a disability beyond the normal school year of the public agency; in accordance with the child’s IEP; and at no cost to the parents of the...

Let me clear something up right off the bat, I’m leaving teaching to stay home to care for my young daughter.  She is my top priority at this time in my life and it took me daily reflection over several months to become comfortable with my decision to leave my steady-paycheck-job to be...

When you think of safety skills you probably think of teaching students to wear oven mitts when using the oven, to not share their personal information with strangers, and to lock the door when they are home alone.

You probably embed safety skills into specific lessons (like kitchen...

Typically, my blog posts are written with educators in mind, educators who are in the classroom and looking for ways to be better teachers. This blog post is going to be a little different. 

Yes, this post is still for educators, but it is for educators who have an online presence. If...

As a transition teacher, I love routine when it comes to lesson plans (and I know most special education teachers do). I love having to think only 1 time and just automate from there.  It frees up my brain and allows my students to know what to expect and when, which we all know is...

Whether you are new to teaching special education or a 15 year veteran…

Teach middle school or high school students…

Or even transition-age young adults preparing for the adult world…

Students are on track to attend community college, university, or a rehab day...

If you live in Illinois and your student is in Special Education then you may have heard of PUNS at an IEP meeting or from fellow parents/family members.  With a funny name and less than stellar history, it probably left you either scratching your head or with a sour taste in your...