Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Educational Apps, Featured, Special Education, Technology

iPhones in the Classroom are Game Changers

Dyslexic Students Becoming Independent with Apple’s iPhone, iPad, and Mac Devices Imagine constantly being presented with the printed word and not able to read it. Imagine being in class listening to the teacher, actively participating in class discussions, but then the teacher hands out a worksheet that you can’t read. Imagine the frustration of knowing […]

Posted inElementary School, Instructional Strategies, Special Education

How to Differentiate Instruction

In my last post, I talked about the difference between an accommodation and a modification, two things that many educators have a difficult time differentiating between. Accommodations and modifications generally get utilized by students with 504 plans and Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). Differentiation becomes a sticky topic these days, though, as we educators feel the […]

Posted inFeatured, Special Education

What’s the Difference: Accommodations vs. Modifications

When it comes to accommodations and modifications, very few educators have a solid grasp of the differences between the two. What’s the difference between accommodations and modifications? Here’s how to tell them apart! Accommodations vs. Modifications An accommodation helps a student with learning gaps experience the same curriculum as his or her peers. For accommodation, […]

Posted inConfessions of a Teacher, From the Front Lines, Instructional Strategies, Middle School, Special Education

The Working Hours of a Special Education Teacher

Special education teachers work hard. People see smaller class sizes and equate that with less work, but that’s a fallacy. I can tell you that in my small class, I’m planning three different lessons and within those three lessons, I’m modifying within levels. In my inclusion classes, I modify assignments, and teachers look at it […]

Posted inAsk a Teacher, Current Events in Education, Featured, From the Front Lines, Special Education

How to Apply for a DonorsChoose Grant (And Why You Should)

Less than two months ago, I applied for a grant at donorschoose.org out of pure desperation. I needed supplies for my classroom and I didn’t see any other way that would happen with the current budget crisis in effect. Where I’m at, the special education budget has hit on all-time low, so our resources are […]