Imagine walking into your place of employment, the grocery store, church, or the mall. As soon as you enter the door, you become overwhelmed with anxiety. You are terrified and become frozen with so much fear that you cannot utter a sound, make eye contact with those around you, or even nod your head in […]
Special Education
Posted inFeatured, School Improvement, Special Education
October Is Learning Disabilities Awareness Month
[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] On October 11, 1985, our then President Ronald Reagan signed Proclamation 5385 making the month National Learning Disabilities Month. We have come a long way, yet we still have so far […]
Posted inFeatured
Beyond the Jitters: Selective Mutism and Social Phobia
Let’s face it: many, if not most, children would rather stay home than go to school. Most children are ecstatic to have a snow day, a long weekend, and winter and summer vacations. However, once they are at school, they become happily distracted by interacting with their friends, the day’s lessons, lunchtime, and recess. Sadly, […]
Posted inClassroom Management, Featured, Instruction & Curriculum, New Teacher Bootcamp, Special Education
What Every Teacher Should Know About Teaching Students with Disabilities
What does it take to effectively teach a student with a learning disability? That’s the million dollar question. But if I could take a stub at it, I would say relationship, relationship, relationship- pure and simply. With all the different theory on best practices, this one seems to be left off the list very frequently. […]
Posted inFeatured, New Teacher Bootcamp, Special Education
Starting the New School Year Ready for Children with Disabilities
[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”] The first day of school is just around the corner for many. Excitement is in the air. However, many parents and students tend to become anxious. They really don’t know what […]
Posted inFeatured, Instruction & Curriculum, Special Education
5 Ways to Engage the Student With Asperger's Syndrome
Having a student in your classroom with Asperger’s Syndrome can be a tremendous asset to your classroom community. However, since many children with Asperger’s also exhibit behaviors similar to ADD and ADHD and are prone to moodiness and sudden emotional outbursts, it can be difficult to fully engage them in class activities. Although each student […]
Posted inConfessions of a Teacher, From the Front Lines, Special Education, Uncategorized
Cyber School Chronicles: Why I Chose a Cyber Charter School to Educate My Children At Home
A few months ago, my husband and I started to seriously discuss homeschooling our youngest child. The one with Selective Mutism. The one that although has struggled since he entered preschool as a three year old, has made incredible progress with his social anxiety. His academic performance is within the normal range, he ended […]
Posted inFeatured, From the Front Lines, How to Fix Education, Middle School, Parents, Special Education
Misunderstood: A Mother’s Plea to Educators About Asperger’s (Part III)
In parts one and two of this series, I shared the story of my almost twenty-year-old son and his struggles and successes as a young man with Asperger’s Syndrome. In addition, I offered teaching tips for educators from a parent’s point of view. In this final installment, I will share more suggestions of how to […]