Have you signed up for The Educator’s Room Daily Newsletter? Click here and support independent journalism! I remember sending my son to his first day of school with his new glasses. My anxiety was high, worrying about what the other students would say to him and how their comments would make him feel. Would they […]
special needs
Posted inPedagogy
How to Support Parents and Educators of Autistic Students
I remember the first student I taught who had been diagnosed with autism very well. “Ms. Lamons, you need to fix the date on the board.” “Ms. Lamons, I need to know what we are doing today.” “Ms. Lamons, I finished my work. Now, what do I do?” John had what some described as a […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Communication – Simple, Respectful, Can Be the Achilles Heel for Special Needs Parents
“The pen is the tongue of the mind.” – Horace, Roman Poet The power of the pen wields so much more than just getting one’s voice into the world. And we all know how powerful the tongue is. Proverbs 18:21 puts it this way: “The tongue has the power of life and death” (Bible, New International […]
Posted inHow to Fix Education
The Importance Of Early Intervention
I am a huge advocate for early intervention. Unfortunately, my district doesn’t always share the same philosophy. In my experience, students who are having difficulty in first and second grade (even some students in kindergarten) can be identified and remediated with the right supports. We are doing a huge disservice to children and families by […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
The Joys of Being a Teacher with Special Needs
by: Kathryn Garner My heart races on the first day of school as I project my “Meet Your Teacher” slideshow onto the SMART Board. The generic tidbits of personal trivia come first. I tell my students where I am from, what I like to do, and where I went to school. My new students look […]
Posted inSpecial Education
Just Keep Swimming: What Dory Teaches Us About Disabilities
My kids and I loved Finding Nemo, so when I found out that there was going to be a Sensory Friendly viewing of Finding Dory, my husband and I jumped at the opportunity to go see it with our two boys, one of whom has autism. The movie was definitely meant for kids, but what […]
Posted inFeatured, From the Front Lines, Opinion
Developing An Appreciation For Differences
[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”] In the last week I have read four socialization articles for special needs children. Each article spoke about the importance of preparing special needs children for experiences in socialization, whether that […]
Posted inFeatured, Legal, Special Education, Uncategorized
Planning for the Future: Special Needs Students' Transition Plan
All students, whether in elementary or high school, should have a discussion with their parents or guardians about what they want to do after completing high school. Students with disabilities are no different. Except their discussion is required by The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (“IDEA”) and mandates the inclusion of special education teachers, general […]