Be The Exception In Special Education

Dawn's Data Collection Course

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132.How to Feel Confident About Data Collection Oct 27, 2022

Show notes

Data collection is a given when working in special education. We are constantly evaluating if and how our students are progressing. The sheer volume of data that we collect can feel a bit like those Halloween beasts that lurk around this time of year. But it doesn't have to be that way.

In this week's episode, I am sharing some strategies and some resources that will help you feel confident about data collection.

In this episode you will learn:

The benefits of using google forms for data collection.
How to set up templates for data collection.
What resources are available for data collection.
About various technologies that make data collection easier.

Links and Resources

Heather's Digital Data Collection Sheets for Google Forms

Full Sped Ahead Data Collection Course

Free Guide on How to Set Up Google Forms

Tracked Learning Website

YouTube Tutorial for Setting Up Data Collection Forms

Connect with Dawn

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131. How to Work with Your School Psychologist to Make the Most of Your Meetings Oct 20, 2022

Show notes

As special educators we are always working with a team of people. The school psychologist is one of those team members. We don't always have a good understanding of everything that their job entails, all the acronyms, etc. And that information can be even more overwhelming for the parents. So how do we work with our school psychologist to make the most of the IEP meetings?

In this week's episode I am chatting with Briana from Educationally Psyched. As a former educator and now school psychologist she has such great insight into how we can all work together.

In this episode you will learn:

The benefits of understanding the job of a school psychologist.
How to adapt your meetings to include more from all team members.
How to learn the language of educational testing.
About explaining test results to parents in a way that makes sense.

Links and Resources

Bell Curve Poster from Educationally Psyched

CEM Halloween Bundle

Connect with Briana

Educationally Psyched Instagram

Educationally Psyched TpT Store

Connect with Dawn

Spooky Daily Agenda Slides

130.Halloween Fun in the Self-Contained Classroom Oct 13, 2022

Show notes

Halloween is right around the corner. For years I wanted to be the teacher with the cute learning activities and crafts, but it always felt so overwhelming. I soon realized that with a little pre-planning on my part it really wasn't all that difficult to do all the things with my students. I quickly developed multiple resources that I could use in my self-contained classroom each year.

In this week's episode I am sharing those resources with you so you can skip the planning and prep and just go straight to the fun with your students!

In this episode you will learn:

The benefits of pulling resources for the entire month to take the stress off yourself.
How to adapt your reading lessons for some spooky fun.
How to prep some easy crafts for your classroom.
About plenty of cooking ideas that are easy for your students during this season.

Links and Resources

Halloween Bundle

My Amazon Link

Halloween Activities in Special Education Blog

Episode 81: My Guide to Making Halloween Safe and Fun for the Self-Contained Classroom Podcast

Connect with Dawn

Fall Agenda Slides Freebie

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129.Self Contained Teacher Secrets You Need to Know Now to Have the Best Semester! Oct 06, 2022

Show notes

Being a self contained teacher is so rewarding, but it can also be hard some days. There are so many moving pieces, so many things to keep up with. It can quickly become overwhelming.

In this week's episode I am chatting with Micala from Hardly Contained in Sped. As a self contained teacher she understands the challenges that you are facing everyday. She is sharing some tips and strategies to make sure that you are ready to have your best semester yet!

In this episode you will learn:

The benefits of knowing the master schedule for your entire school.
How to adapt your classroom schedule to include all the therapies.
How to use your paraprofessionals to the fullest extent.
About advocating for yourself, not just your students.

Links and Resources

Connect with Micala Fisher

Hardly Contained in Sped Instagram

The Speducation ConnectionTpT Store

Connect with Dawn

The Paul V Sherlock Center of Disabilities

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128.Better Meet Your CVI Learners' Needs in Your Classroom Sep 29, 2022

Show notes

What is CVI? Cerebral visual impairment (sometimes called cortical visual impairment or CVI) is a disorder caused by damage to the parts of the brain that process vision. It's most common in babies and young children, but can continue into adulthood. A child with CVI has vision problems that are caused by their brain that can't be explained by a problem with their eyes. Normally, the eyes send electrical signals to the brain, and the brain turns those signals into the images you see. If you have CVI, your brain has trouble processing and understanding these signals. As elementary teachers, we will sometimes see CVI learners in our classrooms. Supporting them can be a challenge if we are not familiar with the impairment.

In this week's episode I am sharing some ideas to better support your CVI learners. This includes how you can adapt resources so that they can better interpret what you are showing them.

In this episode you will learn:

The benefits of leaning on your visual impairment teacher when responsible.
How to adapt resources for your CVI learners.
How to find CVI friendly videos for instruction.
About CVI learners

Links and Resources

American Printing House

Connect with Dawn

Special Education Fall Bundle

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127.Overcome Classroom Behaviors with These Tips Sep 22, 2022

Show notes

Are you already feeling overwhelmed with some classroom behaviors? Do you feel like you have already tried all the tools in your toolbox and nothing seems to be changing? It seems like we completely skipped the honeymoon period this year and things are already starting to pop up.

In this week's episode I am chatting with Abby from Mrs. Moes Modifications about overcoming classroom behaviors. She is sharing tons of tips and strategies and an incredible freebie with everyone.

In this episode you will learn:

The benefits of using role play in your classroom with students and TAs.
How to adapt the types of praises that you use with your students.
How to teach routines in your classroom.
About using common language from all the adults.

Links and Resources

Connect with Abby Moes

Mrs. Moes Modifications Facebook Group

Mrs. Moes Modifications Facebook

Mrs. Moes Modifications Instagram

Mrs. Moes Modifications TikTok

Mrs. Moes Freebie (Token Boards)

Connect with Dawn

The Peachy Speducator Blog

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126.What to Wear as a Special Educator this School Year…Including Shoes!! Sep 15, 2022

Show notes

How many steps are you taking during the day at work? Most days it feels like I never sit down! Some days I even find myself crawling around on the floor for some learning activity with my students. The way I dress matters…from my shoes to my clothes I need to be both professional and comfortable.

I've been asked several times lately about this very topic over on Tik Tok so in this week's episode I am sharing some ideas with you. There are a few splurge items as well as some budget friendly items to consider.

In this episode you will learn:

The benefits of comfortable footwear…it can be life changing!
How to stretch your budget for clothes and shoes.
How to be both professional and comfortable.
About functional clothing.

Links and Resources

Connect with Dawn

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125.6 Ways to Prevent Burnout As a Special Educator Sep 08, 2022

Show notes

Teacher burnout is such a hot topic right now! It is something that we all deal with in certain ways and something that we have talked about several times on this show. There just seems to be so much right now and it feels like something new is added to our already overflowing plates each day. So what can we do? How can we avoid burnout to the point that we are ready to quit?

In this episode I am chatting with Alexis from The Peachy Speducator about 6 ways you can prevent burnout as a special educator. With 11 years experience, she has some great strategies that will keep you on the right track.

In this episode you will learn:

The benefits of delegating tasks to teacher assistants and parent volunteers.
How to have a cut-off time for work stuff.
How to give yourself grace.
About taking breaks, even during the day.

Links and Resources

Daily Wellness Freebie

Connect with the Peachy Speducator

The Peachy Speducator Pinterest

The Peachy Speducator Facebook

The Peach Speducator Instagram

Connect with Dawn

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124.5 Simple Ways to Have a Great Year as a Special Educator Sep 01, 2022

Show notes

School is back in full swing for me and I will be the first to admit that it has been a lot! Even as a veteran teacher I am finding it difficult to get my footing right now and feel like things are smoothing out. I spent some time recently really focusing on what I could control and things that I could change to make life a little easier.

In this week's episode I want to share 5 things with you that have really stood out over the last few weeks. Each of these are simple in process, but can make a big change in how you are feeling about your year, whether you have already started or are about to get started.

In this episode you will learn:

The benefits of keeping an open communication line with parents.
How to adapt your zoom lessons if you are still teaching some students virtually.
How to use digital assignments for all students, even if they are in-person.
About taking time to allow your students to know some of the real you and making time to fully connect with them.
About giving yourself some grace during this adjustment period.

Connect with Dawn