fun activities for high school special education students

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10 activities for students with special education needs

More than 7 million students, or about 15% of those ages 3 to 21, received special education services in the 2020-21 school year under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

To ensure the quality of special education services and meet the many needs in their classrooms, teachers must invest a considerable amount of time in tailoring lessons and materials to their students.

In fact, what makes the role of a special educator especially challenging is the number and diversity of needs in a classroom. Teachers must support not only the academic needs of their students, but also communication, behavioral and physical needs, among others. However, special education teachers often operate without adequate materials to address these needs.

According to a survey conducted by the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) 72% of teachers of students with special needs modify their curriculum to support their individualization either most of the time or always. Moreover, teachers rank adequate resources requirements as the most important criteria for their success.

The lack of materials places a significant extra burden on teachers. Therefore, here are 10 activities developed to help learners with special needs achieve a higher level of self-sufficiency and success in school and in their community.

Activities for students with special education needs

Below you will find 10 exercises developed for special education teachers under the principles of ecological validity and generalizability with the aim of unlocking students’ potential by addressing their special needs through cognitive stimulation activities in the classroom.

You will be able to customize and adapt the activities to their needs and capabilities increasing students’ motivation and engagement , thus enhancing their performance.  

1. Word Fishing

What does it consist of.

The first activity to work with special needs students that we present is Word Fishing . In this game students have to make words by putting syllables or individual letters in the correct order. It is divided into six levels of difficulty. They will automatically move up or down a level depending on his or her successes or mistakes.

We show you an example in the following video.

Activity customization

You will be able to customize this activity to meet the individual needs and capabilities of each child, being able to set the general features and parameters.

General features

On the one hand, you can adjust general features such as the number of exercises, the maximum time, whether or not you want a visible timer for the activity and an inactivity warning, or you can modify the instructions if you wish.

And, on the other hand, the parameters, where you can select:

• Number of word parts.
• Movement of elements.
• Type of word parts: syllables or letters.
• Maximum errors.

What does this activity work?

This activity works:

• Working memory.
• Vocabulary.
• Hemineglect.

2. Who raised their hand?

In this activity children have to remember the order in which the classmates raised their hands to ask for a turn to speak and reproduce it. We show you an example below.

You will be able to customize this activity and set the general features and parameters:

You can adjust general features such as the number of exercises, the maximum time, whether or not you want a visible timer for the activity, the number of tries and an inactivity warning, or you can modify the instructions if you wish.

And, on the other side, the parameters, where you can select:

• Sequence length.
• Memorization time (sec).
• Number of elements.

This special needs activity works:

• Episodic memory.

3. Correct Image Name

Correct Image Name is a worksheet in which students must determine which word matches the image shown.

Work by levels

In addition, this exercise has different levels of difficulty so that the teacher can adapt the activity to the needs of each student with special needs: basic, easy, medium, difficult and advanced.

Here is an example of a medium level worksheet to work with people with special education needs.

This worksheet is available in both digital and paper format.

This activity works on discrimination.

4. Get Dressed

Another NeuronUP activity for k-12 students with special needs to work on ADLs that we highlight is Get Dressed . In this game they have to appropriately dress a mannequin in terms of the order and placement of the items of clothing as well as the type of situation.

In the example below, students have to dress the woman for a special occasion.

You will be able to customize the activity to suit the special needs and abilities of each student.

On the one hand, you can set general features. Here you can delimit the number of exercises, the maximum time, whether or not you want a visible timer for the activity and an inactivity warning, or you can modify the instructions.

• Clothing: all or basic ones only.
• Presentation of the clothing in order.
• Matching clothing.
• Setting: categories or wardrobe.
• Type of distractors: none, obvious or diverses.
• Maximum errors per type.
• Decision making.
• Body schema.

5. Pack your Backpack

This daily living activity involves packing the backpack for school by selecting only the objects necessary for that day of school. The aim of the game is that the children with special education needs don’t forget anything , but also they don’t have to pack things that they won’t need . Here is a medium level example.

You will be able to customize this activity to suit the individual needs and abilities of each child and set the general features and parameters:

In this ADL you can adjust general features such as the number of exercises, the maximum time, whether or not you want a visible timer for the activity and an inactivity warning, or you can modify the instructions if you wish.

And in terms of parameters you can select:

• Number of subjects and type.
• Hints: visible, hidden or none.
• Distractors: related, unrelated, all or none.

This special needs resource works:

• Selective attention.

6. Pocket Money

This exercise is a generator. Generators allow you to create  unlimited and ecological activities . The student can never memorize the answer, since each instance is different. This special education activity consists of selecting the amount of money requested . An example is shown below.

You will be able to customize this activity to suit the students’ individual needs and abilities. In addition, you can setup the general features and parameters.

In this generator you can configure general features such as the operation (correction or free mode and maximum errors allowed), the maximum time, whether or not you want a visible timer for the activity and an inactivity warning. Moreover, you will be able to modify the instructions if you wish.

As for the parameters, you can select:

• Type of currency.
• Type of amounts: integers or decimals.
• Range of amounts: from 0 to 1,500.
• Largest bill/coin.

7. What is the best thing to do?

This worksheet consists of  analyzing a situation and seeing what would be the right way to behave in it. Life is full of choices, and it is not always easy to make the right one. By showing different cases adapted to reality and giving them several behavioral options, we teach children to question several aspects of situations they may encounter in their daily lives and weigh the consequences of their decisions.

What is better to do? is organized into five levels of difficulty: basic, easy, medium, difficult and advanced.

In the following video we show you an example of how to work with this activity with students with special education needs.

Ways to work with this special education resource

Correction mode: the platform corrects the student after each action. Free mode: the platform does not correct the student until the end of the exercise.

This worksheet is available is also available on paper format for you to work with your students.

This activity works on social cognition.

8. Space Conquest

In this set in space game, students have to jump between the moving planets until they arrive to their final destination. As in all NeuronUP games, the difficulty levels up and down automatically according to their progress. In addition, the professional can choose the level manually. In this image we show you a medium level example to work with students with special needs.

This special needs activity can be customized to meet the needs and abilities of each student. You can also establish the general features and parameters.

In this game you can adjust general features such as the number of exercises, the maximum time, whether or not you want a visible timer for the activity, an inactivity warning and you can customize the instructions.

You can customize some parameters such as:

• Number of rows on the screen.
• Number of total rows.
• Distractors: no, some or all.

This game works on:

• Spatial relationship.
• Sustained attention.
• Inhibition.
• Processing speed.

9. That’s Odd!

This generator consists of categorizing numbers as odd or even . It is an activity for students with special needs to become familiar with numbers before learning to do counting. Below you will find an example.

You can tailor this activity to the students’ individual needs and abilities and you can set the general features and parameters.

In this generator you can set up general features such as the operation (correction or free mode and maximum errors allowed), the maximum time, whether or not you want a visible timer for the activity and an inactivity warning. In addition, you can modify the instructions.

You can customize the following parameters:

• Range of numbers: from 1 to 9,999.
• Number of numbers.
• Adaptability: whether the student has to drag or click to select the numbers.

This activity works semantic memory.

10. Waiter in Action

Special education students, who take on the role of waiters, have to pay attention to the different dishes ordered in a restauran t in this activity. They must serve each customer the ordered dish and be attentive as the dishes will change. The game is divided into various levels. Level 1 being the easiest and level 9 being the most complicated. In the following video you can find an example of how to work with this exercise:

This special education resource can be customized to meet the needs and capabilities of each student. General features and parameters can also be set.

In this game you can configure general features such as the number of exercises, the maximum time, whether or not you want a visible timer for the activity and an inactivity warning, or you can personalize the instructions.

In addition, you can edit specific parameters such as:

• Visible elements: number of diners and number of food items.
• The alternation.
• The variety of elements.
• The number of target stimuli.
• Correction criteria: totals, errors and omissions.
• Number of stimuli.
• Time of permanence of the stimuli.

Waiter in Action works on:

• Alternating attention.

Extra activity to work with students with special needs: Hidden Code

Hidden Code is the last activity to work at the classroom with students with special education needs consists of finding as quickly as possible the numbers that stay still among a group of numbers that are constantly changing.

For example, in the following medium level exercise students have to discover the hidden 4-digit code.

You will be able to customize this activity and set the general features and parameters.

You can set, on the one hand, the general features such as the number of exercises, the maximum time, whether or not you want a visible timer for the activity and an inactivity warning, or you can modify the instructions if you wish.

• Size of matrix: number of rows/columns.
• Number of motionless elements.
• Distribution of motionless elements: square, horizontal, vertical or random.
• Visual gnosis.

NeuronUP for Special Education

Unleash your students’ full potential by addressing their special needs through cognitive stimulation in the classroom.

Bibliography

Fowler, S. A., Coleman, M. R. B., & Bogdan, W. K. (2019). The State of the Special Education Profession Survey Report. Arlington, VA: Council for Exceptional Children.

National Center for Education Statistics. (2022). Students With Disabilities.  Condition of Education . U.S. Department of Education, Institute of Education Sciences. Retrieved June 23, 2022, from https://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/indicator/cgg

If you liked this post on 10 activities for students with special education needs, you may be interested in these NeuronUP posts:

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Hands-On Activities for Special Education Students

There are many different types of activities that can be done with special education students to help them learn. Many times, these students need more concrete and hands-on activities to help them understand concepts.

What are Some Teaching Strategies for Special Education Students?

Teaching strategies for special education students can vary depending on the student’s needs. There is no one teaching strategy that can work for all students with special needs. Each student requires a different approach to be successful.

Every student has unique needs, and what works for one may not work for another. However, there are some general strategies that can be effective for many students with special needs. One important strategy is to provide clear and concise instructions. This means breaking down tasks into small, manageable steps and using language that the student can understand. It can also be helpful to use visual aids such as pictures or diagrams to accompany verbal instructions. Another useful strategy is to allow ample time for the student to complete a task. This means giving them plenty of time to process information and avoiding rushing them through an activity. It can also be helpful to provide breaks throughout the lesson so the student can take a break from concentrating if needed. It’s also important to be flexible in your approach and be willing to adjust your plans as necessary based on how the student is responding. Some days may require more or less review than others, and it’s important to go at the student’s pace rather than trying to stick rigidly to a plan.

Finally, it’s essential to build positive relationships with both the student and their family members or caregivers. Special needs students often benefit from having a trusted adult they feel comfortable communicating with about their progress and any struggles they may be experiencing.

What are Examples of Hand-on Activities?

There are countless examples of hands-on activities that can be beneficial for children and adults alike. Here are just a few examples:

• Arts and crafts: Activities like painting, drawing, sculpting and other forms of creating art can be great for fine motor skills development and self-expression.
• Building with blocks or puzzles: These types of activities can help with problem-solving skills, planning ahead, and eye-hand coordination.
• Cooking or baking: Following a recipe (or making one up!) can teach patience, measuring skills, and the importance of paying attention to detail. Plus, you get to eat the delicious results!
• Gardening: Planting seeds, watering plants, pulling weeds…gardening is a great way to get outside, get some exercise, and learn about the natural world around us.

What are Some Common Hands-on Activities for Special Children?

There are countless benefits to incorporating hands-on activities into your special education students’ lesson plans. Not only do these types of activities help students learn and retain information better, but they can also be a lot of fun!

Here are some ideas for hands-on activities that can be used with special education students: 1. Use manipulatives when teaching math concepts. Manipulatives are objects that can be touched and moved around to help explain a concept. For example, use blocks or counters to teach addition and subtraction. This will allow the student to physically see and touch the numbers they are working with.

2. Get creative with art projects. Art is a great way for students to express themselves and it can also be used as a tool to teach academic concepts. For example, have students create a collage to represent fractions or use clay to sculpt three-dimensional shapes.

3. Use movement breaks throughout the day. It’s important that special education students get plenty of physical activity throughout the day because it helps them stay focused and attentive in class. 4. Modeling clay – This is a great activity for helping students understand concepts like shapes, sizes, and textures. Plus, it’s just plain fun to get messy with clay!

5. Painting – Like modeling clay, painting is another activity that can help students understand concepts like colors and mixing colors together. It’s also a great way to encourage creativity and self-expression.

6. puzzles – Puzzles are not only great for building problem-solving skills, but they can also be very calming and relaxing for students. If you have some extra time, try working on a puzzle as a class! 7. sensory bins – Sensory bins are perfect for kids who need some extra tactile input. You can fill them with anything from rice to shaving cream to water beads. Just make sure you supervise closely so that the kids don’t end up eating any of the materials!

How Do You Engage Students With Special Needs?

When it comes to engaging students with special needs, educators must first understand the individual student’s strengths, weaknesses and interests. Once this is established, lessons and activities can be designed specifically to appeal to the student and help them succeed. Here are some tips on how to engage students with special needs in the classroom: 1. Get to know your students individually. This means taking the time to learn about their unique learning styles, abilities, and interests. When you know your students well, you can more easily target instruction to meet their needs. 2. Make use of technology. Technology can be a great leveler for students with special needs, providing them with access to information and tools that they might not otherwise have. Use apps, websites and software that allow students to work at their own pace and level of ability. 3. Be flexible in your approach. Not every lesson will go according to plan but that’s okay! Be prepared to adapt your teaching methods on the fly in order to engage your students with special needs better. Try different activities or switch up the delivery of instructions until you find what works best for each individual student.

4. Encourage social interaction among classmates. It’s important for all students – including those with special needs –to feel like they belong in the classroom community. Help facilitate socialization by organizing group work or project-based learning opportunities where everyone can contribute equally.

Fun Activities for High School Special Education Students

It can be difficult to find activities that are both fun and appropriate for high school special education students. However, there are a number of options available if you know where to look. Here are some ideas for fun activities for high school special education students:

• Sports teams – Joining a sports team is a great way for students to stay active and socialize with their peers. There are many adaptive sports programs available, such as wheelchair basketball or Special Olympics.
• Art classes – Students can express themselves creatively in art classes. There are often specialized classes available for students with special needs. 3. Music therapy – Listening to music or playing an instrument can be relaxing and therapeutic for students with special needs. Music therapy sessions may be offered through the school or community.
• Drama club – Participating in a drama club can help build confidence and communication skills. Students may have the opportunity to perform in front of an audience or work behind the scenes on a stage crew.
• Outdoor recreation – Getting fresh air and spending time outdoors is important for everyone, including students with special needs. Many adaptive recreation programs are available, such as adaptive skiing or horseback riding.

Fun Activities for Special Education Students at Home

There are many fun activities that special education students can do at home to help them learn and grow. Here are just a few ideas:

• Create a sensory bin: Fill a large container with things like sand, rice, beans, or even just water and let your child explore with their hands. This is a great way to work on fine motor skills and sensory exploration.
• Make homemade pizzas: Let your child help measure and mix the ingredients, then top the pizzas with their favorite toppings. This activity works on math skills and following directions while being delicious!
• Go on a nature walk: Explore your neighborhood or nearby park and look for birds, bugs, flowers, etc. This is a great opportunity to work on observation skills and get some fresh air at the same time.

Social Skills Activities for Special Needs Students

Special needs students often have a difficult time socializing with their peers. However, there are many activities that can help these students develop the social skills they need to be successful. Here are a few social skills activities for special needs students:

• Role-playing – This activity allows students to practice how to respond in various social situations. They can role-play with each other or with adults.
• Social stories – These stories provide information about specific social situations and how to handle them. They can be read together as a class or individually.
• Group games – Games such as charades, Pictionary, and others can help special needs students learn how to interact with others in a fun way.
• Conversation starters – Prompts such as “What did you do today?” or “How was your weekend?” can help special needs students initiate conversations with their peers.

Fun Activities for Special Education Students Online

If you’re looking for ways to keep your special education students engaged and learning, there are plenty of great options available online. Here are just a few ideas:

• Use online games and puzzles to help with fine motor skills, memory, and problem-solving. Websites like www.abcya.com offer a wide variety of educational games that are both fun and challenging.
• Utilize social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter to create groups or pages specifically for your class. This can be a great way to stay connected with students and their families, share resources, and post announcements or reminders.
• Take advantage of online video conferencing tools like Skype or Google Hangouts to connect with other classrooms or experts from around the world. This can provide some amazing learning opportunities for your students!
• There are tons of great websites that offer free educational resources, lesson plans, activities, etc., specifically for special education students. A few of our favorites include www.teachtotalspecialedstudents.com and www.

Teaching students with Autism through hands on activities- special needs

Special education students often benefit from hands-on activities that help them to learn and retain information. In this blog post, we share some ideas for hands-on activities that can be used with special education students. These activities can be used to teach a variety of subjects, including math, science, reading, and writing.

Dwight Hughes Sr

I am Dwight Hughes Sr., your specialist in Special Education and Preschooler topics at EduEdify.com. Holding a PhD in Early Childhood Education, I bring a depth of knowledge and experience to guide parents and educators in nurturing the younger minds. My mission is to share evidence-based insights, cultivated from years of academic and field research, to help every child flourish during their formative years.

Home » Tips for Teachers » 12 Resources for Special Education Teachers to Enhance Learning and Maximize Student Success

12 Resources for Special Education Teachers to Enhance Learning and Maximize Student Success

As a special education teacher, you are always looking for new and innovative ways to help your students learn. One way is to incorporate the use of technology into your teaching practice.

With the right websites, you can provide engaging lessons that will help your students reach their full potential. In this article, we’ll explore 10 websites that offer resources specifically designed for special education teachers. From online courses to interactive tools and games, these sites have something for everyone – no matter what level of experience or expertise they possess. So let’s dive in!

After readind this article you’ll know about:

• Teacher Vision →
• LD OnLine →
• AFIRM modules →
• The National Center for Learning Disabilities →
• Education Commission of the States →
• National Education Association →
• Paths to Literacy →
• 3 benefits of using these tools →

It’s no secret that special education teachers have a lot of work to do. We have a lot to do, create, and remember! Let’s face it, we need to find ways to make our jobs as special education teachers more manageable. To make your job at least a little easier, I’ve picked up 12 sites that will help solve this or that issue more effectively.

1. Naset — promoting the profession

NASET (National Association of Special Education Teachers) provides a unique platform for special education teachers to come together and support one another in the pursuit of modern professional development. With an exclusive focus on this vital field, NASET offers members invaluable opportunities to enhance their skillet and stay abreast of advancements within specialized teaching.

What is it?

For over a decade, NASET has been the go-to provider for professional development in special education. Today they have evolved their online platform to include an impressive array of courses, lectures, PowerPoint presentations and resources that aim to better equip educators working with those who need it most. With such vast content available now at its fingertips – from publications to webinars – this invaluable resource continues supporting teachers on their journey towards making real change in learners’ lives around the world.

One organization stands at the forefront of special education: NASET. Its members stay informed on issues that matter, while striving to provide excellence in research, practice and policy innovation for students across the nation.

What Resources You Will Find :

• ABA to Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Behavior Assessment to Bullying
• Cerebral Palsy to Curriculum Based Assessment
• Deafness to Extended School Year Services
• Fetal Alcohol Syndrome to Government Agencies
• High Stakes Testing to Interventions
• Journals to Literacy Resources
• Magazines to No Child Left Behind (NCLB)
• Occupational Therapy to Psychological Terminology
• Q & A about IDEA to Rights of Children with Disabilities
• Setting Up Your Classroom to Triennial Preparation
• Videos to Who are the Children in Special Education?

2. Teacher Vision — all tips

Teacher Vision provides the cutting edge resources teachers need to support their students. Their team of certified, current classroom educators reviews and creates materials that are accurate, up-to-date and reflect changing educational needs.

With over two decades of experience, Teacher Vision has been a leading provider of educational materials and resources to educators across the nation – from early education to high school. Millions trusts them for quality tools that enhance other’s teaching.

Teaching is more than just a job – it’s an opportunity to bring your vision to life. When the daily duties seem overwhelming and start threatening that dream, Teacher Vision is here with thousands of resources created by teachers for teachers: from standards-aligned lesson plans, helpful classroom management advice or stress relief workbooks.

• Informative articles on mental health and well-being, developmental and learning disabilities, and ADD/ADHD
• Tools you can use to help your students adjust to grades
• Grading tips
• Case studies to learn how to grade a student
• Teaching articles on how to teach and manage children with special needs

3. Learning Disabilities Online — information and support

Struggling with learning disabilities can be a challenging experience, but LD OnLine is here to help. Our comprehensive resource provides crucial information and support needed for both children and parents alike; this includes hundreds of articles written by experts on the subject as well as videos, columns in addition to personal essays from experienced individuals & artworks submitted by kids too!

With over 25 years’ worth of insight into disability-related issues within education environments – let us assist you through your journey towards understanding what it takes to make successful progress.

LD OnLine is determined to open doors of opportunity for both children and adults, arming them with the knowledge they need about learning disabilities and ADHD. LD OnLine provides invaluable resources to help teens and adults navigate the transition from school into higher education or meaningful employment. Our information also helps individuals with learning disabilities confront challenges which can otherwise impede success in these goals.

• Teaching mathematics
• Teaching writing
• Developing language and reading skills
• Using technology in the classroom

4. Do2Learn — innovation tools

Do2Learn began in 1996 with the help of a grant from the National Institutes of Health, seeking to bring together passionate educators and clinicians with tech experts. Together, they collaborate on developing innovative tools so that people like you can access their knowledge and resources worldwide.

Do2Learn began as a local resource, but soon blossomed into an international source of information. With over 11 million visitors per month and fierce search engine rankings, half their users come from abroad! This success is largely due to the thousands of sites that link back – in particular for picture cards, facial expressions and job tips searches.

Do2Learn understands that busy teachers and professionals need more than just instructions on how to adapt their classrooms for children with special needs – they need resources. That’s why Do2Learn provides access to a Teacher Toolbox containing not only behavior management plans and literacy tools, but also free picture cards as part of the package! Making it easier than ever before to devise successful visual communication systems in your classroom.

• Free pages with social skills
• Behavioral regulation activities and guidance
• Learning songs and games
• Communication cards
• Academic material
• Transition guides for employment and life skills

5. AFIRM Modules — autism focused

The AFIRM modules are your comprehensive guide to expertly implementing evidence-based practices (EBP) with students on the autism spectrum, from infants to those up through age 22. Obtain valuable resources and materials right away — all available for download.

Autism Focused Intervention Resources & Modules (AFIRM) is an extension of the National Professional Development Center (NPDC) on ASD.

• A summary and example of each AFIRM resource
• Evidence-base
• Step-by-Step Guide
• Implementation Checklist
• Data Collection Sheets

If you work with children with autism, I recommend watching this video.

6. The National Center for Learning Disabilities — learning about disabilities

Explore the vast catalog of resources available at the National Center for Learning Disabilities. Broaden your understanding on learning disabilities with videos and informative articles, each carefully crafted to provide an in-depth insight.

NCLD seeks to provide a brighter future for the 1 in 5 individuals with learning and attention issues. For over four decades, they have advocated for equal rights and opportunities so that those affected can develop essential academic, social, and emotional skills needed to succeed both inside of school walls and outside them. With proper support from NCLD’s team of specialists – all capable young people facing these issues are given every chance possible to reach their full potentials.

To learn more about the activities of this site, I suggest you watch this video.

• Navigating teacher-parent relationships
• Using assistive technology
• Using the 504 plan or the Individualized Education Program (IEP)

7. The Education Commission of the States — navigation of every aspect of education

Education Commission of the States empowers state policymakers with personalized support and innovative networking opportunities. By bridging education leaders together, their programs provide a platform for knowledge sharing to develop effective policy across states.

Their team of experts equips policymakers with the resources necessary to understand and navigate every aspect of education from preschool through career advancement. With their help, we all have a chance for brighter futures.

Connect with educators from around the United States and discover their unique approaches to meeting student needs by attending various events and workshops! Make lasting connections, learn new skills, and explore innovative strategies in order to best serve your students.

8. Raz-Kids — ebooks for everyone

Designed to keep kids engaged and motivated, their interactive learning portal provides access to leveled text in both online and mobile formats. Kids can listen, read at their own pace, or record themselves reading the eBooks before taking a corresponding quiz that evaluates comprehension. As they complete ten books with passing scores on each of the quizzes associated with them, students will level up – advancing into more challenging texts.

Raz-Kids is an innovative education solution that equips teachers with hundreds of leveled e-books at varying degrees of difficulty. Easy to use, this award-winning resource ensures every student has access to the appropriate content for their educational needs.

• 800+ leveled eBooks for students to practice reading anytime, anywhere
• Corresponding eQuizzes that measure student comprehension
• Spanish eBook and eQuiz translations for ELLs and bilingual programs
• Digital management and reporting tools to easily track individual and class-wide reading progress

9. The Bureau of Labor Statistics — professional development

Becoming a special education teacher can open up many doors – the BLS is here to help you take that first step. With statistics on job outlook and information on how to enter this rewarding field, discover what it takes for a successful career in teaching. You’ll experience not just personal growth within your profession, but also be able to explore different parts of our country; get ready for an exciting journey.

• Games and Quizzes
• Student’s desk
• Teacher’s desk

10.  National Education Association — autism and disproportionality

The National Education Association provides insightful information on special education, helping teachers better understand topics such as autism and disproportionality. With a range of resources at their fingertips, educators can easily access guidelines that provide the necessary guidance for addressing individual student needs.

As the voice of America’s educators, NEA stands at the nexus between education and a brighter future. They are honored to bear this immense responsibility in light of our nation’s commitment to public school success. Their mission is to equip education professionals as they become the backbone of a unified nation, empowering all students with necessary skills so that everyone may succeed in our increasingly interdependent world.

With the goal of providing all students in America with an excellent education, regardless of their family’s income or where they live, NEA has mobilized its 3.2 million members to enhance instruction and student success while striving for safer schools overall.

•  The Puzzle of Autism
•  Truth in Labeling: Disproportionality in Special Education

11. Paths To Literacy — working with blind

As a special education teacher for blind or visually impaired students, you need the latest information and resources to ensure their literacy development. Paths to Literacy is an excellent website that can help! On this incredible site, you’ll find up-to-date insights on stages of growth as well as challenges your students may encounter – not only that but also discover strategies and gain access to a huge library filled with helpful materials.

Perkins and TSBVI team up to create a unique online resource that seeks to expand the conversation surrounding literacy for students with visual impairments, deafblindness or other disabilities. This extended partnership is an unprecedented step in unifying resources, knowledge and insights into this critical area of study.

In 2010, two schools identified a common goal; to create an online platform where important literacy resources were saved and shared. By providing this space they aimed to help both their communities find reliable information as well as leave room for creativity and new ideas.

Paths to Literacy offers a range of information on the topic of literacy, from a basic overview to different stages of development and special challenges.

•  stages of development
• challenges your students may face
• a huge library of literacy strategies and resources

12. SENict — touch activities

This website is designed for educators of all levels to maximize their students’ engagement. Through the use of switch, touch screen, mouse and eye gaze activities impacting learning experiences are facilitated; providing training materials and professional development services further supporting this goal. Plus a plethora of resources at your fingertips will leave you feeling prepared in no time.

SENict is the website of Ian Bean. He provides expert consultation and training to leverage ICT and assistive technology in order to improve the lives of people with severe, profound, or complex additional needs. Through SENIct, Ian offers his expertise to enhance learning opportunities while also providing useful communication pathways for all ages.

• Over 500 free activities
•  27 SENict Software programs
• Four hours of training videos
•  A large collection of other training and support files

These resources can provide teachers and students with the support they need to succeed in the classroom.

3 Benefits From Considering These Tools

Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of utilizing these incredible tools.

1. Customized Learning Plans

When dealing with special education, it’s essential to develop individualized learning plans for each student. Special education teaching resources can help make this process easier by providing teachers with access to customized educational activities, materials, and assessments that are tailored to meet each student’s specific needs. These materials can be used to create personalized lesson plans that will help students develop necessary skills and reach their goals faster.

2. Increased Engagement

Special education teaching resources also offer educators the opportunity to increase engagement in the classroom by incorporating interactive elements such as videos, games, and puzzles into their lessons. For example, instead of having students complete worksheets as a way to review information, teachers can use online games or videos that allow them to review material while having fun at the same time. An increase in engagement often leads to better performance and improved retention rates among students with special needs.

3. Improved Communication

Finally, special education teaching resources can help improve communication between teachers, parents, and students by providing them with an easy-to-use platform where they can track progress and share updates on homework assignments or other important information about their child’s schoolwork. This improved communication is essential for helping teachers ensure that students are getting what they need from their instruction in order to flourish academically.

Useful Resources

• How to Become a Special Education Teacher
• 6 Tips for a First-Year Special Education Teacher
• What does a special education teacher do?

Overall, there are numerous benefits associated with using special education teaching resources in the classroom. By taking advantage of these tools, educators can develop customized learning plans for each student; increase engagement through interactive elements; and improve communication between teachers, parents, and students. With so many advantages available from utilizing these resources in the classroom, it’s no wonder why more and more educators are turning to them as a way to provide better instruction for their students with special needs.

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Indoor Recess Ideas for the Special Ed Classroom

As a Special Education Teacher, it can sometimes be a challenge to keep our students entertained when the weather doesn’t permit an outdoor recess. It’s a good idea to have a few backup ideas for indoor recess ready to save your sanity on a rainy or snowy day!

We don’t want to resort to extra iPad time if we can help it, and we certainly want students to practice their communication skills and interact with one another. We also know we want the room to be orderly and at least semi-put back together at the end of recess.

But I get it… we are all so busy that it’s hard to come up with unique ideas on the spot. I completely get it.

That’s why I am here to share 11 easy, fun, and inexpensive ideas that can be implemented in your classroom. I hope your students love them as much as mine did!

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. View the full disclosure policy here .

Activities for Indoor Recess

Stacking cups.

Cup stacking can make a great activity in the classroom. For best results, choose sturdy, large plastic cups to make it easier for students who are working on dexterity. Create a pattern for the students to follow, such as a classic pyramid or rectangle. Or, let the students use creativity to build a tower of their own design.

Foam or paper cups can sometimes be problematic if they get crushed or damaged by the students. But they’re relatively inexpensive, like these plastic ones .

What’s even more fun is that Cup Stacking is actually a sport… pull up some videos on the Internet to let students watch the athletes in action. Students can then use a timer to track how fast they are!

Snowball Toss Game

Another way you can use the cups is by creating a snowball toss game… and you’ve got so many no-prep options here!

First, set up the cups in a cluster to create a triangle or square. Then, have the students toss large cotton balls to aim for the open cups. You can designate a points system based on where the cups are situated in the cluster.

Or you can set the cups up in a bowling ball formation and have students throw the cotton balls into the cups. Designate a points system, or write sight words on the cups to practice those literacy skills.

A third option, to differentiate or try something different, you can cut the bottom off of a cup, cut the top off of a balloon, and put the balloon over the bottom of the cup. Tie the balloon tail to create a knot for students to hold on to. Put a pom ball inside the cup, pull back the balloon tail, and launch that pom ball at the cups.

You can even use different sizes of pom balls to see which balls launch the farthest. That would make for a little friendly competition!

Michelangelo Painting

A blank canvas and colorful paint can be the perfect way to encourage creativity in the classroom.

Set each student up with a large piece of butcher paper or art paper and some paint in small cups or baby food jars.

For some students, you can tape the blank paper to the bottom of a desk or table in the classroom and let students paint upside-down. You can easily use finger paints too, or markers if you’d like less cleanup.

CLEAN-UP TIPS : Don’t forget to put down newspaper to help with fast, easy cleanup. It’s also a good idea to use aprons to reduce the risk of paint getting on the student’s clothing.

Balloon Toss

Brighten up the room with a few colorful balloons ! Blow up the balloons so that they can be used as a ball to volley back and forth between students. Make it a game to see how long the balloon will stay in the air before it hits the ground.

Non-ambulatory students will have a blast with this activity as well!

Paper plates make great paddles so that the students can use something to bat at the balloons.

Dance Party

Turn on an upbeat song and dance to work out the wiggles. Play a CD or hook your cell phone up to a speaker to play some fun music.

If you have students who love to dance or are wanting to incorporate more music into your self-contained classroom, Musical Brain Breaks are sure to be a class favorite. Debi says, “My students love love love them! They take the guesswork out of how to participate, and they are getting valuable exercise in the process.”

A dance party is usually best for short bursts, for no more than 5 or 6 minutes (one or two songs). Then, you can move into a calmer activity after the dance party to make the transition from indoor recess to academics easier.

Hot and Cold Game

Higher functioning students may have fun being the “finder” in a silly game of hot and cold.

Have a student step into the hallway while the rest of the students hide an object in the room. When the student comes back into the room, use visual cues such as “warmer, hot, colder, or cool” based on the student’s proximity to the hidden object.

Students might even have a lot of fun hiding an object from the teacher or paraprofessional!

Puppet Show

Have a few hand puppets that can be used to tell a story. The students can take turns participating in the puppet show and watching the shows that are put on by other students. It is helpful to have a teacher or aide narrating the story while the students use the puppets to act out the scenes. Choose basic, familiar stories such as Red Riding Hood, the Three Bears, or other classics.

Blocks or Legos

Building time with LEGOs or blocks can be an effective way to capture the attention of everyone in the room.

Divide the blocks among students or small teams, or work together if you have big blocks that can accommodate group interactions.

A classic game of hopscotch is fun and entertaining for Special Education students. Use masking tape on the floor to create a hopscotch pattern. Another option is to keep a hopscotch mat in the room or use other objects, such as hula hoops, to make patterns where the students should step.

Paper Airplane Toss

Help the students make paper airplanes, then have the students use art supplies to color the planes. Next, line everyone up for a competition to see how far the planes will fly. Lay down a few lines with masking tape or ribbon so that the students have a place to stand. Consider adding extra elements, such as colored paper on the wall as a target or a hula hoop to throw through.

Board Games

This one might sound like a given, but it can be difficult to find a game that fits the needs of your students… as well as a game that captivates the attention of your students.

Hasbro Gaming has teamed up with Mensa for Kids to bring back some of my favorite childhood games, and I couldn’t be more excited to add these to the classroom this year.

Board games are great for practicing critical thinking, focus, self-expression, visual reasoning, communication, and hand-eye coordination… just to name a few.

Grab the games here: Mouse Trap / Perfection / DownSpin / Sculpt It!

Doodling and Drawing

Coloring, doodling, and drawing are always kid favorites for indoor recess. If your students need a bit of inspiration or direction, break out these directed drawing activities to give them ideas!

Simple games like Go Fish and WAR are fun ways to pass the time during those cold, rainy days. All you need is a pack of playing cards and a few eager players.

Chenille Stem Creations

Don’t save those chenille stems for just craft time; break them out for indoor recess days too! Students can twist and bend them to make all sorts of creative figures and contraptions.

Pretend Play

Depending on the age of your students, pretend play time is a fun addition to indoor recess. Cash registers, veterinarian play sets, cooking areas, and more can all be used to break up the monotony of the indoor day.

Indoor Gross Motor Toys

Indoor gross motor toys are perfect for rainy-day recess! Some ideas include a small slide , scooter boards , a tunnel , a small basketball hoop , a bean bag toss , bowling , and stepping stones . You could also use some painter’s tape to create a balance maze on the floor as an inexpensive alternative!

Pretend play is so important for kids! Having a dollhouse and a set of small dolls is a great way for kids to get their imaginations going during indoor recess.

Yoga is such a wonderful activity to help calm students’ central nervous systems while getting them moving at the same time. From balance practice to quiet meditation, a yoga session is perfect for getting out the energy during those indoor recess periods.

Bubble Machine

Want to create a bit of magic? Break out the bubble machine and turn your classroom into a bubble-catching paradise.

Prepare in Advance

You can’t always predict when you will have a rainy day. So, the best thing that you can do is prepare in advance with the supplies that are needed for these indoor recess activities. It is easy to adapt to a changing school schedule when you have these easy Special Education activities for your classroom!

What activities do you have ready for indoor recess days?

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:

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Differentiated and Visual Supported Resources for Special Education

7 Fun Back to School Resources for Special Ed

Back to School season is here! Time to set up your classroom, prepare your resources, and get organized. Getting your special ed classroom prepared for the school year can be a challenge. Whether you teach a self-contained resource room or you are an inclusion teacher, there are many resources and activities you can prep before going back to school to make your school year run a little smoother.

Check out these 6 fun Back To School resources for students with Autism and special needs. From silly school supply writing to positional word games, these activities will get your students engaged and ready to learn!

School Supplies Silly Story Writing

Make Back to School writing activities TONS of FUN with this Silly School Supply Writing Prompt ! Differentiated writing activities are a great way to engage students with special needs in the same writing activity as their peers, and meet different levels of abilities at the same time! This silly writing activity has a school supply theme and targets sentence and story building. Students will love creating silly sentences about glue and scissors, and using the interactive dice blocks to change their prompts. This silly writing activity is for primary grades and special education classrooms, and can be used as a whole group activity, one-to-one, or at a writing center. This resource is full of visual support and differentiation to serve your students with Autism and special needs.

Back to School Pencil Flip Page FREEBIE

Be sure to grab this Back-To School Pencil Writing Prompt! The error-free picture sentences are great for students with Autism and special needs. This resource comes with 2 versions: 1) Students can write on the line to answer the writing prompt 2) Students can choose from the error-free picture choices, then cut and paste in the box to answer the writing prompt. DOWNLOAD your FREE copy now from my Free Resource Library!

Where is the Glue? Positional Word Game

Try this FUN Positional Word Game with your special education classroom! “Where is the Glue?” is a FUN, interactive game to practice using positional words and complete sentences. This glue-themed game is a great addition to circle time, downtime, and one-to-one work! I use this Positional Word Game in the morning during circle time, and my students get so excited to come into the classroom each morning and search for the glue bottles! You just have to remember to move the glue bottle cards around the classroom each day! This positional word game targets sentence building, can be used verbally or for writing practice, and is great for preschool, primary grades, or special education classrooms.

Back to School File Folder Book

This Back to School Folder Book is a great differentiated writing activity to do with your students at the beginning of the school year, and it’s SUPER FUN! All you need is a file folder for each student! Students will complete five interactive writing prompts about the fun they had this Summer and what they are excited about this school year. This differentiated writing activity is perfect for students who need visual support and error-free picture choices. This activity is great for students with Autism and special needs. Each writing prompt comes in 2 versions: 1) Students write a sentence or a list to answer the writing prompt 2) Students choose from 4 error-free picture choices to cut and paste under the writing prompt flap.

School Supplies Picture Matching Task Cards

These Picture Matching Task Cards are great for practicing picture matching and developing fine motor skills. These picture matching task cards have a school supply school theme and are a great addition to your task card resources for the beginning of the school year. You can use the task cards at centers, in work task boxes, one-to-one, or with a peer. There are multiple ways to use these task cards to target matching, vocabulary, fine motor strength, and independent seatwork.

Back to School Story Retelling and Sequencing FREEBIE

Before you go, grab this Back to School Story Retelling and Sequencing FREEBIE! This Back to School Flap Book is PERFECT for practicing story retelling and sequencing first, next, and last with your primary and special education students. It includes a short (4-5 sentences) picture-supported passage on a flap book, and 3 picture-supported sentences for students to cut and paste in sequential order (A hand-written option is also provided). After assembling the flap book, students can use the flap book to retell the story. Interactive flap books are a great way to engage students in sequencing activities. This flap book works great for students who have strength in fluency, and a weakness in comprehension. CLICK HERE to download your FREE copy from my Free Resource Library!

This resource is a SAMPLE from my  Story Retelling and Sequencing BUNDLE  which includes a total of 40 Sequencing Flap Books to use all year round. They are full of visual support and fun seasonal themes!  Check out the BUNDLE NOW!

All About Me Cell Phone Flip Book

Students will love this All About Me Writing Activity for back-to-school time! This back-to-school writing activity is differentiated for writers and non-writers. It includes error-free visual support, and is an interactive flip book! In this writing activity, students will create a cell phone flip book about their favorite things. There are two levels of differentiation in this activity to encourage the participation of writers and non-writers. This All About Me Writing Activity was created for students with special needs in an elementary resource room, but can be used in general education classrooms.

I hope you found a few resources to kick off the start of your school year! Thanks for reading and have a great year!

Looking for some fun ideas to use Alphabet Posters in your classroom? Add some color to your decor and check out my post: 6 Quick and Easy Alphabet Games !

Activities for Special Education Classrooms

On this Teacher Appreciation Day and every day, your n2y team wants to say thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all you do. In your honor, we’ve put together a list of free activities to use in your special education classroom. We hope you download each activity and enjoy them with your students!

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Free resources, special education fall activities you need in your classroom.

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I love fall and all the fun things you get to do including fun fall activities.  Mostly, since I’m from Florida, I just like the cooler weather. But now that Labor Day has passed, it’s time to starting thinking about pumpkins, apples and changing leaves.

Now it’s time to break out the fall activities and work our way to Halloween.  I’ll address Thanksgiving activities later before I review winter.

*Oh, and there’s a freebie at the end of this post!

I love to change out materials in a classroom with themes.  For many of the students I work with, seasons work well for rotating materials / themes.  They benefit from the longer periods of repetition of materials to be able to really master a skill.  Consequently, I make resources that follow the seasons.

INTERACTIVE BOOKS

I’ll start with interactive books.  In the set there are 5 books. Four books are illustrated with clip art and 1 with photos.  As with all of my seasonal interactive books, they have the opportunity to find the word, find the picture or find both to fill in or complete a sentence.

The photo book, What Happens in Fall , focuses on what happens in fall. It focuses on fall nouns including sunflowers, coat, acorn, pumpkin, turkey, candy corn, orchard, and leaves.  It includes Halloween-candy corn and Thanksgiving-turkey.

Let’s Go Apple Picking has 2 versions of matching vocabulary—one with color cards for the apple colors and one with matching colored apples.  You can choose which makes the most sense for your learners based on whether they can match non-identical picture to picture.

Going to a Football Game includes vocabulary associated with a football game: Cheerleaders, referee, touchdown, field goal, team, coaches, field, and helmet.

It’s Time for Fall Fun focuses on common autumn activities. It includes fall vocabulary including colder, coat, hayride, pumpkin patch, orchard, pick [apple], carve [pumpkin], rake [leaves], and leaves.

From Orchard to Table has verbs for driving to the apple orchard, picking apples, peeling apples, slicing apples, baking and eating an apple pie.  At the end there is a question whether students like apple pie and cards for indicating yes or no.

FALL COLOR ACTIVITIES

The color activities for fall include

• 4 Interactive Books (2 with a fall leaf / season theme and 2 with back to school materials—one each with photos and one with clip art). Each interactive book has 9 colors to match to the pictures on each page.
• 3 Mini-Books (print and go) that students cut and paste and color the items the identified color.  There are 2 versions of each mini-book—one with picture and color cues for the directions and one without (for students who could read it or for staff to use for receptive ID of colors).  One book is Halloween themed (but does not include a witch).
• 9 Find the Color Sheets in which students circle the items of a specific color (put in page protectors or laminate and use with dry erase to re-use).  You can see examples of these in this post.
• Color Matching Books: 1 set of photos and 1 set of clip art to sort and match to color pages that can be made into an interactive book or a file folder
• 5 Matching File Folders (pumpkins, leaves to trees, turkeys, football, media center).

And there is a basic photo match as well that you can see the little guy doing on the left.

These materials are great for working on generalizing color activities.

Receptive Feature, Function and Categories

These materials are designed to help students work on generalizing the concepts of identifying items by different characteristics including their function and what group or category they sort into.  

They include sorting by category with a model and without a model (as pictured below).  Both include categories  food, transportation, toys, furniture, vehicles and animals.

There are various types of color-by and dotting activities that make for easy product data, practice, and independent work.  They are also fun ways to make discrete trials more engaging.

FREEBIE ALERT:  Download free samples of these different color-by and dotting activities in my store here!

To see more about what this set contains, check out the video below:

In addition I’ve cross-listed all of the RFFC seasonal sets with specific items from common curricula / assessments including the STAR: Strategies for Teaching Based on Autism Research; the ABLLS-R: Assessment of Basic Language and Learning-Revised; the VB-MAPP: Verbal Behavior-Milestones Assessment and Placement Planning; and the PEAK: Promoting the Emergence of Advance Knowledge.  You can check out the cross-listing in the preview in the store.

Morning Meeting Add-On Kit

This next set is a morning meeting add- on kit for my Preschool-Primary Morning Meeting Kit .   It includes an interactive display for chanting or singing the 5 Little Pumpkins.  Visuals are included to support the book There Was an Old Woman Who Swallowed Some Leaves , as well as materials for a falling leaf game that can also be used to incorporate letters, numbers or even sight words in a fun movement game.  And there are visuals for singing The Leaves on the Trees .

Check out everything included in this preview video:

Fall Basic Skills File Folders

These  are the “oldies” but goodies, the basic skills file folders.  These focus on kindergarten common core standards of matching

• 1 file folder matching numbers to numerals (1-12)
• 1 file folder matching numbers to numerals (1-20)
• 1 file folder matching numbers to sets (1-10)
• 1 file folder matching numbers to sets (1-20)
• 1 file folder putting numbers in sequence (1-20)
• 1 file folder matching 12 colors
• 1 file folder matching 6 basic shapes
• 1 file folder matching numbers to number words (1-20) (this could be split into 2)

There are also file activities for putting numbers and letters in order and filling in the missing letter or number in the series.

These are great for independent work and practicing skills during direct instruction.  Themes include candy corn, pumpkins, and changing leaves.

Letter Task Cards

Finally this set of task cards is aligned with the Common Core kindergarten standards.  They include task cards for fall vocabulary as well as general vocabulary to match to beginning letters. Plus, they are great for structured or independent work systems for students with autism and related disabilities as well.

The task cards focus on basic matching and sequencing skills for letters with capitals, lower case, and pictures of items to match to beginning sounds. The use of task cards allows you to differentiate instruction easily by selecting the set or the individual cards they need.

In addition to these, you can find Halloween interactive books in my store here and Pumpkin Patch Number Task Cards here.

And finally there is a School Tools Interactive Book FREE that you can download here for the start of the year!

• Read more about: Curriculum & Instructional Activities

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Special Needs for SPECIAL KIDS

Teaching high school math in a special education classroom.

• August 26, 2019
• Tips for High School

Teaching high school math can be a challenge in any situation, but it can be especially challenging in special education. Most students are lacking pre-requisite skills. However, I know teachers are being expected to teach higher level math concepts to their high school students, even those with significant needs and challenges.

Topics like functions, linear equations, geometry, coordinate graphing, and even advanced algebra are all urgent requests I have gotten over the last few months. The sad reality is that these teachers are rarely given anything more than a list of standards to follow. Why? There is just very little material out there to support students with significant disabilities in the middle and high school range. So what are you to do if you are tasked with teaching high school math in a special education setting?

In this post, I want to give you some concrete, actionable tips to use and remember before jumping into these more advanced math topics. More importantly, I want you to see it is possible with the right tools and support, even your most affected students can work through these standards and gain some knowledge and understanding that may benefit them in the future. And, of course, I will have some free downloads for you to try if you still are not convinced.

1. Pre-requisite skills for high school math

Ok, let’s face it, most of the topics I mentioned above have a laundry list of pre-requisite math skills a student would need to have in order to be successful. In addition, 99% of the students coming into a high school math classroom just do not have them. It is a tough conundrum to solve for sure. But being able to shift our belief and definition about what those pre-requisite skills really are can be a game-changer.

You will never, ever be able to go back and teach all the math skills necessary to solve a linear function equation. But that does not mean you cannot still teach your students how to complete a simple function table. And, if you can get them to do that, they are right on the precipice of solving a linear equation.

When teaching high school math, meet your students WHERE THEY ARE . Rather than trying to go back and teach all the skills they never were exposed to or never learned, figure out how to use the skills they do have to teach them this material. Sounds impossible? Let’s take functions as an example.

So here is the standard: F.IF.1c Identify the input or output of a function given in table form. (see the complete standards for this high school math unit ) A standard function table may look like this:

But what if you could make it look like this:

And not only that, what if you used actual objects and a real-life function machine when teaching this high school math standard? (I made this one while in the classroom, and used it for so many things. The kids loved it. CLICK HERE ) With enough practice and creativity, many of your students will start to understand the input/output concept.

Students still struggling? Try moving away from quantities and leveraging those skills your students do have. Like this table:

As special ed teachers we are so good at thinking outside of the box!! Even with these more advanced standards we just need to get even more creative when teaching high school math. Be sure to download my free set of function worksheets at the end of this post .

2. Vocabulary in high school math

As we introduce these higher level concepts, I find it so helpful to take a step back and really focus on vocabulary. As much as possible, I would encourage you to use the REAL words. Do not make up cute replacements that you think will be easier for students to remember. Instead, use simple pictures to pair with these curriculum based words.

I know so many students who have learned very sophisticated words for items that are highly desirable to them. Since most, if not all, of this content will be new let’s just start off with the correct vocabulary .

Play games, practice daily, and be consistent with your use of words and symbols to deepen their understanding of this new and challenging material.

3. Real-world examples when teaching high school math

This one is probably fairly obvious to many of you. When you start on a new topic, try to relate it to items and processes your students are already familiar with.

Again, we may need to think outside of the box but it makes such a difference. Google searches were my best friend when trying to come up with ideas for some of these more advanced units. There is so much out there, it just takes some time to hunt it down.

4. Repetition and re-teaching

So, if you have followed my blog for any time or purchased any of my resources, you know how I feel about repetition. It is absolutely crucial and should never be taken for granted. When I create these high school math units, I not only make tons of worksheets (probably way more than is necessary) but I also strongly encourage teachers to use them more than once.

You can read more about the benefits and power of repetition by visiting my blog post and learn how to do it without being boring.

This is likely a brand new skill, and it will take many, many, many trials to master. Now, I do like to add some variation to the mix. Change up the objects, the quantities, the colors, even just changing the font all adds to the variety and increases the likelihood of generalization. So, repetition with variety is HUGE!!

How much time to spend on re-teaching? That is a question that can be hard to answer. If your students just do really horrible on the assessment, then I would definitely go back and re-teach for at least a week. But, here is the key : if you give the assessment BEFORE starting the topic as a pre-assessment, then you have a much better idea if there was any growth. I would often have students who only got 3 out of 10 correct on the assessment. Sounds awful right? But, they had only 1 correct on the pre-assessment. Guess what?! That is 200% growth . Without that pre-assessment piece I might feel really discouraged and spend way too much time re-teaching. How much growth is enough? Only you can decide that.

5. Using pictures when teaching high school math

So as you saw in the function table example, you can insert pictures in the place of numbers and letters as much as possible. A program I used, Hands on Equations, did a great job of this. (You can see a YouTube video about that HERE .)

Compare these two worksheets:

You may have some students than can complete this function table with the numbers. But, more likely, you have students who are not even able to read much above a 1st – 2nd grade level. Could they do the worksheet with pictures? Same exact problem, just less pre-requisite knowledge needed. I know they would need support of course, but you are more likely to make some connections and gain some independence with the second worksheet.

Hopefully, by now I have inspired you to try it. At the very least, I hope I have eased that sense of panic you may have had as your administrator handed you these “new” standards that had to be addressed. It is absolutely possible!! And, if you still feel like you have no way to put all that together, I have you covered!! I have lots of advanced math units in my store ready to download, print, and go. Use your energy on the teaching rather than the creating. Click HERE to see all the units I have specifically for middle and high school.

Now, about that free download. Just click the button below to grab my set of function table worksheet. Then, watch your email for some more function freebies!!

Take a look a this video that covers my Functions and Linear Equations Unit. Get it now, click HERE .

Hi, I really like the way you show your students how to learn math even though they are years behind. Do you have any material for 8th grade math resource teachers?

Thanks for the question Jeremey. I emailed you a pacing guide that lists all 25 units I have for middle and high school math. I am currently building out more Algebra I and II units!!

Hi Christa! Coincidently, I too teach 8th grade math and have been searching for some additional resources and alternate methods of teaching students who are behind. Is there any chance you may be able to email me that pacing guide with those units as well? I’d greatly appreciate it!

Thanks for reaching out Ben. I emailed you the pacing guide for middle and high school math. You can also see it here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/14nRvdKenuNjJZG9uS9MCflMlY1jhpQrZ/view?usp=sharing These units are geared toward students who take an alternate assessment.

I am a new algebra 1 special education teacher who are looking for resources to teach my students at their level. It has been hard, because my school does not supply me with worksheets or books. I get through same materials the general education teachers receives. I am seeking ways to help my students before they fall further behind.

Hi Javonna. I sent you an email, but I would check out my algebra bundle here: https://specialneedsforspecialkids.org/product/algebra-bundle-for-special-education-print-and-digital/ . I have quite a few middle and high school math resources that are supported with a lot of pictures and step by step scaffolding worksheets that guide students through the process of solving various types of equations. Thanks for reaching out. I hope that bundle has some helpful material for you.

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Back to School Tips and Themes for Special Education Teachers

Back to school time means preparing yourself and your room for a new group of students. Special education teachers often have different considerations when getting ready for the school year than general education teachers. Each student in a special education classroom has unique needs to think about when planning your classroom design, layout and theme. In addition to the physical room, you also want to consider the classroom environment and how you can make your students feel comfortable and ready to learn.

Whether this year is your first teaching special education or you’ve been in the field for years, you can still use some helpful tips and ideas. Check out these ways to make your classroom fun and interactive, as well as tips for keeping your cool throughout the year.

Tips for a Special Education Teacher

Start the year off right by reorienting your mind for the new school year with some handy tips for teaching students with functional needs, commonly referred to as special needs. You don’t want to leave anything out of the planning stages, so your room will be ready for your students on the first day. These tips will keep you on task with the most important things to do and remember when starting the new year.

1. Communicate and Keep People Informed

Communication is critical in any teaching position, but it becomes especially important for special education teachers. Maintain open communication channels with parents, school administration and coworkers who will also work with your students. These people all have essential roles in helping your students learn and thrive in your classroom. In fact, communication is so vital that it may be mandated by law by keeping up with individualized education programs (IEPs).

2. Review and Prepare Tools for Your Students’ IEPs

Your students’ IEPs outline the accommodations you need to make for each student’s learning needs in the classroom, extracurricular doings and nonacademic activities. These documents are critical to your success with your students. Knowing how you need to modify your classroom and teaching will help when you create lesson plans for your students with special needs.

If possible, generate one-page summaries of each IEP. These summaries will help you learn about each student’s needs. The single-page references will make it easier to review information quickly from the IEPs in the future.

While reviewing each student’s IEP, add important dates for the student’s milestones, meetings and deadlines into your calendar. Doing this planning at the beginning of the year will ensure you don’t miss significant events in any of your students’ learning schedules.

Keep a list of supplies you will need for your classroom to fulfill the requirements in the IEPs. Because your students will have different needs, look for products that make learning more accessible to them, such as:

• Communication needs: If you have students who do not use verbal communication, you may need assistive products, also known as Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices.
• Visual needs: Students who have visual impairment may need lightboxes, switches or other adaptive devices with high contrast or tactile components .
• Tablet accessibility: Tablets open a world of learning to your students. Your learners may require devices to make the tablet more accessible , such as styluses, mounts or capability switches.
• Activation and accessibility switches: Some of your students may require switches to enhance accessibility . Find several products to fit each student’s individual needs, including head chin, sound-activated, plate and other switch types.

3. Establish Daily and Weekly Schedules

You will need to establish regular schedules for your students. Having a routine will help your students feel more secure , understand expectations, increase student engagement and minimize behavioral problems. The repetitive nature of an established schedule in your classroom gives your students the chance to learn what to anticipate.

Special education teacher organization becomes vital when you try to maintain a set routine with your students. But when you have an established schedule, planning your days happens faster because you can set out materials for several lessons or days in advance. Routines make organizing your classroom easier and help you better prepare for every learning opportunity.

When you organize your classroom and have lesson materials ready, your students won’t need to wait for you and possibly lose focus. Students who know what to expect, especially those who have conditions like autism that increase rigidity in thinking patterns, will be more prepared to learn during the given lessons.

Don’t be too rigid in your routine, though. Fire drills, canceled school days and other unexpected events can happen to delay your plans. Be flexible enough that such incidents don’t derail your lesson plans. Even after a disruption, you should return to the routine as soon as possible to help your students feel safer in the predictability of the schedule.

4. Remember Every Day Is a New Day

All teachers get frustrated during their work. You may benefit from compartmentalizing each day. Don’t carry stress from one day to the next. It can be easy to remember yesterday’s meltdowns, but it’s important to start each day fresh and not bring up past bad behavior.

Just because you treat each day as a new beginning, you still need to keep your students accountable for their actions. Don’t wait to discipline a student. If you do it the following day, neither of you remembers the incident well enough for the consequences to have an effect. Instead, correct student behaviors the moment they do them. Once corrected, move on from the event.

If you need professional help, don’t wait to talk to another teacher or seek out special needs teaching resources. Online sources from experts will help you with tips for classroom management and behavior issues you may experience.

To maintain your mental health, you can:

• Keep a positive outlook.
• Separate yourself from your stresses at the end of the day by finding something rewarding to engage in.
• Find some means of building yourself up and resetting your stress levels at the end of the day or during the weekends, such as exercising, visiting friends or practicing a hobby or skill.

By taking care of your needs, you will be better prepared to take care of your students and their requirements.

Tips for Designing Spaces Intentionally in Special Education Classrooms

When setting up your classroom, you need to do so intentionally. Every piece you have and its placement must fulfill a role in your teaching. Even the special education classroom ideas you use need to relate to your instruction. Find out some handy tips for making your room beautiful and practical.

1. Keep It Age-Appropriate

Though you will likely have students of varying actual and development ages, you still need to keep your classroom age-appropriate. The students will probably have a specific age range, such as 5- to 12-year-old children or teenagers. Use these age groups to find appropriate room decorations.

Also, wait until after you review the IEPs before decorating your room. You need to know the needs of your students before choosing classroom materials and décor for them. Some students may need visuals, educational devices or seating that differs from their peers’ needs or those of a general classroom.

2. Space Is Critical

Perhaps more important than the furnishings and devices in your classroom layout for your students with special needs is the unused space. You will need space to move around as well as allowing your students free movement.

When setting up a classroom for students with special needs, allow for different spaces with specific uses, such as a calming area, teaching area, reading area, play area and individual learning area.

Calming Space in Special Needs Classroom

A calming area will give your students a place to relax when they feel overwhelmed. Include a comfortable place to sit, such as a swing, rug or bean bag chair. This area could also serve as a sensory space or center in an autism classroom.

Sensory Space or Sensory Room for Special Education Classroom

In a sensory space or room, you want to have objects that appeal to different needs , such as:

• Tactile: Some students like feeling materials and textures for tactile processing, such as reflective balls and squishy liquid mats .
• Visual stimulation: Some students will need visual stimulation from brightly colored or lit objects like bubble tubes, sensory tubes or colorful lamps for visual processing needs.
• Vestibular: Help students with gross motor skills needs by providing hanging chairs, swings or basketball hoops.
• Transition: Moving through a physical space can help students who have problems with transitions between tasks. Tents, tunnels and similar areas can help students physically move to make the mental shift between activities easier.

In addition to having a place for students to explore sights, sounds and sensations, a sensory space also allows room for a group area. Here, you can conduct class lessons and have student presentations.

Teaching Area in Special Needs Classroom

The teaching area includes your desk and personal workspace. Teach students about respecting the boundaries around your desk by correcting them if they try to slip into your area.

Play Space for Special Education Classroom

Don’t forget that students need to play. Having a play area gives your students an outlet for their energy and a way to interact with adaptive or adapted toys . Also, consider adding activity centers to the play area . These toys have a variety of actions the students can do to stimulate multiple senses. Additionally, you can browse our products by your teaching goals in our menu — activate, communicate, develop, educate and play.

Older students who engage in reading and writing will need an area for these activities. Have a bookshelf for books, and nearby, keep a supply area of paper, pencils and other writing supplies.

Individual Learning Area for Special Education

Student desks give your classroom members space of their own. This space provides them with a working area as well as an escape if they need individual time. Instruct students to return to their desks as a transition during your routine when you need to set up a new area.

3. Match the Room to Your Teaching Style

How do you teach? Do you use one board or two? Do your students sit individually or in groups? Arrange your classroom to complement and enhance your teaching methods.

If you have students regularly work in groups, do they work on the floor in a circle or collaborate at tables? Should you have students do individual work more often, allow plenty of comfortable space for them around their desks.

4. Make It a Fun Environment so Students Feel Comfortable

You want any special education teacher themes you use to be fun and applicable to your students. Using bright colors makes matching up decorations easier. Green, yellow, red and blue are good colors to choose.

If you want a basic color scheme rather than using specific special education classroom decorating ideas, use a different color for each area of your room. Classroom kits in each area of your room can assist with teaching.

• Sensory: Adding sensory kits to your room, whether you have a specific area or not, can help students learn self-soothing behaviors .
• Visual: Make lessons accessible to everyone in your room with high-contrast lightboxes and similar light-emitting kits for those with visual impairment.
• Fine motor: Kits designed to hone fine motor skills can boost some of your lessons while helping the students improve their fine motor abilities.

These and other fun activities for special education teachers will make your class more enjoyable and accessible to all your students.

Designing a Special Education Classroom for Elementary School Students

Special education classrooms for elementary students should support learning and adapt to students’ unique needs and abilities.

Use a center or hub system to move students around the classroom and engage them in different lessons. Set up a special activity for each area, such as independent work, art, science and math. Rotate students through the small group areas throughout the day, so they can learn all the concepts.

Help students keep their assignments and materials organized with labeled bins. Homework, worksheets and school supplies will have their own place. Classroom-wide schedules can be color-coded by student, so each student can keep track of their activities.

Students who need an outlet for fidgeting should also have a sensory toy at their desk to play with. The Gel Lap Pad weighs 5 pounds for self-soothing and has squishable, sparkling gel that students can play with to improve focus.

Your classroom can also have a sensory space with calming or energizing toys for all students to play with. The Sensory Exploration Tent is a fun way for students to increase their sensory awareness by playing with a wood fidget puzzle, Tranquil Turtle and other toys.

Designing a Special Education Classroom for Middle and High School Students

Middle and high school students in a special education classroom — similar to those in an elementary school — need the right support to learn and be independent. Special education classrooms for high school and middle school students should be responsive, as every student has unique needs.

In many special education classrooms, group work for the entire class period can be challenging. Create a center or station setup where students can focus on a different activity in each area. Station ideas include individual IEP and curriculum work, group activities and life skill tasks. You can also set up a waiting area if one student needs to wait on another student to move on to the next station.

Keep learning materials organized in color-coded and labeled bins. This organization helps students find their own materials, which is important for building independence and assessing their ability to understand and follow directions.

Encourage group work and social skill development by clustering student desks together. Each desk cluster can have a unique activity, like working on a lesson or playing a tabletop game like Bingo and Hi Ho Cherry-O to help students recognize numbers and interact with each other .

Special Education Décor Ideas

Classroom décor can be functional to reinforce your lessons and make the space a fun place to learn. For décor in special education classrooms, less is often more, as too many decorations may overstimulate some students.

For small group workspaces, use a Fluorescent Black Light Carpet that displays neon colors to help calm students. You can also turn the visuals and work materials from lessons into your classroom décor. Print images or concepts on colored paper and attach them to your board. Set up a Go! Board in a central location to keep students on task.

Special education teachers can create themed bulletin boards that add value to the classroom. Themed boards organize learning materials and reinforce concepts. For example, you can have a schedule board with the day’s activities, a word wall with new vocabulary terms, or a goal board with your class’s goals for the day, week or year.

For your printed paper décor, laminate the paper and adhere it with magnets or mounting putty. The lamination preserves the paper to prevent fading and tearing. You can use these visuals every year, saving time and money with your special education classroom decoration.

Special Education Classroom Themes: A Room for Everyone

Are you interested in using room themes for your classroom? If so, think through if you would like to make regular changes to your classroom’s appearance. Will you have the time to make seasonal changes to your room? Or do you want to change it based on current lesson themes?

Choosing age-appropriate themes becomes critical for creating a space that will benefit your students instead of distracting them. Your room layout should still have separate working areas. These spaces will guide your placement of themed decorations. Need some inspiration or tips? Check out these ideas for special needs classrooms.

1. Camping Theme

Back to school themes for special education may include aspects of summer or look forward to the new school year. Even students who have never slept in a tent can appreciate a summer tie-in with a camping theme. You can also use this theme at the end of the year as a kick-off to vacation.

Set up your teacher’s desk as the “Park Headquarters” or “Ranger’s Station” with a sign on the front and a ranger’s hat on the desktop or hung on the wall behind.

Call the reading area or the group work area the campfire. You can use colored light to replicate a campfire. If you already have a tent in your sensory area, you may use that in the campfire area.

Bring in potted plants to make the whole classroom feel like it’s outside. Even if you don’t have a forest around you, the greenery will bring a bit of nature into your room. Your theme could have an extra benefit.

Greenery in your room may have an added benefit of encouraging student engagement. Adding plants through classroom design may improve student performance.

2. Seasons Theme

If you feel ambitious, consider a seasons theme that will need changing four times a year. Because the room changes a few times a year, students get the interest of looking at new décor without the stress of changes that occur too frequently.

You don’t have to add decorations for holidays like the Fourth of July or Valentine’s Day. To make this theme easier for yourself, keep each season generic. The fewer specifics you have for the season, the less often you will have to take down and put up new decorations.

For summer, try a beach theme. Beach balls in the sensory or play area, sunglasses on your desk and beach towels for the students to sit on are a few ways to customize your room.

Fall décor can include fall landscapes. Continue the theme by using orange, brown and red color schemes in your classroom’s learning areas.

Winter themes may but don’t have to include holidays. Focus on a snow theme to stretch out this theme long after winter break.

Just as you don’t have to have Christmas decorations during the winter, you also don’t need Easter decorations for your spring theme. But you can still have bunnies, flowers and pastel colors.

If you have a bulletin board, consider putting up a paper tree and changing the leaves with the seasons.

3. World Theme

A world theme is an ideal tie-in to your geography lesson plans. You can set up each section of your classroom as a separate “country” with items to show the geography and culture of the area. This theme teaches your students the names of some countries while giving them a fun cultural activity.

Give students passports to check in at each station in your room. They can collect a sticker from each “country” they visit until they fill their passport.

4. Crayon Theme

Bright colors around your classroom make a visually appealing learning environment while teaching your students about art. Use a dominant color for each section of your class and shades of that color for accessories. Doing so teaches students about the variety of colors in the spectrum.

You can expand this theme from just crayons to art by incorporating art supplies or kits into the different areas of your classroom. Encourage creativity by incorporating art projects into your lessons. Painting, drawing, coloring, clay molding and similar projects encourage tactile and visual stimulation. Of course, you want to adapt the plans to your students’ learning needs.

5. City Theme

Label each of the areas of your classroom with different buildings in a city. Refer to these places when giving students directions to add to the fun.

For example, name your desk “city hall.” As the head of the classroom, you have a job similar to a town mayor.

The play area can be the “park” or “public pool.” Just as residents of a town play at a park, your students will use the play area for recreation.

Student desks can be “downtown” because students work there just as people work in a downtown region. The correlations between these two locations can increase with the addition of tape on the floor around the desks to resemble city streets.

For classrooms with a reading and writing area, label it the “library” if your students use it more for reading. For writing, call it the “town newspaper.”

When you call your students to the group work area for lessons, refer to it as the “community center.” Residents of a town usually meet in such a place to collaborate on ideas, just as your students do when they come to the group work area of your room.

Browse the Lineup From Enabling Devices to Get Inspired

Start the year by equipping your classroom with the products your students need for an accessible learning experience. You’ll find everything you need at Enabling Devices. We offer classroom decorations, toys, educational objects and much more to help you give your students the best education possible.

If you need more ideas for your room themes, browse through our products at Enabling Devices . We have a wide range of products, toys, electronics and accessories to accommodate students of all abilities, including:

• Sensory products to engage the senses for energizing or relaxation
• Switch-adapted toys and games to enable fun and play
• AAC devices to support communication, interaction, and language and social skills

You’ll even find special education classroom resources and ideas and informative special education blog posts on our website.

Browse our products and resources for special education teachers to prepare for back to school. Contact Enabling Devices for more information or assistance finding the right products for your special education classroom.

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Morning Work Ideas for Special Education

Morning work may not always be the most exciting part of the day for students (or special educators). However, it is an important part of the daily routine, especially in the special education classroom setting. Morning work can help students review previously learned skills, get focused and settled for the day ahead, and provide a consistent routine.

Sounds great, right? But there are important considerations when setting up a morning routine for your students.

One factor is student arrival time. We struggled with students arriving early, late, and anywhere inbetween. That means students may have almost half a hour to engage in a morning activity, or maybe less than five minutes. It was very difficult for many of my young students to see a creative activity taking place and then realizing they weren't going to have the opportunity to participate. That's not a great way to set a positive tone for the day ahead!

Another important factor is sustainability. We want to choose activities that will (hopefully) be able to continue throughout the school year. That doesn't mean our students will be doing the same morning activity for 180 school days, but that the routine remains as intact as possible.

Classroom morning routine activities are still well worth setting up in the general education or special education resource room. These same morning work activities can also be used throughout the school day for early finishers, independent work systems, extra time at the end of the day, or even for indoor recess!

Keeping in mind various levels of students' needs, independence level, and arrival times, here's TEN creative morning work ideas to get you started!

Incorporate Technology

Incorporating technology into morning work is a great way to engage students while still reinforcing important skills. There are tons of great apps and websites out there that can be used for morning work. Elevate, Flocabulary, and Zearn are just a few options. Or, you could have them complete a digital scavenger hunt using Google Images. The possibilities are endless!

Create a Morning Work Station

If you have the space in your classroom, creating a morning work station is a great way to make morning work more fun and engaging. This can be as simple as setting up a table with different materials and activities for students to choose from. For example, you could include items like mazes, dot-to-dot sheets, puzzles, and other fine motor skill activities. Giving students choices will help them feel more in control and invested in their learning. This Fine Motor Binder Activities features 1500 pages – simply print and add to the station!

Incorporate Brain Breaks

Everyone needs a little break now and then, even during morning work! Incorporating brain breaks into your routine is a great way to reenergize your students and prevent burnout. Brain breaks can be anything from a brief yoga sequence or stretching exercises to dancing along to a favorite song or playing a game of Simon Says. The key is to make them active so that students can release any excess energy and refocus when they return to their assignments.

Make It Hands-On

Most people learn best by doing, so making morning work hands-on is a great way to engage learners of all types. If possible, try using manipulatives or real-world objects whenever possible rather than relying solely on worksheets or paper/pencil tasks. For example, if you're working on basic math facts with addition and subtraction, have students use blocks or LEGOs to build towers or other structures according to the equation they're solving. Not only is this more fun than filling out a worksheet, but it also allows students to see math concepts in action which can aid in their understanding.  These Busy Bins are a perfect addition for a “soft start” to the morning routine!

Morning Work Pages

The last suggestion was to SKIP the paper, but sometimes that's exactly what students need – more time to grow in independence and build stamina with writing tasks. That doesn't mean it has to be dull though, these 300 No Prep Independent Work Pages are perfect for primary students to follow directions with fine motor writing.

Independent Reading

Spending quiet time with a book is one of the most important things, yet often is overlooked when the school day gets busy. Morning arrival time could look like a chance for students to visit the classroom library, exchange books, and get cozy with a great story. Don't forget using audio books! We found these reading activities to be especially helpful when we were noticing huge differences in student arrival times.

Calendar Skills and Visual Schedule

One school year, I worked with a small group of students who benefited from using a picture schedule. This quickly became the first thing we did as part of our morning meeting routine. With the use of visuals, we reviewed basic skills (days of the week and date) and our “to-do list” for the day ahead. This could easily turn into a whole group activity with students participating in a more traditional calendar time with classroom jobs, weather reports, and basic number sense review. Check out this blog post about creating free Picture Schedules .

Morning Message

There are so many options for including a daily morning message, depending on if you're working with younger students, middle school, or multiple grade levels. The message could be based in social emotional learning, critical thinking, or a question of the day. Consider making it low prep by incorporating a smart board display with students responding using different options (independent writing journals or a digital version).

Daily Writing Prompts

Over many years of teaching, independent writing was probably my favorite morning activity! This involved a simple prompt displayed for students to see when they entered the classroom. They responded in their own journals and at first, I wasn't quite sure if this was a good use of our time. Luckily we stuck with it! When you compared the student output from the beginning of the year to the end, it was truly AMAZING to see the emergence of student writing. If you're looking for a differentiated option to meet different levels of writers, check out these Picture-Supported Writing Prompts .

Independent Work Systems

Do you already use task boxes, adapted binders, or a file folder system? One huge benefit is that students are already familiar with the routine of using these engaging activities. These tasks could cover a variety of skills, from basic life skills to early academic skills practice. We used these independent centers on a daily basis! Check out these low prep activities here: Task Boxes for All Year .

There are lots of different ways that you can spice up morning work in the special education classroom setting! Which idea will you incorporate first?

What other creative ideas do you have for morning work? Share them in the comments below!

I'm Jennifer!

I’m Jennifer and I was a special educator in the elementary school setting over the past decade. I entered the classroom every day dedicated to making learning inclusive AND engaging.

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Special Education and Inclusive Learning

150 EYFS & SEN Sensory Learning Ideas

Free, simple sensory activities for eyfs or sen.

There are many options for embedding effective sensory learning curriculums for children who cannot access worksheets and online teaching resources. Sensory learners need sensory learning ideas. Preferably simple and free ones. This list of 150 (ish) ideas should give you some ideas to try at home, EYFS settings and in classrooms. You may also like our post on Scavenger hunts for children at home.

 If you really liked this list of sensory learning activities and SEN activities for Early Years please consider sharing it on Twitter, Pinterest or Facebook.

Frequently Asked Questions about Sensory Learning

Before we look at the ideas here are 10 FAQs about educational sensory learning:

• What is sensory learning? Sensory learning involves using the five senses – sight, sound, smell, touch and taste – to engage students in the learning process. When multiple senses are stimulated during hands-on activities, it can enhance memory, and focus and help children understand concepts.
• How does it benefit students? Sensory learning activities have been shown to boost brain development and skill retention. Multi-sensory input allows students to make real-world connections and learn in their preferred modalities. Research also links sensory activities to improved behaviour, focus and academic achievement.
• What types of sensory activities are most effective? Activities involving movement and tactile experiences tend to be most engaging. Things like outdoor exploration, playdough, sand or water play activate vestibular and proprioceptive senses for better attention. Multi-step sensory bins require problem-solving, numbering and literacy skills.
• How can it be used across subjects? Sensory maths uses objects like paint, rice or play money to learn addition/subtraction. For science, students can touch/observe real plants/animals. Sand trays bring stories and history to life. Music encourages creativity and language development. Cooking integrates reading/following directions and collecting data.
• How do I get started with sensory activities? Begin by only selecting 1-2 activities related to your lesson to keep focus. Introduce materials one at a time. Model expected behaviours. Give concrete directions and don’t expect too much at first. Remember to make activities open-ended for various engagement levels. Start simply and expand options over time. Do not worry about having your activities look instagram-worthy.
• Are there safety considerations? Yes, supervise all activities closely at first. Avoid anything with small parts for choking hazards. Be conscious of allergies/sensitivities. Wash hands after messy play. Sanitise materials and organise areas to be clutter-free. Be inclusive of sensory needs and don’t force participation.
• How can I fit it into a busy schedule? Incorporate movement into transitions whenever possible. Use sensory activities at centres during work time. Replace less engaging tasks with sensory options. Sensory stations outside of lessons can stimulate development too. Just 5-10 minutes regularly makes a difference without disrupting routines. Finger Gym can be a brilliant filler activity and sometimes you need hands-on activities that calm the class .
• How do I ensure focus on learning? Explain how sensory activities connect to subject learning. Have students discuss the purpose and identify targets. Guide participation toward goals using specific questions/feedback. Rather than rewards, praise effort/progress in skill-building. Observe for understanding before/after doing a hands-on task.
• How can parents support at home? Suggest carrying over learning from activities by discussing takeaways from school. Recommend using common household items for sensory experiences related to current topics. Share activity ideas through newsletters and encourage caregivers to participate in school events promoting the approach.
• What research supports the approach? Studies have found that sensory-rich classrooms see increased engagement, self-regulation, literacy/numeracy skills and focus. The neural mechanisms behind multisensory learning are well-documented too (Shams & Seitz, 2008) .

Proprioceptive Sensory Learning Activities

Balance walk along masking tape on the floor:

Tight hugs administered by a trusted adult.

Sensory Circuit Activities:

• Wall pushes
• Hand Squeezes
• Superhero poses
• Animal Walk – Based on our sensory trail
• Bear stretch

Follow the light/Follow the sound – The child’s whole head/body follows the movement of a torch

Vestibular Sensory Learning Activities

Imitate head positions

Sway in time with chill out music

Back and forth rowing

Spinning (10 seconds in each direction)

Jumping Jacks

Musical statues

Scooter rides

Cone spinner

Auditory Sensory Learning Activities

Guess the sounds:

• Animals – Great animal sound video here.
• Vehicles – Great vehicle sound video here.
• Instruments – Pretty tricky instrument video here

(you can link this to a “What’s in the bag” game)

Make a rain tube

Bottle blowing

Guess the song intro – Use favourite cartoon theme tunes. A CBeebies video playlist here.

Follow a drum beat – use biscuit tin or saucepan with wooden spoon

Follow a clap pattern

Discrimination Sound Game make a sound and see if the child can work out if it is:

• Near or Far
• Soft or Loud
• High or Low

Visual Sensory Learning Activities

Drop & watch bouncy balls

Colour mixing

Washing up liquid and food colouring experiment

Torch/Light Activities:

• Shadow Puppet Play
• Make numbers with your fingers
• Guess animals from silhouette
• Tray and guess shapes from silhouette
• Guess book characters from silhouette (Gruffalo etc)
• Put into tupperware and retrieve/Watch
• Create a light table .

Find items of interest in a picture/Find self in pictures

Sensory bottles

Sort boxes shape/size

Pile and knock down boxes/tower building

Pull colourful fabric slowly from a bag

Taste and Mouth Sensory Learning Activities

• Boats with straws
• Cotton Balls

This can help with limited diets and support food chaining .

• Crunchy/Chewy Items – Alternate
• Smooth, rough foods (smooth and crunchy peanut butter)
• Frozen Fruits
• Drink through a straw
• Cut vegetables into strips
• Smoothies – blend and taste
• Ask questions like, “Which food here tastes salty? Which ones are sweet?
• Colour cubes (cut food into cubes and sort by colour i.e cucumbers, apples.)
• Mashing foods, ripe pears, potatoes, grapes

Tactile Sensory Learning Activities

This can include essential hygiene routines such as hand washing etc. Here are more tactile sensory learning ideas that use your outdoor areas.

Sensory Ball Games:

• Throw/roll into bucket
• Different textured balls – Wrap in paper, cling film, tin foil
• Roll from head to toe and back
• Roll in playdough to make patterns
• Splat into paint and roll/throw onto paper

Touch and Texture Sensory Learning Ideas

Put objects in a box and feel/guess

Sandpaper shape cut outs

Tearing paper (either to glue onto something, or just to tear up)

Crumpling newspaper

Sponges- Get out bowls and a sponge to transfer water from one bowl to the other.

Bubble wrap popping

Tin foil sculpting or squishing

Salt painting

Shaving foam art

Sand art – glue and sand and glitter

Fizzy water play (bath bombs)

Water play – using bottles, sprays and tubes.

Stress balls

Goop/slime manipulation

Earth, sand and water trays – Classic “ We’re going on a bear hunt ” sensory activity

Hay play – hide items in hay or straw (allergies allowing)

Fine Motor Sensory Learning Activities

AAC games – Especially Shark Bite !

Use rubber gloves to make dots

Cotton buds to make dots

Use stick to trace letters/mark making

Cutting with scissors paper, straws

Ten Tweezer games

• Move items into different pots
• Pick items out of slime
• Pick items out of water
• Put items into a pattern
• Feed the dog
• Feed toy spiders to a frog
• Put beads into a bottle
• Bean number matching game
• Coloured pom-pom drop

I ce Excavations (freeze objects in ice)

Retrieve items from shaving foam

Hole punch coloured paper then use to blow/for art

Trace numbers in sand

Use a pipette to drop liquid watercolours/food colouring onto toilet paper

Clothespin Number Match

Use clothes pegs and sort by colour to a “line” of wool

Core Strength Activities

Circuit Training

• Bicycle kicks
• Stand on one leg
• Hop, skip, jump

Cosmic yoga

Body Awareness Sensory Activities

Sensory Ball throw/roll

Which hand is hiding the object?

Obstacle Course

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes

Self-Regulation Sensory Ideas For Anxious Children

Breathing activities for anxiety. Find other self-regulation home learning ideas here.

• Blow out the candle
• Blow the windmill
• Smelling a flower
• Open a window
• What can you smell game
• Blow up a balloon

Make faces in the mirror

• Tense all face muscles
• Relax all face muscles

Count backwards

Count to 5 with a deep breath

Put beans/dried peas/rice in a balloon

Fiddle toys

Follow simple lego instructions

Make a Calm Down Jar

Create a Daisy chain or flower Bouquet

Blow up balloons

Guess the smell:

• Spices (mix with water to avoid sneezing)

Scavenger Hunts

A sensory garden is great for embedding sensory learning ideas. The suggestions below should be findable in any garden.

• Short Stick
• Thick Stick
• Shiny Stone
• Little spoon
• A frying pan

References and Further Reading About Sensory Learning

Shams, L., & Seitz, A. R. (2008). Benefits of multisensory learning .  Trends in cognitive sciences ,  12 (11), 411–417. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2008.07.006

We would love to hear your suggestions for simple free sensory learning ideas and activities that you have used. If you have a site that has a demo or resources linked to these ideas let me know and I will add a link to it.

Some of these links are affiliate links and we will earn a small commission to go towards hosting costs if you buy something from amazon (UK only)

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King University to host summer nursing camps for high school students

by Ashley Hoak

BRISTOL, Tenn. (WCYB) — King University in Bristol is hosting two special camps for high school students.

Two nursing summer camps for juniors and seniors in high school will take place in June and July.

Students will have a chance to participate in hands-on activities, simulations, and scenarios.

One of the goals of this camp is to encourage high school students to consider the healthcare field.

"We want to open that pipeline and get people moving towards these healthcare careers -- these nursing careers," said Alex Moore, a School of Nursing faculty member at King University. "Regionally, we have a nursing shortage -- nationally, we have a nursing shortage. We just wanted to invite rising juniors and seniors and high school students to participate in two nursing camps over the summer."

The day camps will take place June 10 and 11 and July 10 and 11.

Education | Unified sports day brings outdoor fun to…

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Education | Unified sports day brings outdoor fun to Thompson School District elementary students

Now elementary school students are getting in on the fun as well.

Unified Sports Day brought elementary school students with disabilities from 12 different elementary schools in the district Tuesday to Ray Patterson Field at Thompson Valley High School to play softball, flag football, bocce ball and other games. They were joined by high school volunteers, some with special needs and some without.

The day, the first of its kind in the district, is the result of a new position filled by Heidi Abrahamson, a health and physical education teacher at Loveland High School who started a unified basketball team there when her daughter, who has Down syndrome, enrolled.

Her coordinator role is paid extra duty, so she continues to work as a teacher and a coach of the unified basketball team, as well as a tennis coach.

“I do a lot of things,” she laughed Tuesday morning. “But I wanted to honor this opportunity here, so I said ‘heck yeah.’ This is where my passion is, these are my people.”

The unified coordinator position was created to accommodate the growing interest in unified sports within the district, something officials say the district excels in.

Athletic Director Kevin Clark proposed the position to Superintendent Marc Schaffer, who approved of the idea.

“Long story short, I pitched the idea to Dr. Schaffer, and we hired Heidi,” Clark said. “So this is one of our culminating events. We’ve done a good job of getting unified sports into our high schools, middle schools, but we don’t have anything at our elementary schools. So this was what we thought would be a good way to start, bring the community together.”

“The program continues to grow,” Schaffer said. “As we add additional sports, add middle school, we really needed somebody to help, to promote it, to administer it, to do the logistics.”

The benefit is clear, he said.

“Most of all, the kids matter,” Schaffer, who himself ran a 50-yard dash Tuesday, continued. “It provides opportunities for kids to engage, play sports, get activity, both for fun and competitively. And it brings a lot of joy.”

Renee Maestas’ son Grayson, a second grader at Carrie Martin Elementary School who has autism, won’t ride the bus, so to ensure that he could attend the sports day, she took off work and drove him herself. The unified sports day provided opportunities for her son that he rarely gets, she said.

“He doesn’t get to put on flag football stuff and run around or play bocce ball,” Maestas said. “And now he gets to come to this awesome football field and run around with his friends. It’s just really neat. I’m glad I got to share it with him.”

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