Inferencing Graphic Organizer

Get your copy of this INFERENCING GRAPHIC ORGANIZER here!

Close Reading: Comprehension Focus

At our school we are really focusing on students' comprehension of text while integrating the "Close Reading" process. In light of that, I am sharing with you my "Close Reading Graphic Organizer: Comprehension Strategies." You can get your FREE copy here. There is also a backside to this sheet containing space for students to draw a mental image and to write a summary.

Please be sure to share with me how you are using it and what grade levels are benefiting from it. Can't wait to hear from you all.

Merry Christmas!

Close Reading: Comprehension Focus

Hello to all my fellow educators!

This time of year always seems to be so bonkers, doesn't it? We are closing in on the end of the first semester and the Christmas break is around the corner.

Today I have a FREE printable for you to hopefully make your life easier! This is a Close Reading Graphic Organizer that focuses on comprehension as opposed to my other Close Reading Graphic Organizer that focuses on text features. Get your copy here!

Many blessings and prayers to you! Thanks for checking out my blog!

OLA Board

This document is something I use to explain the layout of my classroom's whiteboard. Each day, I write out each class period's OLA! When I want the students to know what is going on or why I am asking them to do something I direct them to the OLA Board. This is a reference sheet for them so they know what O, L, and A represent. Get your copy here!

Observation Log

Many things happen in our classrooms daily that we don't want to forget. Sometimes it is something funny. Sometimes it is something sad. Sometimes it is even something critical to record. That's where this form comes in!

I have a binder I call my "Observations Binder." This binder has a tab for each of my students and behind each students tab is this sheet. I don't use it daily, just when I feel there is something I need to remember about that student on a particular day.  I can use this information later for report card comments, IEP planning, or phone calls home. It also makes it easier to notice patterns.

I hope it is helpful to you! Click here for your copy!

Communication Log

We all need a way to keep track of the number of times and methods we use to contact parents, especially in the world of special education! This is a log I use to document such and to use as proof when meeting deadlines for IEPs. I hope you can make use of it! Click here for your copy!

Close Reading Graphic Organizer

Recently, our district did a professional development session on "Close Reading." This is a graphic organizer I created to support a close reading session in the classroom. I hope you find it helpful. You can find the graphic organizer here.

Tic-Tac-Know Boards for Word Work

Here is the link for my Tic-Tac-Know Board #1

https://docs.google.com/a/w-delaware.k12.ia.us/document/d/1eANRN_BTdOJZxnFiPiYvh_M5fHijWIlCC5mF9RqnQfc/edit

Here is the link for my Tic-Tac-Know Board #2
https://docs.google.com/a/w-delaware.k12.ia.us/document/d/1ZY_p6lbsb3yJzHriDrlxeTCmXckKAliiwf1aob62dws/edit

101 and Out!

101 and Out is a game from Marilyn Burns. It was featured in the March/April 2009 issue of Instructor.

My students love this game because it is combination of luck (roll of the die) and strategy (choosing whether to put your rolled number in "tens" or the "ones" column.

I love it because it is quick to teach students how to play, requires minimal materials, and helps to reinforce place value and well as problem solving. It works well with multiple levels of students. It is also quick to play and can be adapted to include more dice and more columns. Students can also play this game in larger groups or individually.

I like to play this game as a class first to introduce the rules and concepts. Then I allow the students to play in groups of 2-4 students. After that, it can be used as a station/center or for individual practice and reinforcement.

Below you will find the game board and rules that I have copied front-to-back on cardstock and laminated. This allows the game to be used multiple times and also allows for dry/wet erase markers to be used. It saves time so students do not have to draw the board for each game they play. However, I do teach and encourage students to draw their own boards so they can play when they do not have access to the classroom set of games boards.

I hope you find it useful and fun in your classroom! Enjoy!

101 and Out!

Procedures & Rules

Supplies: one six-sided die, game board

Players: 1 or more players

Rules

1. Draw a game board or use one of the provided 101 and Out! game boards.
2. On your turn, roll the die. Record the number in the “Tens” or “Ones” column of your game board, but not both.
3. Repeat this process for six die rolls for each player.
4. When each player has completed six rolls and recorded each of their rolls in the “Tens” or “Ones” column, fill in the empty spaces with zeroes.
5. Add up your score, starting in the ones column. If needed, carry your ones to the tens column.
6. The person with the score closest to 100 without going over, is the winner!

6th Grade Special Education Math "I Can"

I know I am inconsistent about posting at this point in my life, but I really love to share things that have proven very useful to me! Here is a rubric I use to keep track of a student's progress on their "I Can" statements.

Social Skills Lesson Plan Format

When I, or my students, lead a social skills lesson, this is the format that is used.

Here is the link to the GoogleDoc that also includes a grading rubric, a social skill list, and a simple instructional guide: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Social-Skills-Lesson-Template-with-Instructions-Rubric-and-Social-Skill-List-2122747

Leveling System | Privileges and Restrictions

These are the restrictions and privileges for my students on the Leveling System in my classroom.

Leveling System

Here are some documents I use to incorporate a leveling system into my BD Classroom. I hope they help you as you intervene with students and their behavior. I hope the documents are self-explanatory in their implementation. Feel free to comment if you have questions!

Refusal Slip

Sometimes no matter what you say, do, or offer, a student will not complete an assignment. Then, the student will go home to proceed and tell their parents/guardians that the assignment was too hard, the teacher wouldn't explain what to do, or there weren't enough supplies to complete the work. This document eliminates those complaints from parents if and when you get the call.

I attach this document to work that students refuse to complete and read it aloud to them, especially if they refuse (again) to sign it. Documents like this are critical in special education because they help us to prove our case and side of the story.

Behavior Rubric

Sometimes as teachers/parents we need specific skills to look for as they fall onto a continuum. This rubric helps you to do just that. This is yet another method I have for collecting data and another piece I use to guide classroom observations. Rubrics help to target specified behaviors and can be shared with students to indicate where they are in terms of their skills and where they should be in terms of skills. This rubric is a favorite of mine because it is a teaching tool and a data collection method.

Employability Skills Checklist

This is another checklist I use that is based off the Iowa Core's Employability Skills. It is another observation form I use for IEP data.

Behavior Checklist #1 and #2

These are a behavior checklists I use for student observations. Checklists help to target specific behaviors that students need to develop or improve. They also can be converted to numerical data for IEPs.

Use these checklists or use them as a model for your classroom/homeschool to assure students have these skills.

Apology Note Checklist

This is a sheet that I use with students who need to process their behaviors. It also serves as documentation for a student's perception so we can begin to understand their locus of control. In a pinch, it can also serve as a physical apology note to hand to the person who needs the apology. I modified it from the Knock Knock version to be more school appropriate.

If you would like to purchase a more lighthearted version, check out this Web site: http://www.knockknockstuff.com/catalog/categories/pads/nifty-notes/apology-nifty-note/

I hope you find it valuable to use with your own children or your school children.

Too Long

It has been seven months since I have lasted posted to SpEd Head! I hope to have some new documentation sheets up for you all this week! Enjoy!

Peer Interaction Tracking Chart

This is a chart I use to track positive peer interactions for students. This helps me to see if they are applying the social skills learned in my classroom to non-structured settings (lunch, recess, and hallways). The directions for usage are at the top of the chart. I hope it is useful to you!