Note to self

These are few things I have found myself saying lately...

-"Don't forget to download YOUTUBE videos using YTD Video Downloader"---internet at school is frustrating sometimes.I have so many songs for circle time from YOUTUBE that the kids get frustrated and so do I!

-"Don't forget to get a TARP!!!"---finding sensory play can get out of hand sometimes! Took a while to clean up the spaghetti noodles off the floor that the kiddos had so much fun with!!

 

"Don't forget to give my para-pro the lesson plans for the week" I have forgotten the past couple of weeks!

Don't forget to get paperwork together and send it to Central Office! I sure do wish I had a decent planning time or even one workday a month to get all the paperwork and planning I need to do! Hehe

"Keep 1st things 1st!" I tend to get sidetracked very easily...working hard to stay on top of things and not get behind with lesson plans, materials, IEP paperwork and parent communication.

Therapist Log

Working in Special Education is a TEAM effort. There are many therapists (OT, PT, SLP, etc.) that come in and out of the classroom. It is hard to keep up with which child was served each day. It is also difficult to make sure that each child is served and their IEP goals are being addressed specifically. As the Case Manager I am responsible for making sure that all these things happen. I created a LOG sheet to put in a folder for each therapist. I will put a copy of the IEP goals for each child served  in the folder so they can refer to them. Hope this helps.

Lesson Plans and Scheduling

For several years I've used DAILY lesson plan sheets that follow my schedule. Most days my schedule wasn't as I expected, so there was a lot of marking out and changing times. This year I think I'm going back to the Week at a Glance format. I am going to include each of the activities that occur in my day and fill in the activity/lesson that will be used or completed at that time. I think listing the items used in each center will also be helpful so I can be sure to rotate the supplies. I also try to make notes on which children I work 1/1 with each day. I try to work with each child a few minutes each day, but if I don't I make note of making sure I see them the next day they attend. I'll see how this works for me this year, I'm sure there will be more tweaks once school starts..

How do you organize  your lesson plans?

Last year's template:


This year's Template
 

SCHEDULING CHILDREN:

I have children with IEPs that attend 2 or 3 days per week depending on their needs.  I have "peer buddies" that visit for part of each day, usually mornings. These children do not have IEP goals and are to help model play, behavior and language.  Last year I had children with IEPs attending a variety of days with no routine to it. (I came in after school started and most of the kids were already scheduled.) This year I am working hard to have the kiddos that come 2 days a week come on Tuesday/Thursday and the 3 day a week kiddos come Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Right now the days are fairly even, but expect that as children turn 3 I will have more on T/R, if it gets too full I will have to schedule some differently. Right now I will have about 7 Special Needs children each day and hopefully 4 or 5 "peer buddies". I do have one classroom assistant.

How do you schedule your classes? Do they come different days?