Behavior Expert- Not!!!

I have never considered behavior management my area of expertise, but I have learned a lot from all the specialists, teachers, and students I have met in the last 33 years. And have you noticed that behaviors are getting a bit escalated right now? Maybe we are getting into the school year enough, and really digging into the academics, thus causing at-risk students to fall apart!

I am really not into complicated behavior management systems, and I use a variety of tricks and tools. I developed a couple of simple charts to use in a journal to take home. The idea is a quick snapshot of the child's day, and simple to fill out by the paraeducator or the teacher at the very busy end of the day. Here's a peek:

These can be found in my manual: How to Be a Resource Specialist

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Special-Education-How-to-Be-a-Resource-Specialist-747284

Pumpkins are......

I found these great scribble pumpkins and the heading from Graphics from the Pond on TPT!
My amazing assistant made this glorious big pumpkin, and I made this simple open-ended writing activity to go with it! It is also fun that I have big windows opening to a courtyard on one side of my room, and everyone gets to see! 

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Halloween-Pumpkins-are-914880

Update~ How to Be a Resource Specialist!

I am updating this manual as the school year progresses. I have found that older kids really take ownership of getting their work done, if they have a checklist to fill out and then check off their assignments and activities as they complete them! These are included in my updated manual~

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Special-Education-How-to-Be-a-Resource-Specialist-747284

Special Education Students and Art

I love working with students with disabilites and differences, and I love art! I have never considered my self an expert in either area, but those are my loves. Throw in some good literature too! I am convinced that when our students find a medium where they can be successful, it opens windows for other areas that they struggle with. Everyone is an artist, whether they know it or not. With the right instruction( and maybe a little directed drawing) kids can create masterpieces. I pair the art lesson with reading and writing, which makes the whole process a little lesson painful! I just ran across this painting from Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie, that one of my students did 7-8 years ago(she's graduating this year!). 

Where's the Bacon?-finished art project and Freebie

 I am keeping this product free for the weekend because I discovered that the art project is so do-able and the kids love it! My older resource kids are reading the book and doing the art project now!

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Wheres-the-Bacon-A-Balanced-Literacy-and-Art-Unit-Common-Core-aligned-808342

My kids love Charlie and Bacon!

Freebie for one day!
We read Charlie the Ranch Dog, Where's the Bacon by Ree Drummond with my primary group this week. I did it as a shared reading, although my third grader can almost read it on his own. This is the first time I have been able to do the unit I created this summer, and it is sooooo fun! We have a variety of disabilities in this group, including autism, and so far, so good. Here is our progress on the art project:

Now all I need is a real Bassett Hound to bring in! The kids have already let me know that it is OK if I bring some bacon......

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Wheres-the-Bacon-A-Balanced-Literacy-and-Art-Unit-Common-Core-aligned-808342

Color words are on my TPT site- Freebie

You can print these, cut on the paper cutter, and mount them on colored construction paper!

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Color-Words-864492