Sunday, February 25, 2018

SPEDtacular Sunday Freebies Link Up

Welcome! Every Sunday I host this freebie link up here on my blog for Special Education Teachers! Visit every week to download free resources for your classroom! If this is your first time visiting, you can access all of the freebies from previous link ups by clicking on "SPEDtacular Sunday Freebies" under "My Files" on my right sidebar. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

If you're a TPT seller, blogger, or resource creator, I invite you to link up and share your own freebie(s) using the link up tool below!
 


Link Up Rules

1. All resources must be FREE! It can be free for the day, but please delete your link once you mark it back to paid.
2. You may link up 1-3 freebies.
3. Your freebie can link to your blog or store.
4. Freebie does not have to be related specifically to SPED, but should be practical for SPED.
5. If you are linking up from your blog, using this image in your post and linking back to my blog is not required, but is greatly appreciated! 

6. Share this image on your social media so others can enjoy all of these freebies!

*I recommend using an image of your freebie & not your button when linking up. 

 Feel free to share the image above all over your social media to let other teachers know about these freebies! 

The link up tool will close on Saturday each week, but "forever" freebies will remain accessible! Come back every Sunday to link up or download new freebies!

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Whole Group Management Strategies

I have a very challenging group of wild energetic students this year! I'm talking blurting out, out of seat, whining, pencil drumming, raring back in chairs, yelling, profanity, breaking pencils, and these are only the mild behaviors I'm listing! Sound familiar?

I have numerous behavioral reinforcements going on all over the place in my room at all times. I have students on "Cool Points" charts, some on individual token boards, some marking frequency charts, and some that thrive on verbal praise and a simple high five. 

While these are amazing for small group, 1:1 instruction, independent work systems, and self-monitoring; I've also found that having whole group behavioral management systems in place is important as well, especially if you have a large group. (I have 12).

Here are some whole group management strategies that I use in my classroom to provide additional positive reinforcement.

This is a whole group token board. I use it when I'm teaching whole group (morning meeting) to reinforce positive behaviors. Students earn tokens for raising their hand, staying in their seats, looking at the speaker, keeping chair legs on floor; whatever the behavior is the student is working on. I catch them following the directions; not NOT following the directions. You can read a detailed blog post on how to use the whole group token board to teach rules and procedures here.


I use these as group incentives. My students sit at tables in 3 groups of four. At the end of each day, we determine the best group "together," (we all take a quick vote) and that group gets a hole punch. The first group to get all 10 punches gets a prize. This not only holds them accountable for their behavior at the end of the day, but encourages teamwork and group interaction.


You can get these punch cards from Creative Teaching Press here and you can choose from four varieties. These also work great for individual student token systems as well.
Changing things up to keep it exciting is also important, so before I began the punch cards in January, I was giving each group a ticket and then the group with the most tickets at the end of 10 days received a prize. These also work great for individual student goals too. Creative Teaching Press also has these here

One of the best things I ever did for whole group classroom management was creating a GOAL WALL four years ago! I get asked alot, "Are these their IEP goals and is this a breach in confidentiality?" No, these are not their IEP goals. These are basic classroom behavioral goals that we all need to work on that are posted much like classroom rules. Students that are capable help to determine their own goals and often they add goals as needed. In addition to having an active role in their goal planning, students also recite their goals daily following our classroom rules that we also recite daily. 

It's no different than with academics. Our behavioral challenged students also need that daily repetition and reteaching of behavioral instruction.
This goal wall has been very powerful! My students know their goals by heart, they are conscientious about what they need to work on, and even my non-verbal student uses PECS to recite his goals each day. And because we all know what our classmates are working on, we encourage one another to achieve our goals! You can create your own goal wall here.

While my classroom is strongly centered around positive reinforcement, and students should never lose something they've earned, there also has to be some consequences!

So I started this minute chart in late September and it has really decreased a lot of spontaneous behaviors. Students get a tally for breaking a pencil, blurting out, being out of their seat, yelling, whining, using profanity; whatever the inappropriate behavior is that should have a consequence, and then those tallies are turned into minutes they owe at the end of the day when everyone else is on free choice. The last 30 minutes of our day is free choice if students have no missing work (assignments they refused to do during the day) or no tallies. Students that have tallies sit for that many minutes before they can join in on free choice.

Those tallies can be so painful for some of my students...because well who wants to sit while everyone else plays!? Right? But it has worked in decreasing many of these impulsive behaviors in my classroom! Hope some of these tips can work for you too!

Learn even more about "How to Rock Your Behavior Management" here

Sunday, February 18, 2018

SPEDtacular Sunday Freebies Link Up

Welcome! Every Sunday I host this freebie link up here on my blog for Special Education Teachers! Visit every week to download free resources for your classroom! If this is your first time visiting, you can access all of the freebies from previous link ups by clicking on "SPEDtacular Sunday Freebies" under "My Files" on my right sidebar. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

If you're a TPT seller, blogger, or resource creator, I invite you to link up and share your own freebie(s) using the link up tool below! 


Link Up Rules

1. All resources must be FREE! It can be free for the day, but please delete your link once you mark it back to paid.
2. You may link up 1-3 freebies.
3. Your freebie can link to your blog or store.
4. Freebie does not have to be related specifically to SPED, but should be practical for SPED.
5. If you are linking up from your blog, using this image in your post and linking back to my blog is not required, but is greatly appreciated! 

6. Share this image on your social media so others can enjoy all of these freebies!

*I recommend using an image of your freebie & not your button when linking up. 

 Feel free to share the image above all over your social media to let other teachers know about these freebies! 

The link up tool will close on Saturday each week, but "forever" freebies will remain accessible! Come back every Sunday to link up or download new freebies!



Sunday, February 11, 2018

SPEDtacular Sunday Freebies Link Up

Welcome! Every Sunday I host this freebie link up here on my blog for Special Education Teachers! Visit every week to download free resources for your classroom! If this is your first time visiting, you can access all of the freebies from previous link ups by clicking on "SPEDtacular Sunday Freebies" under "My Files" on my right sidebar. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

If you're a TPT seller, blogger, or resource creator, I invite you to link up and share your own freebie(s) using the link up tool below!
 


Link Up Rules

1. All resources must be FREE! It can be free for the day, but please delete your link once you mark it back to paid.
2. You may link up 1-3 freebies.
3. Your freebie can link to your blog or store.
4. Freebie does not have to be related specifically to SPED, but should be practical for SPED.
5. If you are linking up from your blog, using this image in your post and linking back to my blog is not required, but is greatly appreciated! 

6. Share this image on your social media so others can enjoy all of these freebies!

*I recommend using an image of your freebie & not your button when linking up. 

 Feel free to share the image above all over your social media to let other teachers know about these freebies! 

The link up tool will close on Saturday each week, but "forever" freebies will remain accessible! Come back every Sunday to link up or download new freebies!


Friday, February 9, 2018

Schoola! Turn Clothing Into $$$ For Your School





Have you heard of Schoola!!? I recently learned about this organization and am so excited about it! I only wish I had known about them when my kids were younger and I had lots of kid clothing hand-me-downs. 

Schoola.com turns quality and gently used clothing into money for schools! 

1. Donate your children's used clothing, using Schoola's pre-paid shipping label.
2. Schoola sells it.
3. Your school gets 40% of the proceeds!

Don't work at a school or have a need for a fundraiser? You can still donate your clothing and choose a school or cause that will benefit. 

Better yet! Anyone can shop at Schoola! Get designer, gently used clothing for up to 70% off...and every time you shop, schools earn money!! And it could be your school! How awesome is that!

See how it works!

What else I love about this for a fundraiser, is you don't have to worry about kids going door to door knocking on stranger's doors to sale. This always worries me. Not only that, there's no organizing, order forms, or money transactions! 
Families bring in clothes! 
Schools earn money!
Simple as that!

Check out Schoola for yourself here!

Tuesday, February 6, 2018

Single Parenting: Being Raised By A Single Father


Are you a single parent? How about a single father? Some of you may know that I was raised by a single father, who's relationship is very dear to my heart. My father taught me everything that little girls must know; like how to shave my legs, apply makeup, and yes...the menstrual cycle and bras were also in the know. 

Being a single parent is HARD for anyone, but being a single father to a daughter can be even more challenging! Unfortunately, there's not a lot of resources out there for single fathers. So when Daniel from dadsolo.com asked me if I'd be interested in posting his article on being a single father, of course I said yes!

Daniel is the author of dadsolo.com. He's also a single father to a daughter (9) and a son (6). He started dadsolo.com to help and share his experiences with other single fathers.

{Guest Post}    


Challenges of Being a Single Father and How to Overcome Them
By Daniel Sherwin

Raising children is one of the greatest and most unpredictable adventures. There are unprecedented surprises, moments of joy and pride, and difficulties. A single father will know all too well that the role is full of challenges but also brimming with rewarding and incredible experiences. Even though single fatherhood has become more common over the years, there are still many challenges these fathers face. Read on to learn about how single fathers can overcome these challenges.


Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help

Many single dads are reluctant or resistant to ask for help. It might be due to denial or a belief that it is a sign of weakness or failure. Nobody can navigate the waters of single parenthood alone. Building a support group can help ease the workload and come in handy during unforeseen circumstances or emergencies. Look for assistance through a variety of avenues:

     Research local support groups in your area. These may include groups for single parents or exclusively for single fathers that meet weekly or monthly for supportive conversations.
     Use online groups and forums to communicate with others and get advice.
     Look into government assistance and programs that might help in lifting some financial burdens or tax credits.
     Ask around in your community, church, or local schools for programs that can help with after-school activities or affordable child care.
     Many nonprofits and other programs help single fathers with useful information. These include resources like the National Fatherhood Initiative, The Fatherhood Project, Parents Without Partners.

Take Care of Yourself

It’s easy for parents to put their physical and mental health in the backburner or to make excuses when time appears to fly by. This can result in problems in the long term that will actually cause greater obstacles when looking after your children. As the Huffington Post explains, your health is a great investment in your child’s life.

According to drugrehab.org, “The way we eat, drink, love, and cope with stress, depression, anxiety, and sadness all play a big role in the state our mental health is in. Sometimes, it’s necessary to take a step back and ask yourself if you’re doing the right thing for you, and not the easiest thing.”

Exercise

Many single parents suffer from isolation and depression and often neglect caring for their mental health, leading to more serious problems down the road. Negative thoughts and anxiety brought on by stress and a lack of rest can be naturally mitigated with a regular dose of exercise. Physical activity plays an important role in overall health and wellness. Parents can often incorporate exercise into activities with their kids, such as taking them to a park, on a walk, or on a run. Regular exercise, according to Harvard Health, can help fight stress, depression, and anxiety.

Exercise also helps maintain a healthy heart and energy level. Organizing your week to include at least three to four exercise sessions is vital to you and your child’s well-being.

Diet

Maintaining a healthy and clean diet is not only necessary for your health, but it also instills good eating habits in your child. In order to avoid last-minute visits for fast food, have precooked meals and leftovers ready throughout the week. By choosing one day a week to cook in bulk and prepare large portions of storable food, you can ensure your fridge is always stocked with healthy home-cooked meals that include plenty of vegetables and healthy proteins.

Structure and Order

While your life may seem chaotic, doing your best to structure your days and set routines can go a long way in helping you manage the many tasks and responsibilities in front of you. According to The Spruce, children thrive with routine, and this can help them get a sense of stability and comfort.

Remember you share similar circumstances with millions of other Americans that are single parents, and you are not alone. However your adventure is uniquely yours. Embrace the challenge as an opportunity to live life to the fullest and learn. Doing your best and being a loving parent is the greatest example you can set for your child.


Photo credit: Pixabay

{End of Guest Post}

Kudos to those single fathers out there...and to ALL single parents! If you're a single parent, and especially a single father, I highly recommend you tune into dadsolo.com. Daniel has lots of great insights to offer to other single parents!

I'd love to close with a very special poem that my father wrote before he passed titled, "Being a Mom When I'm Only a Dad." It is VERY SPECIAL to me and hangs on the wall in my home! It reminds me of everything he taught me every day!
Copyright George Norwood Marlowe/Traci Marlowe Bender
The poem reads:
Being A Mom When I'm Only A Dad
By George Norwood Marlowe

I correct them when they are wrong, 
I stand by them when they are right.
I wake them up each morning, 
I tuck them in each night.
I forgive them when are wrong,
I try to understand.
I wrap my arms around them,
or gently hold their hand.
I laugh with them when they are happy,
I cry when they are sad. 
I want to be the best friend,
that they have ever had.
Yes, I've seen them happy,
I've seen them sad.
I praise them for their good deeds,
I sold them for the bad.
Yes, the toughest job I've ever had, is being a mom when I'm only a dad.
I've done their laundry,
I've cooked their meals.
I've helped them climb bridges,
I've helped them climb hills.
I've mended his trousers,
I've sewn buttons on his shirts.
I've set up late nights,
just hemming her skirts.
I taught her how to cook and clean,
I taught her how to sew.
I've tried to teach her all the things,
that little girls should know.
Yes, the toughest job I've ever had is being a mom when I'm only a dad.
I know their joys,
I know their fears.
I've doctored their bruises,
I've dried their tears.
I've often walked by their room at night, 
when were sound asleep.
I'd gently pull their cover up,
and kiss them on the cheek.
Sometimes they ask for dollars
sometimes it's just a dime. 
But the most important thing to them, 
is my love, my trust, and time.
Yes, the toughest job I've ever had, is being a mom when I'm only a dad!

Sunday, February 4, 2018

SPEDtacular Sunday Freebies Link Up

Welcome! Every Sunday I host this freebie link up here on my blog for Special Education Teachers! Visit every week to download free resources for your classroom! If this is your first time visiting, you can access all of the freebies from previous link ups by clicking on "SPEDtacular Sunday Freebies" under "My Files" on my right sidebar. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

If you're a TPT seller, blogger, or resource creator, I invite you to link up and share your own freebie(s) using the link up tool below! 




Link Up Rules

1. All resources must be FREE! It can be free for the day, but please delete your link once you mark it back to paid.
2. You may link up 1-3 freebies.
3. Your freebie can link to your blog or store.
4. Freebie does not have to be related specifically to SPED, but should be practical for SPED.
5. If you are linking up from your blog, using this image in your post and linking back to my blog is not required, but is greatly appreciated! 

6. Share this image on your social media so others can enjoy all of these freebies!

*I recommend using an image of your freebie & not your button when linking up. 

 Feel free to share the image above all over your social media to let other teachers know about these freebies! 

The link up tool will close on Saturday each week, but "forever" freebies will remain accessible! Come back every Sunday to link up or download new freebies!