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Hey there, I’m Amy. I am here to help bring creativity and joy to your own classrooms! As a mumma of two, a High School Special Teacher and a digital Illustrator, my passion is to share my work with others hoping to help people in their own classrooms and creative ventures.
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HEY THERE,
I'm Amy
a bit About Me......
& My Passion For Special Education
In my journey as a teacher and an artist, I understand the importance of making learning engaging and fun. My mission is to provide resources and illustrations that not only support educators but also make a positive impact on students' learning experiences.
I understand the challenges that come with being an exceptional teacher. My goal is to make your life a little easier by providing valuable differentiated resources that leverage the strength of visual learning. I'm always here to connect and listen. I would love to hear from you and help support your educational journey!
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Maximising Independence in Special Education
Hey there, teacher friends! I can confidently know what I’m doing each and every day in my classroom. I am prepared and ready to tackle anything with a skip in my step. How you may ask? Through maximising over time my own independence. You see I used to look at everyone else in my teaching circle of friends. I know… silly really. But I knew I could do everything and more my students needed, and yet through my own personal touch and independently could rely on myself in making decisions! In allowing my classroom the best it can possibly be! As teachers, how can we help our students maximise their own independence? Let’s dive in… Maximising Students Independence in Special Education As educators, one of our primary goals is to help our students become more independent learners. For students with special needs, this can be an especially challenging task. However, with the right strategies and support, we can help our students develop the skills and confidence they need to become more independent. Here are some key strategies to consider: Set Clear Goals and Expectations Setting clear goals and expectations can help students understand what is expected of them and provide a sense of structure and direction. Work with each student to identify their strengths, interests, and areas for improvement. Create achievable goals and work together to create a plan to achieve them. Celebrate successes along the way to build confidence and motivation. Encourage Self-Advocacy Encouraging students to advocate for themselves is an important step towards independence. Teach students to ask for help when needed, express their opinions and ideas, and take responsibility for their own learning. This can help them develop problem-solving skills, improve communication skills, and become more confident and independent learners. Foster Independence in Daily Activities Daily activities such as getting dressed, preparing meals, and completing chores can provide opportunities for students to practise independence skills. Consider providing students with step-by-step instructions or visual aids to help them complete these activities independently. Gradually increase the complexity of the activities as students become more proficient. Have a look at our maths bundles for addition. These are differentiated for most learners and allow students to have real life access to store prices – through visual learning methods. Click here to view menu maths products Use Technology to Support Independence Assistive technology can help students with disabilities become more independent. There are many tools available such as text-to-speech software, speech recognition software, and apps designed to help with time management, organisation, and study skills. Work with each student to identify the tools that will be most helpful for them and provide training and support to ensure they can use them effectively. Looking for More Resources? If you want to learn more about how to support students in developing vocational skills and maximising their independence, check out my Vocational resources available on my online store. Here is the link Or perhaps save some teacher cash and get some great priced bundles – which includes resources such as vocational metalanguage, job exploration activities, and workplace readiness training materials. click here for the link Thanks for hanging out with us! We hope you found this post helpful to both you and your special students. So, what are your favourite teacher resources that promote independence in the classroom? Let us know in the comments below! And if you’re looking for some amazing teaching resources to support your special education students, check out our website for some great ideas! Let’s help our students grow and maximise their own independence! Thank You! ❤️ Thanks for hanging out with us! We hope you found this post helpful to both you and your special students. ___________________________________________________ ⭐️Join our free resource library (aka The Studio) to get exclusive FREE content for your classroom! ✏️ Here, in the Studio you’ll get awesome, helpful teaching resources for your class, from Daily Morning Warm Up activities, easy printing classroom tasks, games and more!!! It’s all free, and exclusive to email subscribers. Download to your heart’s content! ___________________________________________________ Shoot me an email or Instagram message if you have a suggestion for something you would like to see in the library Studio. We’re thrilled to have you!
Tailoring Morning Routine for Sped Ed Students
Hey there, teacher friends Mornings can be a challenging time for students with special needs, who may need extra time and support to get ready for their day. A well-structured morning routine can help students start their day off on the right foot, setting them up for success in the classroom. With a tailored classroom morning routine, students know what is expected of them, and develop skills for independence early in the day. Come and join us on this blog post, where we will be looking at handy tips for tailoring your morning routine in meeting the needs for your special ed students. Start with a visual schedule Many special ed students benefit from having a clear visual schedule of what their morning routine will look like. This can help them understand what they need to do and in what order, reducing anxiety and confusion. In my classroom, I adopted a method where we use pictures and symbols ????️ to represent each task per lesson and have a digital time of when that task will start and end. This allows all students to visually see the morning – and if we need to make changes, we can easily do so with the magnetic whiteboard. One student also helps me set this up in the morning each different day and writes the date at the top of the board. This promotes self-advocacy and independence within our classroom. 2️⃣ Build in time for sensory needs Some students with special needs may have sensory needs that require extra time and attention in the morning. This could include activities like deep pressure, movement, or sensory input. It’s important to plan ahead for these needs and include them in the morning routine, such as by incorporating a sensory break or providing sensory items for your students. These could include items like fidget toys, weighted blankets, or noise-cancelling headphones. By addressing your students’ sensory needs, you can help them feel more comfortable and ready to learn. 3️⃣ Offer choices Giving students with special needs choices can help them feel more in control and engaged in the morning routine. Offer choices around tasks like what activity out of 1️⃣, 2️⃣ or 3️⃣ will you choose next? what activity to do during a sensory break? Keep the choices simple and clear, and offer visual support if needed. We like to implement a choice board for students and have symbols and images next to each one. In our brain breaks we only allow the choice of three things on our choice board. This is not to overwhelm our students with the change of choice. 1️⃣ Might be to create a drawing at your table, 2️⃣ Sit in the bean bag and read a short story or 3️⃣ Might be to get the sensory item trolley and use some kinetic sand between your fingers. See the choices are various in ability – and the three allows not too much overwhelm with choice. Another great way to do this is simply write the choices on the board. 1️⃣,2️⃣,3️⃣ and give allocated time to each choice. ⏰ 4️⃣ Use positive reinforcement Positive reinforcement can be a powerful tool for encouraging desired behaviours in special ed students. Consider using a token system or other reward system to reinforce positive behaviours during the morning routine, such as working independently or completing a task on time. We like to use Class Dojo for our classroom points system. If you are wanting more information on this, please read our “5 x Simple Tips for Preparing Your Special Education Classroom for this Back to School Season” blog. 5️⃣ Incorporate a daily warm-up resource Daily warm-up resources are a great way to get students with special needs engaged and focused at the start of the day. We always use a daily warm-up resource in our classroom, it is a perfect time of day to use this with your students. If you are looking for easy, and engaging morning work, you will love my done-for-you morning work for each day of the school year mega bundle! It has Differentiated levelled activities across a range of curriculums and key learning areas. Fantastic for special needs students warming up for the day and tailoring to their own specific needs. It also features a daily Emotional check-in to help identify student emotions in the morning. Helping the student in a visual method. ⭐️I bind these all together and use these structured Warm Ups in my High School Special Education class Daily, they would also be appropriate for early and adult learners. Click the links to check them out! By tailoring your morning routine to meet the needs of special ed students, you can help them start their day off on the right foot and set them up for success in the classroom. With a visual schedule, sensory breaks, choices, positive reinforcement, and a daily warm-up resource, you can create a morning routine that supports the unique needs of each student. So why not try our daily warm-up resource today and see the positive impact it can have on your students’ mornings. Thank You! ❤️ Thanks for hanging out with us! We hope you found this post helpful to both you and your special students. So, what are your favourite Morning routines to use in the classroom? Let’s make successful morning routine for all of our special education students! __________________________________________________ ⭐️Join our free resource library (aka The Studio) to get exclusive FREE content for your classroom! ✏️ Here, in the Studio you’ll get awesome, helpful teaching resources for your class, from Daily Morning Warm Up activities, easy printing classroom tasks, games and more!!! It’s all free, and exclusive to email subscribers. Download to your heart’s content! ___________________________________________________ Shoot me an email or Instagram message if you have a suggestion for something you would like to see in the library Studio We’re thrilled to have you!
Differentiation ideas for Special Education Classrooms
Hey there, teacher friends! Question? Have you ever tried to fit a square peg into a round hole? It doesn’t work, does it? The same goes for teaching – we can’t expect every student to fit into the same mould. That’s why differentiating instruction is crucial, especially for our students with special needs. As a special education teacher, I’ve discovered that every student has their own unique needs and learning style. What works for one student might not work for another. That’s why I want to share some ideas for differentiation that have worked in my classroom. Whether you’re a special education teacher or not, these strategies can be adapted to fit the needs of any student. My hope is that you’ll find some inspiration and ideas that you can use in your own classroom. Understanding.. Did you know what it actually means to differentiate instruction? It means tailoring instruction to meet individual needs. There are various methods of differentiation – as teachers, we can differentiate content, process, products, or the learning environment, using ongoing assessment and flexible grouping for our students’ particular needs. As a special education teacher, it’s not just a role but a duty to provide support and accommodations for the students we teach. This is crucial to their success. We all as teachers, even in a mainstream setting, understand that by laying foundations of differentiation in the classroom, everyone has the opportunity to engage with the learning. Whether you’re a special education teacher or not, differentiation is key to ensuring that every student has the chance to learn and succeed in their own way. Here are some differentiation strategies that have worked in my special education classroom. Strategies for Differentiating Instruction Backwards mapping – Let’s talk about the technique of “backwards mapping”! This approach is really great for art projects in particular. This process allows students to visually see what they are trying to achieve. For instance, I might show them a painting I created, and then we as a class would break down the techniques in how to achieve this. This backward mapping approach visually shows students what is expected of them and gives them the opportunity to see the finished product before starting their own. This technique makes the project more achievable and manageable for students, as they have a clear understanding of the steps they need to take to achieve their desired outcome ????. And the best part? Backwards mapping can be applied to other subject areas, too! Modified Assignments – Assessments are an essential part of learning in school, but they don’t have to be one-size-fits-all! Special education students have unique learning needs that may require modifications to assessments to better suit them. For example, writing a big essay might not work for some students, but adjusting the assessment format to a multiple-choice answer page could still show what the student has learned and help the teacher understand what may need to be revised. Modifying assessments can also include adjustments to the structure of the assessment, such as providing more time ⏰, simplified instructions, or using a different mode of communication. Additionally, the content of the assessment itself may be modified to better align with the student’s abilities, such as by reducing the reading level or providing additional visual aids. These modifications help ensure that all students, including those with special needs, have a fair and equal opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and abilities. Multi-sensory Approaches Let’s take a moment to talk about the amazing benefits of multisensory approaches in the classroom! Multisensory approaches are teaching techniques that engage multiple senses to enhance student learning. By involving different senses, such as sight, sound, touch, and movement, your students can better understand, as it is characterised to their personal sensory stimuli. Teaching isn’t just about speaking at the front of the class and hoping students will absorb the information. With multisensory techniques, we can engage our students’ senses and create a more immersive learning experience. In my own classroom, I love using differentiated learning task cards to incorporate multisensory techniques. By giving students the option to choose multiple choice answers, write their own responses, or even use manipulatives like counters or pegs, I can cater to a variety of learning styles in one activity. It’s a win-win for everyone! Click here if you would like to find out more about our Task Box Bundles for differentiated learning. Individual learning plans Individual learning plans (ILPs) are individualised educational plans designed to meet the unique needs, strengths, and interests of each student. A ILP is a written document that outlines specific learning goals, strategies, and accommodations tailored to a student’s learning style and needs. It can include information such as academic strengths and weaknesses, learning preferences, and social/emotional needs. The goal of a ILP is to help students take ownership of their learning and develop skills that will enable them to achieve their academic and personal goals. ILP’s outline the main differentiation points of each student and address the focused goals in how they will be performed. I find ILP’s to be almost like the road maps into how we are going to get there for optimal learning environments for our students. The ILP is an ever changing – document that changes as the students’ needs and situations change. It Is not a ‘set and forget’ system, rather a fluid source of information. Small group instruction Small group instruction is an awesome teaching method that involves working with a small group of students, usually between 2-6. By keeping the group small, teachers can provide more individualised and targeted instruction, which can help students to better understand the material. This approach is great because it allows the teacher to spend more 1:1 time with students, compared to a whole class of 30-40 where things can easily get overlooked. We love doing small group instruction Daily Warm up sessions with either myself or our Student Learning Support Officer (SLSO) at a large U-shaped table, as it
5 prompts for your Class
Hey there, teacher friends! I recently went to an Autism Workshop Day and I was really intrigued. I found myself opposed to this new and trending statement in the autism world…. “Fade your prompts”…. Some people really believe that fading your prompts will help our students become more independent and by eliminating support will develop their own skill sets. While this might be a great goal for some students. I believe each student is different and neurodiverse. Remember not one size fits all. If you use prompts, can students still be independent? Can they have a self awareness of their own strategies that work for them? I believe so. Who here has their clothes lined up at night for the next day? or has a shopping list ready to go before they go to the shops? or even has a planner to plan out your day? I do…. These are Prompts. I also believe even if you are neurotypical. Prompts are always around you…. So why are we taking these away from our special students? Why do we need to cancel or phase out something if it works? 90% of people in the world rely on prompts. In saying this, I don’t believe you need to fade your prompts. You CAN use them in your classroom, if it works for your students, don’t feel obligated to phase out. We love using prompts in our own classroom. So here are some great ways prompts can be used as tools in your classroom in helping your students be more successful in developing their own skills and abilities. Visual prompts These prompts use pictures, images, or videos to help students understand the task or activity. For example, a visual prompt for a maths problem could be a picture of an object to help students understand and see a maths problem. It gives them greater understanding by visually illustrating the question or task. We love using our bulletin board – life skills shop tasks in class. They are sooooo visual in learning simple addition and calculating prices of items. We have real life bulletin board images with prices (various shops created each month) and display on our classroom whiteboard. This gives life skills to our classroom and has students order from a real classroom shop! Click here to find out more about this visual bulletin board bundle, using visuals prompts. Verbal prompts These prompts use spoken or written instructions to guide students through a task or activity. For example, a verbal prompt for a reading activity could be “sound out the word slowly and look for the vowel sound.” A written instructional prompt could be reading then answering a written task card question in their booklets for a subject area. Gestural prompts These prompts use hand gestures or physical cues to support students in completing a task or activity. For example, a gestural prompt for a movement activity could be a hand signal that indicates the direction of movement. We like to try and learn different Auslan signs in our classroom for helping with communication Partial prompts These prompts provide some initial guidance or support to help students get started on a task or activity. For example, a partial prompt for a writing activity could be providing the first sentence or phrase of the assignment. This allows the students to start and then they have the confidence to complete the rest of the task. Time-based prompts These prompts use time limits or deadlines to encourage students to complete a task or activity within a certain time frame. For example, a time-based prompt for a cleaning activity could be “you have five minutes to pack away your desk activity.” We are big fans of goo, Bubble, countdown clocks and sand timers in our classroom. Overall, prompts in a special education class are designed to be accessible and supportive for students with diverse learning needs and abilities. I don’t feel you must fade your prompts- especially if they are working for your students’ particular needs. Teachers can use a combination of these prompts to provide individualised support to each student and help them achieve their full potential. What are your favourite prompts to use in the classroom? Should we fade them out entirely? I would love to know! Connect with us on Instagram! Thank You! ❤️ Thanks for hanging out with us! We hope you found this post helpful to both you and your special students. ___________________________________________________ ⭐️Join our free resource library (aka The Studio) to get exclusive FREE content for your classroom! ✏️ Here, in the Studio you’ll get awesome, helpful teaching resources for your class, from Daily Morning Warm Up activities, easy printing classroom tasks, games and more!!! It’s all free, and exclusive to email subscribers. Download to your heart’s content! ___________________________________________________ Shoot me an email or Instagram message if you have a suggestion for something you would like to see in the library Studio We’re thrilled to have you!
5 Essential Life Skills
Hey there, teacher friends! As teachers, we are often guided into what we should be teaching based upon our students’ diverse needs. However, we also need to address the hidden life skills curriculum. While academic skills are certainly important, it is also essential for special educators to focus on teaching life skills that will help their students thrive in all areas of life. In this blog post, we’ll explore five essential life skills that special educators should teach. From communication and social skills to money management and self-care, these skills are critical for your students’ long-term success. So, if you’re ready to help your students develop the skills they need to excel in all areas of life, let’s dive in. Communication Skills Communication is a fantastic skill to start with, as effective communication is key to success in all areas of life! Special educators can work with their students to help them express themselves clearly, listen actively, and understand non-verbal cues. By teaching strategies for dealing with conflict and navigating social situations, students can feel more confident in their interactions with peers and adults. Classroom conversations and social stories are great methods for building communication skills and preparing students for school and beyond. These skills will not only help them in the classroom but also on the playground and throughout their lives. Time management ⏰ Good time management skills are essential for success in school and beyond! The great thing about time management is that it’s a life skill that will always be relevant, no matter where your students go in life. Special educators can help their students learn how to set goals, prioritise tasks, and manage their time effectively. Using tools such as timers, schedules, and task lists, students can learn how to better understand how long things take to complete and allocate time for different activities. In addition, educators can teach strategies for staying focused and avoiding distractions, which are key components of effective time management. These skills will not only benefit students in school but also in their future career paths. Self-advocacy Students with special needs may face unique challenges and barriers in their daily lives, but it’s important for them to develop the skills to advocate for themselves and their needs. Special educators can help their students learn how to speak up for themselves, ask for help when needed, and access resources and support. By empowering them with self-advocacy skills, students can become more independent and confident in their abilities. Additionally, it’s important to showcase successful stories of people who are on the spectrum and have achieved great things in their chosen fields. By highlighting their illustrated abilities and self-advocacy skills, we can inspire students to dream big and follow their passions. In our classroom, we use the “Autism Awareness” unit, which features eight famous people with autism who have achieved amazing things and self-advocated for the life they wanted to create. By sharing these stories through illustrated books, social stories, and YouTube videos, we hope to inspire and encourage our students to believe in themselves and their abilities. Problem-solving Life is full of challenges, and for students with special needs, those challenges can feel even more daunting. But as teachers, we have the power to help and support our students in meaningful ways. By teaching our students crucial problem-solving skills, we can empower them to overcome obstacles and gain a deeper understanding of the world around them. In our classroom, we encourage students to identify and tackle problems both academically and socially. Through collaborative brainstorming sessions, we help our students develop critical thinking, decision-making, and creativity skills. By evaluating the effectiveness of different strategies and reflecting on what worked and what didn’t, our students can become more confident problem-solvers and develop resilience for the challenges they may face in the future. Independent living skills s special educators, our ultimate goal is to help our students become as independent as possible. We can achieve this by teaching them a range of practical life skills, such as cooking, cleaning, managing money, and navigating transportation. In our classroom, we’ve created a daily morning warm-up that focuses on vocational and independent life skills. We cover everything from calendar skills, maths ➕, and literacy, to transportation, time-telling ⏰, and wages. In our classroom we have created a yearly daily morning warm up, attributed to vocational / independent life skills. Focusing on calendar skills, maths, literacy, transportation, telling time, wages and pay. This is a unit created in fostering essential life skills, for students in understanding various career paths. Click here to find out more about Vocational Skills resources We can even go further and teach them strategies for staying safe and healthy, such as self-care and first aid. In our classroom, we love using task cards to help our students practise these important skills. By equipping our students with these essential life skills, we can empower them to be more independent, confident, and successful in school and beyond! So why not try adopting these 5 key life skills in your own classroom. Click here to find out more about Life Skill Task Boxes What are your favourite life skills to teach your students? Let’s connect on Instagram and share our ideas! Thank You! ❤️ Thanks for hanging out with us! We hope you found this post helpful to both you and your special students. ___________________________________________________ ⭐️Join our free resource library (aka The Studio) to get exclusive FREE content for your classroom! ✏️ Here, in the Studio you’ll get awesome, helpful teaching resources for your class, from Daily Morning Warm Up activities, easy printing classroom tasks, games and more!!! It’s all free, and exclusive to email subscribers. Download to your heart’s content! ___________________________________________________ Shoot me an email or Instagram message if you have a suggestion for something you would like to see in the library Studio We’re thrilled to have you!
Students and summer engagement!
Hey there, teacher friends! Keeping Students Engaged Over the Summer, It’s definitely a hard topic! As the school year comes to a close and summer break approaches, teachers may worry about their students losing the momentum they have built up during the academic year. However, with the right approach, teachers can help ensure that their students stay engaged and motivated throughout the summer. In this post, we’ll discuss some strategies teachers can use to keep students engaged during the summer period of school. Exciting Community Outings and Learning Opportunities There are many ways to keep students engaged over the summer while incorporating community outings and learning opportunities. Visiting a local museum, participating in a community service project, taking a nature walk, attending a farmer’s market, touring a local landmark, or attending a cultural festival are all great options. These activities can provide students with opportunities to learn, however sometimes this is not always possible. I have created a task card set for class to learn about different community places this summer period. This is great for helping special education students learn about important places in their community, whilst still being in a classroom environment. Encourage Summer Reading Reading is a great way for students to stay engaged and learning during the summer months. Encourage your students to read for pleasure by providing them with a list of recommended books, hosting a book club, or creating a summer reading challenge. You could also ask students to keep a reading journal where they record what they read and reflect on what they learned. Create a Summer Writing Project Another way to keep students engaged over the summer is to create a writing project. This could be anything from a daily journal to a research project on a topic of their choosing. Encourage students to share their work with their classmates or even create a class blog or social media page where everyone can share their writing. Set Up Online Learning Opportunities Online learning opportunities can provide a great way for students to stay engaged during the summer. Consider setting up a class website or blog where students can access learning materials, participate in online discussions, or complete quizzes and assignments. You could also provide links to educational websites like TedEd or use your class Dojo messaging to its full advantage. Outdoor Activities Take science experiments outside, study the local ecosystem by collecting samples of soil, water, and plant life, or observe the behavior of insects and birds. Plant a school garden and learn about plant life cycles, soil composition, and gardening techniques. Take physical education classes outside, including team sports, yoga, or fitness activities. Take art and music classes outside, with outdoor drawing or painting sessions or outdoor music performances. These outdoor activities can provide a fun and engaging learning experience for students while also taking advantage of the natural environment, and help students develop a sense of curiosity, creativity, and appreciation for the outdoors. Click on the link to find out more about this visual Community Task Card Bundle Bulletin Board Shops We love using our bulletin board – life skills shop tasks in class. ????️ They are sooooo visual in learning simple addition and calculating prices of items. We have real life bulletin board images with prices (various shops created each month) and display them on our classroom whiteboard. This gives life skills to our classroom and has students order from a real classroom shop! ???? A great activity for this summer! Click on the link to find out more about this visual Summer bulletin board Thank You! ❤️ Thanks for hanging out with us! We hope you found this post helpful to both you and your special students. Be sure to check us out when it comes to special education teaching resources and ideas, The Special Education Studio is where it’s at. Visit our website and socials for helpful tips, resources, and personalised support.
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Our Mission
By personally being a very visual person, I understand how many of my students are visual leaners and love creating age appropriate visual resources for their individual learning needs.
I love sharing about functional life skills, vocational skills, transitional resources and visually creative secondary Special Education ideas, to help students develop independent living skills in school and in a post school setting.
My mission is to provide all students with an educationally challenging, yet fun experience that develops skills essential in becoming independent adults and life-long learners.
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Hey there, teacher friends! I can confidently know what I’m doing each and every day in my classroom. I am prepared and …
