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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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Check out these great bundles packed full of valuable resources.
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Blogs
Read these featured blogs packed full of valuable tips and tricks.
Task Boxes in the Classroom
Hey there, teacher friends! Have you heard of task boxes? I’m assuming you have seen them somewhere…These nifty little tools are a fantastic way to help you in your Special Education classroom! I mean seriously, who knew that these simple tiny colourful boxes can cause a huge wave of awesomeness for any teacher. They come in a variety of colours and sizes, and I can first handedly admit their super powers or effectiveness. So grab your favourite cup of teacher fuel, ☕ and let’s dive into the world of task boxes! 1. Classroom Organisation Classroom organisation can often be a massive task in itself when trying to set up for particular materials and plan for the diverse learning needs in a variety of settings. That’s where task boxes come in! These little guys are like personal assistants, helping you improve productivity, organisation and efficiency in your classroom. Once upon a time in our classroom, we used to have a major problem finding all our dice for Maths tasks… We were constantly saying “Where the heck did I put that?” and “I haven’t seen that in a blue moon..” Not anymore! We use task boxes! They are all labelled and sooooo easy to find and the best part about it, students can access them now easily too. We have an order and a plan for our learning 🙂 Our classroom is structured in an orderly way. We have a system for our learning and supplies. 2. Incorporating for Differentiated Instruction As teachers understand that differentiated instruction is like the secret sauce that makes learning stick. It’s about creating an environment where every student receives the support they need to learn and grow. And when it comes to bringing this approach to life, task boxes are the way to go! Task boxes are like magic treasure chests that can be filled with all sorts of goodies to cater to every kind of learner. Maybe you could try placing their colourful visual aids inside, or fill them with engaging hands-on projects, how about thought-provoking task cards, or even smaller resources that are labelled for a particular student’s sensory needs. Task Boxes are made for individualised differentiated learning. 3. Cross Curricular Learning Task boxes are also great for creating cross curricular learning opportunities. In a special education setting as many teachers know and understand, we often have to multi-task and teach in multiple different methods and ways. This is where task boxes can become so handy! Let’s imagine I wanted to teach a history lesson based upon ‘Ancient Egypt’. One box may be dedicated to physically touching things from the past or a box with supplies to create a mummification process. This would be great for my kinesthetic learners or STEM learning. Another box I might set up could be, ordering dates in chronological order and doing a writing task. This would be a great task for my reader/writer and mathematics groups. Whilst another task box could contain a visual hieroglyphic secret message. In which my students have to decode to get an answer or recreate their own hieroglyphs. Great for art/design based learning. See how we are all studying history in this lesson, yet we are covering different methods and cross curricular learning opportunities for our students… Task boxes, yep, task boxes. 4.Classroom Centre Stations Classroom centres are always a regular go-to in our classroom. Centre activities give our class multiple learning opportunities yet still allow us as teachers to target very specific goals for each of our students. This is again where… drum roll please ‘Task Boxes’ can come in handy! For example, in our High School Special Education class – I might have one student that really needs to work on their times tables as part of his IEP goals. Another student in my class may need to spend some more time on maths tasks in simple mathematical equations as part of her goal this year. And one student may need to have extra fast finishing work once they have completed what I have arranged for them…. By creating task boxes centre stations, allow me to simultaneously – provide various learning opportunities in different areas to what individual students need. These boxes can deliver multiple different key learning areas to students at one time! It can also help students become more independent and empowered in their own learning experiences. 5. Life Skill Learning – Task Cards Do you want to know what’s really exciting in the world of task boxes? TASK CARDS! Yes, I said it, task cards – they fit right inside a plastic task box perfectly! Some of you may be wondering though, what exactly is a task card? Well, task cards are small cards that provide instructions or questions related to a specific skill or topic. They’re versatile and can be used to teach a wide range of life skills for Special Ed students. Life skills task cards cover a range of skills, from basic hygiene and safety to more complex skills like cooking and money management. By using task cards, we can help our students become more independent and confident in their daily lives. So why not add a little fun to your classroom and start using life skills task cards? I include task cards in many of my lessons. If you’re pressed for time, I’ve even made a mega bundle life skill set for special education teachers. Check it out! ⭐Workplace Signs ⭐Road Signs ⭐Abbreviations ⭐Fractions Pizza ⭐Beach Safety ⭐Sorting Recycling ⭐Laundry Skills ⭐Community Places ⭐Next Dollar Up ⭐Emergencies ⭐MAB Blocks ⭐Calendar Skills ⭐Email Skills ⭐Kitchen Appliances and Utensils ⭐Cleaning and Supplies ⭐Do I Have Enough Money? ⭐Measuring Cups ⭐What To Wear?⭐Etiquette Skills ⭐Community Helpers⭐Travel Skills ⭐Food Storage ⭐Directional and Positional ⭐Nutritional Eating This Bundle is full of Differentiated activities (120+ Cards per each set). Including the following 24 TASK BOX SETS!!! What is your favourite way to use task boxes in your classroom? I would love to know! 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
Warm Ups this winter!
Hey there, teacher friends! It’s cold, it’s dark and we are all feeling it! Winter time can bring its own set of challenges for special education classes and its teachers. And yet, as temperatures drop and daylight dwindles, it’s important to keep students engaged and motivated! One way to do this is through daily warm-ups that promote physical activity, cognitive development, and socialisation. In today’s blog let’s look at all the wonderful winter daily warm Ups we can use to keep our kids motivated to learn! Morning Stretching Exercises Encourage students to start the day with a few simple stretching exercises. This can help them wake up their bodies and get their blood flowing. You can create a routine that includes stretches like arm circles, toe touches, and neck rolls. It’s also a great opportunity to practise counting and sequencing skills. Brain Teasers Winter is a great time to focus on cognitive development. Brain teasers are a fun way to challenge students and get them thinking creatively. You can use puzzles, riddles, and word games to help students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Socialisation Activities For students with socialisation goals, winter can be a difficult time. Encourage socialisation with activities like conversation starters, team-building exercises, and cooperative games. These activities can help students build relationships with their peers and develop communication skills. Winter Themed Activities Winter offers a wealth of opportunities for themed activities. You can create a winter-themed sensory bin filled with snow, pinecones, and other winter objects. How about trying some of directed drawing or bulletin board winter themed activities? They are great for winter themed content to get your students motivated. Click here for this Winter resource Daily morning warm ups activity Daily warm-up resources are a great way to get students with special needs engaged and focused at the start of the day. 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! ❤️ no matter what month your winter season falls in. It has Differentiated levelled activities across a range of curriculums and key learning areas. Click here to find out more about Winter Bulletin Boards By incorporating daily warm-ups into your special education class, you can help students stay engaged, motivated, and focused during the winter season. Remember to keep things fun and interactive to ensure that students enjoy the activities and stay engaged. 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!
Special Education Valentine’s Day Life Skills Ideas!
Hey there, teacher friends! Roses are red, Violets are blue. In my Special Education class, what should I do? ❤️ Love is in the air, and Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. However many of us as teachers are faced with… what in the roses am I going to do in my classroom this Valentine’s Day? How can I make it extra special yet cater to my students specifically? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Let’s think of it this way: It’s the perfect time to show your special ed students how much you care and provide them with a fun-filled day of love, creativity, and learning. In this blog post, we’re sharing 6 Valentine’s Day ideas that will not only engage your students but also help them develop their sensory, social, creative, and cognitive skills. Get ready to spread the love and make this Valentine’s Day unforgettable for your students! 1. Social Skills activities Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to work on those social skills! How about having your students practice giving compliments in class when passing out equipment. Or showing gratitude by completing a gratitude jar with post-it notes. You could express appreciation by making cards for their classmates and turning it into a social skills/literacy lesson. This will help them learn how to show love and appreciation, and work on those writing skills. It’s a great way to celebrate Valentine’s Day and build positive relationships in your classroom! Click HERE to grab the FREE Valentine’s Day Gratitude Jar 2. Story Time I won’t lie, our special education classes still love an illustrated book! Why not make Valentine’s Day extra special by getting some Valentine’s Day-themed stories from the library and having your students read them? Ask your librarian to help you choose books that focus on themes like kindness, friendship, and love. You could add comprehension questions or activities that go along with the story to make it more engaging and exciting for your students! Our top three favorite books to read together as a class are “I Need a Hug” by Aaron Blabey, “The Invisible String” by Patrice Karst, and “Romeo and Juliet” by Sweet Cherry Easy Reading Publishing. These books not only teach important values but also provide a fun and engaging way to practice reading and comprehension skills! So why not make Valentine’s Day a special reading day and share some love through the magic of books! 3. Art Projects Valentine’s Day provides a great theme for art projects! Why not try doing a gratidoodle drawing page, in which students can fill out each day of the month for February with a simple drawing expressing why they are grateful today? It’s a fun and engaging way for students to practise gratitude and develop their artistic skills! Another great idea is to make kindness rocks! With painted messages of kindness and love, you and your class can hide them around the local community gardens or your school. It’s a fantastic way to spread positivity and kindness, while also getting outside and exploring your surroundings! Both of these projects are sure to engage your students and help them learn important values such as gratitude and kindness. Give them a try and see the positive impact it can have on your classroom and community! 4. Colour by Code Want to make Valentine’s Day even more exciting for your students while also reinforcing their numeracy skills. Why not try our color by code – Valentine’s Day Unit? This unit is filled with 10 differentiated sets of illustrations that use rounding up money skills. It’s a fun and engaging way to celebrate the holiday while still focusing on those important life skills. Your students will love the challenge of figuring out the codes while also creating beautiful Valentine’s Day-themed artwork! And the best part? This activity is flexible and can be easily adapted to fit the needs of your students, making it perfect for any classroom setting. Click here fro link for colour by code – Valentine’s Day Task 5. Maths Centres Want to add some excitement to your maths lessons this Valentine’s Day? Why not set up a maths centre where your students can practise counting and sorting heart-shaped candies or other Valentine’s Day-themed objects? This hands-on activity is not only fun but also provides a great opportunity for your students to practice their numeracy skills. And why stop there? You can also create a graphing activity where your students can count and categorise Valentine’s Day items and then graph their findings. This is a great way to reinforce their data collection and analysis skills while also getting into the holiday spirit! 6. Life Skills Routines Get your class excited and ready to celebrate Valentine’s Day with our morning warm-up bundle! This fun and friendly activity will help your students develop key developmental skills such as ⏰ time management, calendar writing, life skills, numeracy, literacy skills, and social-emotional check-ins. Plus, it’s available in two differentiated levels, so you can easily meet the needs of your diverse learners. Start your day off on the right foot with this engaging and interactive Valentine’s Day warm-up! We hope these Valentine’s Day ideas for special ed students have got your heart pumping and inspired to give your students an unforgettable Valentine’s Day. ❤️ Don’t forget to spread the love, have some fun, and show those kids how much they mean to you! Come and Join us next time when we talk all about “Tailoring your Morning Routine in Special Education” 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. And remember, You put the special in Special Education!
Supporting independence
Hey there, teacher friends! If you’re a teacher working with students on the Autism Spectrum, you know that every child is unique and requires special attention to help them succeed in the classroom. One way to support your students is by promoting their independence. When students feel confident and capable of completing tasks on their own, they are more likely to engage with the material and develop important skills that will benefit them throughout their lives. In this post, we’re going to share with you some exciting strategies and tools that can help your ASD students thrive in the classroom. So, let’s dive in and discover how you can help your ASD students thrive! Offer choices and opportunities for self-direction Giving students with ASD choices and opportunities for self-direction can help them feel more in control and engaged in their learning. You could offer choices for assignments, such as letting them choose between two or three different projects, or letting them choose the order in which they complete tasks. Encourage them to take ownership of their learning by setting goals and tracking their own progress. Use visual schedules and cues Visual schedules and cues can be very helpful for students with ASD, who may struggle with transitions and changes in routine. Create a visual schedule that outlines the daily schedule and the tasks that need to be completed, using pictures, symbols, or written words depending on the student’s preference. 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. Menu Maths If you’re looking for a resource to promote independence in maths, check out Menu Maths. This resource offers a fun and engaging way for students to practise maths skills independently. Menu Maths provides students with a menu of maths problems to choose from, allowing them to select problems at their own level and pace. Students can work on Menu Maths independently or in pairs, and teachers can use it as a supplement to their regular maths curriculum. Click here for Menu Maths resources Interest-Based Learning Positive reinforcement and interest-based learning can help your students stay motivated and engaged. Acknowledge their hard work and achievements with specific, sincere praise, and reward good behaviour and progress with incentives that they care about. Incorporate their interests into the curriculum to make the material more relevant and engaging for them. Foster a Growth Mindset Fostering a growth mindset can help your students develop resilience, perseverance, and a positive attitude towards learning. Encourage your students to view mistakes and setbacks as opportunities for learning and growth. Use language that emphasises effort and progress over innate ability, and provide opportunities for your students to reflect on their learning and set goals for improvement. When supporting independence in an ASD classroom it requires patience, understanding, and the right strategies and resources. By providing some clear instructions, using visual aids, offering choices, and using positive reinforcement, you can help your students become more independent and successful life-long learners. 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.
St. Patricks Day in the Classroom
Hey there, teacher friends! As St. Patrick’s Day approaches, teachers everywhere are looking for engaging activities to celebrate the holiday in their classrooms. With its rich history and traditions, St. Patrick’s Day offers a wealth of opportunities for students to learn and have fun at the same time. In this blog post, we’ll share some of the best St. Patrick’s Day activities for the classroom, suitable for students of all ages and abilities. So, grab a shamrock shake and let’s get started with these fun and educational St. Patrick’s Day activities! Color By Code A “Color by Code” activity is a fun and engaging way for students to learn about St. Patrick’s Day while also practising their coding and colour recognition skills. In this activity, students are given a picture or design that is divided into sections, each with a code (money amount)l that represents a specific colour. The students then use the key to determine the next dollar up in money value – to which colors to use for each section, and colour the picture accordingly. It’s a great St. Patrick’s Day activity and is differentiated for all learners. Click here for St. Patricks Day Color by code resource Menu Maths ☘️ Menu Maths” is a fun and educational way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day and promote maths skills in the classroom. It encourages students to use real-world examples and apply their maths knowledge to practical situations, helping them to develop their problem-solving and critical thinking abilities. This activity can be used to reinforce a variety of maths skills of addition, while also incorporating elements of Irish culture. It can be used as an individual or group activity, and can also be customised to different learning styles and preferences. Click here for St. Patricks Day Menu Maths resource Morning Warm Ups ☀️ The St. Patrick’s Day morning warm ups are a must for any Special Education classroom! This special Saint Patrick’s Day edition of the Life Skill Daily Morning Work is full of Daily Emotional Leprechaun check ins for students and Differentiated activities across a range of curriculums and key learning areas. Super Easy No prep, great for the busy Special Education Teacher ❤️ Each Warm Up page comes with St. Patrick’s Day Based: ✅Emotional Emoji Check in ✅Weekly traceable days ✅Calendar skills ✅Life Skills ✅Telling Time ✅Community Signs ✅Maths Skills ✅Literacy Skills ✅Daily Vocab words ✅World Culture ✅Binder Cover ✅Student Monitoring Page ✅Monthly Title Page ✅Completion Certificate Click here for St. Patricks Day Morning Warm Up resources Task Cards Task cards are a versatile and engaging teaching tool that can be used to promote active learning and student-centred instruction. The Life Skill and Vocational Saint Patrick’s Day – Next Dollar Up Task Cards are full of Differentiated activities (120+ Cards). Including student progress and IEP/ ILP prewritten goals, and answer pages for teachers! Also including numbered cards, Designed box covers, SMART Goals and Special Education Data tracking for students Click here for St. Patricks Day Task Card resource ❤️ 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 St. Patrick’s Day resources to use 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! And remember, You put the special in Special Education! 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.
6 Easter Ideas in the classroom!
Hey there, teacher friends! Easter is a fun and meaningful holiday that can be celebrated in special education classrooms in a variety of ways. In today’s egg-citing blog post, let’s hop into six simple ways you can celebrate Easter with your students. So grab your bunny ears and let’s get cracking! Easter Egg Hunt An Easter egg hunt is a classic way to celebrate the holiday! You can adapt the activity to meet the needs of your students by hiding eggs with different textures or sounds, or by placing visual clues around the classroom to help students find the eggs. Easter Crafts Arts and crafts activities are always popular with students. You can create Easter-themed crafts like Easter baskets, bunny masks, or colourful eggs with different materials like construction paper, paint, or even sensory materials like rice or sand. How about making your own watercolour surprise eggs. Simply grab a white crayon design for your egg and then paint the hidden marks using watercolour paints! Super simple. Easter Story Time Reading books about the Easter story can help students understand the meaning behind the holiday. You can choose books with simple language and bright illustrations to engage your students and spark discussions about the story. Our favourites in our classroom are: The Bin chicken’s excellent easter by Ronojoy Ghosh Bad Bunny by Johnathan Bently and The classic tales of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter Easter Sensory Bins Sensory bins are a great way to engage students in hands-on learning. You can create a sensory bin with Easter-themed items like plastic eggs, bunny ears, and Easter grass, and encourage students to explore the materials with their senses. Easter Cooking Cooking is a fun way to celebrate any holiday, and Easter is no exception. You can make Easter-themed snacks like bunny-shaped cookies, egg decorated cupcakes or carrot cake, or involve students in the process of dyeing Easter eggs. Morning Life Skills Easter Warm Ups Lastly, if you’re looking for a comprehensive Easter resource for your special education class, check out My Morning Life Skills Easter Resource. This resource includes activities and worksheets that cover a range of skills, such as reading comprehension, social skills, and life skills. It’s designed to help students develop essential skills while having fun and learning about the holiday. Click here for Easter Warm Up Activities 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 ways to celebrate Easter in your 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! 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 recently went to an Autism Workshop Day and I was really intrigued. I found myself opposed to …
