EasyCBM

I love this site. You have to register for an account, but no worries, it’s free. Once you register, there’s a boatload of free assessments with graphing. I’m using this for school-wide assessment and progress monitoring. What’s more, it’s available for grades k-8. Check it out @ www.easyCBM.com!

I Don’t Have to Reinvent the Wheel!!!

Dear Readers,

I was going to reinvent the wheel, but you know what, I don’t have to. For my new position, I was going to put together a framework; piecemeal it actually. However, once I started I realized that, firstly, it was taking too long. Secondly, if I did it that way, it was going to be a little disjointed. Thirdly, and most importantly, someone else has already done it. Since that was the case, the only thing I needed to do was find the best one. Yeah, I found one I like- AimsWeb! It very comprehensive and exactly what I need. I’ll let you know how it works out.

Bye for now!

 

My New Position!

Dear Readers,

Just had to tell you about my new position. I am officially the new Inclusion Specialist at my school. I got a $10,000 raise by way of tuition payments.

So, what exactly is an Inclusion Specialist? Well, that’s the private school title for Resource Specialist. I am only responsible for the students with an I.E.P. As of today, that makes 7. Is that a nice position or what?

I will expound more and definitely post more when I start school next week. I need to train my replacement, so my position doesn’t officially start until September after I’ve had time to train her.

So, bye for now!

50 Best Blogs for Special Ed Teachers

***Taken directly from http://www.onlineuniversities.com***

50 Best Blogs for Special Ed Teachers (Updated)

by Staff Writers

While being a teacher is never easy, working with students in special education comes with some unique challenges. From writing lengthy IEPs to working closely with parents and other teachers, it takes a calm, collected, organized, confident, and very special person to work with students who often need a great deal more support and assistance than their peers to succeed. Yet even the best special education teachers can use a little guidance, inspiration, and information to help them to be even better at what they do. That’s just what the 50 blogs we’ve collected here can do. Read through this updated list (a revision of this list to reflect new blogs and to remove old, no-longer-updated sites) to find resources that will help you teach, learn, and grow right alongside your students.

Special Education Teaching Tips and Strategies

These blogs are written by teachers and educational professionals who share their ideas, tips, tools, and advice for working with special education students.

1. Reality 101:The Council for Exceptional Children maintains this blog along with the help of several special education teachers who share their experiences and advice.
2. About.com Special Education: Blogger and teacher Jerry Webster shares the basics of special education here, as well as some helpful insights from his own experiences in the classroom.
3. About.com Learning Disabilities: Through this blog you can learn more about a variety of learning disabilities and how you can help children with them excel.
4. Teachers at Risk: Teacher Elona Hartjes shares her insights, resources, and practical classroom advice here, an invaluable resource for any special education teacher.
5. Successful Teaching: This blog isn’t focused on special education, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be a great place for special ed teachers to find advice on all things education-related.
6. Special 2 Me: Check out this blog from a highly dedicated special education teacher (and for the present general education teacher) who is teaching in a high-crime, low-income school in L.A. ***Now an Inclusion Specialist @ a private school***
7. Special Education Strategies and More: Teachers and parents of children with special needs can find some helpful strategies for helping them grow academically, emotionally, and socially on this blog.
8. Teacher Sol: Exceptional Needs Specialist Maria Angala shares what’s going on in her class as well as updates on her battle to improve special education here.
9. Teaching Students with Learning Difficulties: Teachers and staff working with high schoolers in special education can find useful lessons, tips, and more on this great blog.
10. Life in Special Education: Head to this blog to see what special education teacher Karla Banks is doing in her elementary school classroom.