175. 5 Tips for a Successful Start Teaching Special Needs Students

Autism Classroom Resources Podcast: A Podcast for Special Educators

What can you do in the first few weeks of school to help create a more smoothly operating classroom for teaching special needs students? I often talk about the importance of putting strategies and systems in place in order to ensure your classroom runs efficiently and implementing some very basic strategies in the first weeks of school can help set you, your staff, and your students up for success.

The first few weeks of school are crucial for getting students used to your classroom and how things work. In this episode, I am sharing why you should be focusing on building relationships with students and staff, the importance of using visuals, how to prioritize tasks for each day, and why you should be reflecting at the end of the school day.

03:41 - How to build relationships with your students in the first few weeks of school

08:50 - Ways you can build relationships with your staff even with limited time alone with them

10:36 - Why you should be using more visuals than you actually need

12:08 - The importance of making a prioritized list of tasks for each day

16:12 - Why reflecting on what is working and what is not working is crucial in the first few weeks

Show Notes: http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode175

Resources:

• Paraprofessional Schedules and Team Building Kit
• Free Classroom Reflection Form
• Join the Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library
• Get more information about the Special Educator Academy
• Join the Free Facebook Group