March 10th is Super Mario Day, for the only reason that when you spell MARIO it really looks like MAR 10, as in March 10th. For this reason, I decided to go with a Super Mario room transformation for a school-wide event that was planned exactly on March 10th. However, at the beginning of the […]
Superheroes
This special day in September 2021 arrived during a challenging period marked by global classroom restrictions. Given the constant stream of negative directives I was compelled to enforce daily—from ‘Don’t touch’ to ‘Don’t share’ and ‘Maintain distance’—it was clear that both my students and I needed a deliberate injection of joy. I firmly believe it […]
#BLM
Never, in a million years, could have I imagined that I would cry while writing a social story! And yet it happened this week… In the light of the recent events, I’ve been having a lot of conversations with my kids about what is happening around us, and we’ve been commenting on the images that […]
I Can Only Share Three Times!
“I Can Only Share Three Times” social story addresses the issue of children perseverating on a topic by explaining the “three times rule.” It teaches children that people around them may feel upset or overwhelmed if they have to listen to the same topic over and over again. Kids also learn that they are allowed […]
My Actions Have Consequences
Teaching kids that their actions have consequences fosters good decision-making, responsibility, and empathy. Understanding both positive and negative outcomes encourages learning from mistakes, boosts self-esteem, and prepares them for real-world challenges. This knowledge ultimately helps children develop resilience and build meaningful relationships while promoting personal growth and accountability.
Camping
Last year, just before the close of the school year, I discovered a photograph on Instagram that immediately sparked inspiration for my own classroom. The entire space had been ingeniously transformed into a vibrant campsite, featuring numerous colorful tents. The brilliance lay in the execution: using inexpensive plastic tablecloths draped over desks to simulate tents. […]
Surgery
Valentine’s Day With A Twist Many educators, myself included, do not instinctively identify as traditionally ‘creative.’ Yet, I constantly remind myself that effective teaching creativity does not demand the genius of a Picasso or a Mozart; rather, it manifests in practical, iterative forms. For example, my strength lies in synthesis: I am proficient at taking […]
Hogwarts Day
Last November, the entire school was transformed into Hogwarts for a Day! This truly magical adventure was a collective endeavor embraced by the entire school community. Teachers, parent volunteers, the principal, secretaries, custodians, and, most importantly, the students, all came together to celebrate our community and enjoy being transported into an imaginary world. The project […]
Can We Retrieve The Kragel?
October was Master Builders’ time to shine! Legos are a favorite of many students and so is The Lego Movie. Therefor, it was relatively easy to come up with the plot for this activity. As always, a letter went home to the parents and an invitation was given to the students the day before, to […]
Turn Taking Skills in Play
Taking turns can be difficult for young children and extremely difficult for children with special needs. There are a lot of instances in which children need to wait for their turn, whether it is in a conversation, in playing a game, or when requesting someone’s attention. Turn taking is one of the most important social […]