Author name: middleschoolinthemitten

A Guide to IEP Goal Progress Monitoring: What Special Education Teachers Need to Know!

I have to be honest – the concept of IEP progress monitoring was something I was very unprepared for as a first-year resource room teacher. Creating ways to gather data, organizing systems to track data, writing progress monitoring reports, sharing progress with parents – on top of everything else I was already buried with? I […]

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Building a Strong Team: Tips for Setting Your Teacher Assistants Up for Success

As a special education teacher, having a teacher assistant can be a lifesaver! Maybe your school calls them paraprofessionals, teacher aides, instructional assistants, or something else! At my current school, every teacher has a designated teacher assistant – I know, I am SO lucky! My previous school only had a few Instructional Assistants who were

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Engaging Resources & Strategies to Make Fractions Stick in Your Classroom

In my opinion, fractions are the hardest concept for elementary and middle school students to truly understand – and many students agree with me! Each year, I have middle schoolers who can’t tell me what a numerator really means or try to add or subtract denominators within a problem, so fraction review is something I

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Resuming the Classroom Routine: Essential Activities for an Easy Return After Winter Break

Returning from Winter Break can feel almost more difficult than the beginning of the school year. In August, you feel rested from the summer off and excited to meet your new students. In January, after the holidays, this excitement may have dwindled and to be honest, you are probably in need of another week off!

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Add a Dash of Holiday Spirit to Your Math Class: Easy Tips & Effortless Ideas

As soon as the first snowflake falls here in Michigan, my students are thinking about winter break. This makes it really hard to hold their concentration and motivate them to do their best on school work for weeks in December! I’m sure my class is not the only one that feels like we are hanging

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An Attitude of Gratitude: 3 Quick & Easy Classroom Activities for Thankfulness

Thanksgiving is a great time of year to focus on class routines around thankfulness, but that doesn’t mean it is the only time to practice showing appreciation! Incorporating academic activities that focus on thankfulness throughout the year can help students develop a sense of gratitude and encourage positive attitudes and appreciation. Plus, they can be

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IEP Goal Writing Made Easy: Tips & Tricks for Educators

A quick little disclaimer: The following information is what I have personally learned through 8 years of teaching special education in Michigan. It should be used for inspirational and entertainment purposes only. Check with the special education department leaders in your school district with specific questions regarding your students’ IEPs and special education needs.  Over

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Unlocking the Joy of Reading: Proven Strategies for Teachers & Parents to Cultivate a Reading Habit in Reluctant Readers

Reluctant readers, unmotivated readers, whatever you call them, parents and teachers alike are running out of ideas to help increase reading scores around the country for students that just will not pick up a book to read. Students have so many other preferred activities, like video games or scrolling TikTok, that reading falls by the

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