It’s very easy to become overwhelmed when new special educaiton teachers get their first classroom. There are so many moving parts in special education programs that it can feel like nailing jello to the wall! Here are 5 tips that every new special education teacher can use and apply right away.
Overplanning Is An Easy Classroom Management Strategy
Students in special education classes often struggle wtih using their free time well. This means that downtime in the classroom is your enemy! When students aren’t engaged in learning, behviors will increase. Once behaviors begin to rise, it takes more time and effort to get the class back under control.
That’s where overplanning comes in…. it allows you to give up on a lesson that isn’t going well. Every teacher has experienced a lesson bombing. There’s no shame in ditching it! But… you need to have something to do instead. Remember, students don’t handle downtime well. When you overplan, you will always have a lesson or two prepped and ready to go.
New special education teachers often don’t have the experience to properly estimate how long a lesson will take. It’s common to suddenly be done and have 15 extra minutes left. Again, this is where your overplanning comes to the rescue. Just grab one of the lessons you planned and prepped.
Timers Are New Special Education Teachers Best Friend
Special education students thrive on structure and consistent routines. As a new teacher, you will struggle with keeping on schedule… especially during the first 2 months of the school year. There will be a million interruptions, last minute changes, students and staff to get to know, etc.
Your mind will be very busy, so take sticking to a schedule off your plate by using timers. Here are just a few things you can use a timer for:
- A two minute warning that the activity or lesson is almost over.
- Set a timer for when earn time, so it doesn’t go too long and get you off schedule.
- Use a timer as a bell during centers so students know when to switch center activities.
Timers are helpful for you and the students! One of my favorite classroom timers is from Time Timer.
Prioritize Building Relationships With Students
While data collection, assessments, theme units, etc. are important, building relationships with your students should be a top priority in special education. Students need to have this bond or relationship in order to:
- Take risks and try something new or challenging
- Establish instructional control
- Trust you when they are dysregulated, struggling to cope, and acting out
Building relationships with your special education students is an essential component of classroom and behavior management.
Classroom Set-Up In Special Education
New special education teachers often make a critical mistake in their classroom set-up. It’s easy to want your classroom to be cute or “Pinterest perfect.” Instead, focus on setting up your classroom to limit distractions and decrease behaviors. There are things we can do to the classroom environment to make it EASIER for them to attend, self-regulate and learn.
For example:
- Arranging your furniture to create boundaries between areas and centers helps students focus better because they can’t see or hear the other students.
- Position tables so when students are facing their teacher, their backs are to what’s going on in the rest of the room.
- Reduce visible busyness and distractions by using solid color storage bins and coverings.
Read more set up tips: Tips For Designing An Effective Classroom
Establish Routines That Emphasize Independence
Spending extra time in the beginning of the school year on establishing and teaching routines will pay off big time for you in just a few months. Essentially, you want to set up your special education classroom as if you won’t be there!
When you are the only person to have all of the information, you are needed to be in the room and available at all times. I don’t know about you, but there is no way I could be available to answer every question from my paras, therapists, students, administration and anyone else that wanders into my classroom…oh, yeah & teach! I wouldn’t be able to get anything done!
Instead, prioritize teaching students and paras how to be independent through your routines and systems. I have a FREE packet to help you create systems that will lead to independence that you can grab.
Being a new special education teacher is tough, and it’s totally normal to feel like you’re failing, falling short, or that you just can’t hack it. Every teacher, whether they’re new or seasoned, has those moments of doubt. But I’m here to tell you, those feelings aren’t the real story of the amazing impact you’re having.
What you’re doing every single day is making a huge difference. Seriously, think about it: you’re creating a space where students with all sorts of different needs & challenges can learn, grow, and really shine. You’re cheering on their small wins and helping them through the rough patches.
Even on the crappiest days, remember the little victories. Maybe a student finally got a concept they’d been wrestling with, or they did something new all on their own, or maybe they just felt safe and understood in your classroom. These moments are your impact, and they’re happening more often than you even realize.
Don’t forget, I’m here to help! You can schedule a free chat with me. I can help you narrow down what you are looking for, grab links for you, or create a plan to work together directly.
