Boo Who?

I want to thank Brie for Booing me!  She has just started a special ed blog, so hop over and show her some love by following her very new blog.

Here are the rules for this linky:

1. Choose a fellow blogger that has MORE followers.

2. A blogger that has about the SAME number of followers .

3. Someone that has LESS followers.

4. Highlight their blogs with links to encourage others to check them out.
5. Don't forget to let your fellow bloggers know that you shared about them.

6. Lastly, leave them some love by offering them a goody from your store as their "treat."

Link up:

More followers:
Have you heard of Shuna at Pocket Full of Kinders?  If not, you need to head over to her blog asap.  Her blog is so entertaining and full of amazing freebies and wonderful ideas.  I love to read all of her posts.


Less followers:
I love Scips's blog.  Her blog is dedicated to teaching others to love math as much as she does.  She is also one of the most helpful teachers on the forum at TpT.  If you need math help, visit Scipi.

About the same followers: I recently found out that the kinder blog I've been following for months is actually written by a fellow Tennessean.  She works in the school where my husband teaches and where our daughters attend. Kerri's blog is full of freebies.  She always has wonderful ideas and teaching materials ready to share.  

I want to thank 2nd Grade Pad for starting this fun linky!  Head over to 2nd Grade Pad to link up and see all of the other amazing blogs!

Trick or Treat?  Treat of course!  Who doesn't like a freebie?  I've created several free banners.  Head down one post and pick up all three freebies!  Happy Halloween!

What do you teach? Linky Party

I absolutely LOVE the students I have the privilege of teaching. I believe that all children are capable of learning and growing into productive members of society.  In my class, as in every special education class that I know about, the children MUST be explicitly taught skills that other children learn naturally.  I thought it would be interesting for all of us "special" teachers to make a list of skills we teach on a daily basis that will never be on any standardized test, but are essential for our kids to grow.  (General ed teachers, you are welcome to participate as well!)  I have many good friends who are general education teachers, but many of them truly do not understand what goes on in my class on a daily basis.

Here's my list:

1. how to tie shoes (all students up through 5th grade)
2. how to walk up and/or down steps so you don't fall/trip/step on the person in front of you
3. how to walk in a line
4. how to use the bathroom independently
5. how to shower/bathe at home so the other kids do not harass them because of body odor
6. when it is appropriate to scratch/adjust your underclothes
7. how to brush your teeth
8. how to ask for help
9. look at the person who is talking to you
10. how to make friends
11. how to have an appropriate conversation with peers/adults
12. how to blow your nose
13. how to move through the building and find where you are going
14. following directions
15. how to wait for your turn
16. how to handle frustration
17. how to handle disappointing situations
18. how to handle changes in schedule
19. what is appropriate behavior in special programs/field trips 
20. how to maintain appropriate behavior when mad/sad/happy/excited
21. how to handle new situations
22. how to deal with people in costumes and other super scary people
23. how to handle fire drills/tornado drills/ and any other unexpected drill 
24. how to stay with the group during a field trip
25. what to do when you get lost on a field trip 
26. what to do when you get lost in the school building
27. how to let others know they are annoying you in an appropriate manner
28. what clothing is appropriate for the weather 
29. what clothing is appropriate for your age/body/gender
30. what to do in an emergency at home/school/in public places
31. how to call 911 and when it's appropriate
32. how to pay attention to what is going on around you
33. look in front of you when you are walking so you don't run into doors/walls/people
34. table manners
35. fine motor skills
36. gross motor skills
37. using logic and reason to figure out common problems
38. understanding that other people have feelings
39. understanding other people's perspective
40. why we have to keep working when everything is so hard
41. 
    

get the InLinkz code

Blog Mixer Linky Party

Oh the Places You'll Go with the blogs you know!  Yearn to Learn is having a seek and find Blog Mixer Linky party. Let's have some fun spotlighting each other.

In your link up find the following:

1.  A blogger who is a "New Kid on the Blog"
(Let's say someone who has blogged 2 months or less and has less than 200 followers)

2.  Post a blogger in your same grade level

3.  Post a blogger in a different grade level

4.  It's all about the button. Find a cute blog button and post it.


Here's my list:


1.  New Kid Blogger is Teacher Tam's Educational Adventures.  She just started her blog this week.  Hop over and check it out!

2.  A Special Kind of Class is also a special education teacher.  She teaches students with severe physical and/or speech disabilities. 

3.  I love From the Pond's blog. It is full of ideas to use in your classroom.  She also posts tons to teaching materials to share with other teachers.
  


4.  There are so many creative teachers out there who have designed their own buttons.  It was really hard to pick just one!  The cutest button goes to Extra Special Teaching.  (I had to pick another special ed teacher.  There aren't many of us out there!)  I do love the bright colors and the puzzle piece.  It seems like we are always picking up the pieces and putting them back together in special ed.

Why is TPT so great? Linky Party!

I thought it would be fun to have a linky party to explain to anyone who isn't familiar with Teachers Pay Teachers why it is such a great resource for teachers.  Check it out and link up!
What I love about TpT!
1.  Free Stuff!  Who doesn't love free teaching materials?  The teaching materials on TpT are amazing.  They are created by teachers who are actually still teaching.  Their products are kid tested in their own classrooms.  They know what works and what doesn't.  There are thousands of free resources.

2.  The Seller's Forum is wonderful!  It is a place for teachers to communicate with each other.  I have talked to teachers all over the world!  It's wonderful to see how teachers teach all over the world and across the country.

3.  Community!  TpT is like a community.  The teachers help and support each other.  They offer advice on all sorts of topics including how to make each other's products better.  They download other people's products and leave feedback for them.  They offer kind words and advice.

4.  Teaching Tips.  I have learned so much about best practices and other successful teaching strategies.  Teachers are more than willing to help each other on any topic imaginable.  I have found so many wonderful resources on TpT that have helped me in my classroom.

5.  A great way to make some extra money!  It's easy and it's free.  It's a great way to supplement your income without taking you away from your family.  You use what you have already created in your classroom, spruce it up a bit more than you usually would and it is ready to sell!

So you're next.  What do you like about TpT?