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How do we advance independent work systems once our students know how to complete it on their own? The goal of independent work systems is to help students build independence. In order to help our students learn to work independently, it is crucial that we know how to adjust the work system when necessary to bump up the level of independence needed to complete it. Using independent work systems isn’t meant to be just a way to get students to complete tasks independently within the system. We want students to increase their ability to work independently so they can be more independent in other situations in the classroom, as well as in a work environment as they get older. In this episode, I’m sharing 5 ways that we can change our independent work systems to fit our more independent students and to build their skills as they become more independent.  03:49 - How moving the task boxes away from our students’ tables helps develop independence 07:16 - Why we may want to start leaving materials out of the system 08:43 - How using a “raise your hand” visual can be helpful for students who have a tendency to not do their work carefully 09:21 - Ideas for how to help students become more independent in the work system using lists 09:53 - How to expand the work system and move beyond boxes to help students use them in different environments Show Notes: http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode204 Resources: Check out my TpT store for Independent Work ResourcesWatch the Independent Work Systems WebinarUsing Foldables in Structured Work Systems: Advanced Tasks with a Seasonal FreebieWorkbasket Wednesday: Advanced Structured Work SystemsWhy I Don’t Like Drawer Carts for Independent Work SystemsGet My Book: Building Independence: How to Create and Use Structured Work Systems - Future Horizons Publishers Shop my Book: Building Independence: How to Create and Use Structured Work Systems on Amazon (Affiliate Link) Join the Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library Get more information about the Special Educator AcademyJoin the Free Facebook Group If you're...

We know the goal of independent work systems is to help students build independence. Both the way these work systems are set up and the strategies we use within them are key to helping our students build independence. It is important that we use effective, evidence-based practices within these independent work systems. When teaching students how to work independently, we must provide the appropriate amount of support to help guide the student toward independence. In this episode, I walk you through 5 strategies for teaching and supporting the systems in your classroom. We’ll discuss the importance of nonverbal prompting, waiting students out, how to get students back on track, why you should fade out your presence, and when to provide reinforcement. 04:49 - Why you should only use nonverbal prompts during independent work 08:20 - Tips to help wait the student out to build independence and initiation 11:23 - An effective way to use a nonverbal prompt to get students back on track 12:17 - The importance of fading out your presence  13:14 - Why you should only be providing reinforcement once all their work is completed Show Notes: http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode203 Resources: Check out my TpT store for Independent Work ResourcesWatch the Independent Work Systems WebinarWhat are Prompts? 5 Main Types of Prompts in a Free InfographicGet My Book: Building Independence: How to Create and Use Structured Work Systems - Future Horizons Publishers Shop my Book: Building Independence: How to Create and Use Structured Work Systems on Amazon (Affiliate Link)Join the Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library Get more information about the Special Educator AcademyJoin the Free Facebook Group If you're enjoying this podcast, could you please take a quick moment to leave your review on Apple Podcasts? It would mean the world to me and will help spread the word to other special educators. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Task box activities are great for practicing independence and maintaining previously mastered skills. But how can we ensure our task boxes are set up to teach independence effectively? Not all task box activities are created equally - some might be great activities but would not work well in an independent work system. There are 5 key characteristics that task box activities must have if they are being used in an independent work system. Ensuring your task boxes meet all 5 of these characteristics sets your students up for success and allows them to truly practice working on their independence. In this episode, I am sharing why your tasks must be mastered, the need for a clear beginning and end, excluding extra pieces, why task components must be organized, and why tasks should remain assembled. 03:00 - Why tasks in independent work systems must be previously mastered 08:07 - The importance of tasks having a clear beginning and end 09:07 - Why including extra pieces in task boxes can cause confusion 10:21 - How organizing materials can be helpful for students completing task box activities 11:56 - Why students should leave a completed task intact when they turn it in Show Notes: http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode202 Resources: Check out my TpT store for Independent Work ResourcesWatch the Independent Work Systems WebinarTable Tasks: Increase Engagement at Waiting TimesFree Sock Sorting Work TaskPlastic Egg Put-In Task: Independent Work InspirationWatch #TaskBinTuesday Quick Tip Cupcake Edition YouTubeGet My Book: Building Independence: How to Create and Use Structured Work Systems - Future Horizons PublishersShop my Book: Building Independence: How to Create and Use Structured Work Systems on Amazon (Affiliate Link)Join the Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library Get more information about the Special Educator AcademyJoin the Free Facebook Group If you're enjoying this podcast, could you please take a quick moment to a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/autism-classroom-resources-podcast-a-podcast-for/id1478129934" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

Setting up independent task box work systems can seem overwhelming if you don’t know where to begin or are unsure what systems to put in place to make them effective. However, once you have them implemented into your classroom, they can be incredibly beneficial for increasing independent work skills for your students. But how can you get started without wasting time trying to figure out an effective system? You don’t need to start implementing an independent task box work system in your classroom from scratch. I have found ways to make it easier and more effective for both you and your students, and in today’s episode, I am breaking down the materials needed for a task box work system, how to organize task boxes, and how to start implementing them in a way that sets you and your students up for success. 03:09 - What materials you need to create an independent work system 12:20 - How to determine how many workstations you need and where they will be set up 14:43 - How to use visual schedules effectively to promote independent work skills 17:19 - Tips for putting your baskets together and starting to implement the work systems with students Show Notes: http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode201 Resources: Check out my TpT store for Independent Work ResourcesWatch the Independent Work Systems WebinarHow to Start Independent Work Systems Successfully in Your Classroom10 Steps to Setting Up Independent Work Stations for AutismIndependent Work Task Box System - Starter Kit for Secondary Special EducationIndependent Work System Task Box Starter Kit for Preschool - ElementaryWatch my YouTube video of a Put-In TaskCheck out the Task Bin Tuesday Videos on YouTubeGet My Book: Building Independence: How to Create and Use Structured Work Systems - Future Horizons PublishersShop my Book: Building Independence: How to Create and Use Structured Work Systems on Amazon (Affiliate Link)Join the Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library a href="https://academy.autismclassroomresources.com/sea-join-2?utm_source=anchor&utm_medium=podcast-show-notes&utm_term=power-of-tip&utm_content=&utm_campaign=membership" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

I cannot believe we are 200 episodes into the Autism Classroom Resources podcast. I am so grateful to each and every one of you for tuning in! We have covered so many topics in the first 200 episodes, from challenging behavior to visual schedules to addressing systemic racism in special education. I am so glad that you have been able to gain valuable insight and tips from my autism classroom podcast! In order to celebrate 200 episodes and reflect back on what we've done so far, I am sharing the top 10 downloaded episodes from the podcast. In this episode, I am sharing the most loved episodes, an overview of what was covered, and the common themes between these top episodes. 03:53 - Where to find more information on preventing downtime in your classroom  06:49 - Which episode to tune into to find 9 tips to think about when writing IEP goals 09:58 - The 3 strategies to boost classroom management and where to hear more about these strategies 14:40 - What perseveration is and which episode discusses it in more detail 16:01 - The number 1 most downloaded episode of the Autism Classroom Resources podcast Show Notes: http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode200 Resources: Watch the Free WebinarsCheck out the ACR Top 10 Episodes PlaylistJoin the Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library Get more information about the Special Educator AcademyJoin the Free Facebook Group If you're enjoying this podcast, could you please take a quick moment to leave your review on Apple Podcasts? It would mean the world to me and will help spread the word to other special educators. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Parent-teacher relationships can be complicated and challenging on both sides. One of the most important things to keep in mind in order to have successful and respectful parent-teacher relationships is that judgment and blame are only going to do more harm than good and will not be beneficial to the student. That is why understanding different perspectives is crucial to a respectful parent-teacher relationship. There is no doubt that many people act differently based on their setting and the expectations of that setting. Our students are no different. There are different resources, expectations, and characteristics at home versus at school and because of this, our students may behave differently in each setting. In this episode, I am diving into why this is so important to keep in mind, how to communicate with parents about these differences in behavior, and why it is unproductive to place blame on families. 00:50 - A real-life story about how an autism professional’s son behaves differently around her than when he is around his teachers 04:53 - How the characteristics and expectations at school and at home can vary greatly resulting in different behavior 07:55- Why, as an educator, it’s important to not allow yourself to blame parents for their child’s behavior at school 08:40 - Why fixing the setting and utilizing strategies to match with students’ skills can help get different skills and behaviors within the classroom  13:16 - My message to you about parent-teacher relationships Show Notes: http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode199 Resources: Check out the Home Communication Systems on TPTGrab your Free Parent Communication NoteListen to my Working With Families Episode Roundup PlaylistJoin the Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library Get more information about the Special Educator AcademyJoin the Free Facebook Group If you're enjoying this podcast, could you please take a quick moment to leave your review on Apple Podcasts? It would mean the world to me and will help spread the word to other special educators. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Independent work systems can be very helpful in helping students learn how to complete a series of tasks on their own, without assistance. However, some of our students may not be ready to work through a fully independent work system right away. We know that not all of our students come to us with independent work skills. So what can we do to help those students develop these skills? Some of our students are not yet able to complete tasks independently, and therefore, we do not have tasks to put into their systems. In this episode, I am breaking down how we can help our students develop this independence and ways we can set up their systems to help them become more independent at various tasks inside an independent work system. 04:21 - What an independent work system is 05:19 - The characteristics that make up independent work systems 08:42 - What types of tasks to start with if a student does not yet have independent work skills 09:46 - How to modify the tasks to help students become more independent 13:31 - Insight into schedules for independent work systems Show Notes: http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode198 Resources: Check out the Free Independent Work webinarWatch the Task Bin Videos on my Task Bin YouTube PlaylistRead the Independent Work Inspiration Blog PostsIndependent Work Resources on TpTJoin the Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource LibraryGet more information about the Special Educator AcademyJoin the Free Facebook Group If you're enjoying this podcast, could you please take a quick moment to leave your review on Apple Podcasts? It would mean the world to me and will help spread the word to other special educators. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) can be incredibly beneficial for helping our students with autism to communicate. Often, the term PECS is misused to talk about using pictures as a form of communication. However, PECS is actually a system that has specific phases that help in expanding the functions of our students' communication. We want students to be able to communicate in an effective way, and I truly love PECS for encouraging our students to communicate. In this episode, I am clearing up some misconceptions about PECS, sharing ten reasons that I love PECS, and encouraging special educators to use it with their students. 01:20 - The truth behind a common misunderstanding about the Picture Exchange Communication System 02:52 - What PECS actually is and how it encourages speech 07:58 - How PECS encourages initiating communication 11:30 - The benefit of using pictures within PECS to communicate 13:05 - How the Picture Exchange Communication System builds on students' strengths Show Notes: http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode197 Resources: Check out the PECS WebsitePECS Training ManualShop the Augmentative Communication Boards on TpTJoin the Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library Get more information about the Special Educator AcademyJoin the Free Facebook Group If you're enjoying this podcast, could you please take a quick moment to leave your review on Apple Podcasts? It would mean the world to me and will help spread the word to other special educators. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This year especially, I have noticed that many special educators are struggling to remember why we do this job. This is a challenging job as it is and adding in staffing shortages, increased work requirements, and additional factors can make it even harder. That is why I feel it is important to find ways to help us all find the joy in teaching again. Remembering why we do what we do and why we became special educators in the first place isn’t always easy. I have found one way that has been incredibly helpful for me to remember what brings me joy in teaching. This episode is from the private podcast inside the Special Educator Academy, where I am sharing how to use a joy file to help us remember the things that have brought us joy in our jobs so we can continue to do the work we do. 06:19 - How mantras can help us focus on what’s important 06:48 - What a joy file is and what it contains 08:49 - Ideas for how to store your joy file 09:20 - Why you should be looking at your joy file regularly Show Notes: http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode196 Resources: Join the Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library Get more information about the Special Educator AcademyJoin the Free Facebook Group If you're enjoying this podcast, could you please take a quick moment to leave your review on Apple Podcasts? It would mean the world to me and will help spread the word to other special educators. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

As most of us are entering winter break, it is the perfect time for a little teacher self-care reminder. We hear a lot about self-care and coping skills for teachers, but as teachers, we often think that if we take a break, we will fall behind. The truth is that taking breaks actually makes you a better special education teacher! In this episode, I am giving you a sneak peek at an episode from the private podcast inside the Special Educator Academy. I am sharing five reasons you should be taking a break (without feeling guilty!) over winter break. I’d love to hear why you’re taking a break. Send me a DM on Instagram @autismclassroomresources, and let me know how you are recharging over winter break. 05:01 - Why you should be taking time to focus on what’s truly important 06:25 - How scheduled breaks help you recharge 07:28 - Why stepping away from work allows you to keep things in perspective 08:30 - How taking a break promotes creativity (and why you need creativity as a special education teacher!) 10:30 - Why taking breaks is key to preventing burnout Show Notes: http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode195 Resources: Join the Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library Get more information about the Special Educator AcademyJoin the Free Facebook Group If you're enjoying this podcast, could you please take a quick moment to leave your review on Apple Podcasts? It would mean the world to me and will help spread the word to other special educators. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Social stories can be an incredible tool for helping students with autism, but there are elements to consider when writing social stories to make them the most effective they can be. They may not be effective for all students or for all skills and situations, but there is research supporting the effectiveness of social stories. In this episode, I am sharing how to apply the research behind social stories, when social stories might be most successful, and how to write social stories in the most effective manner.    If you are looking for a way to get started with social stories without starting from scratch, be sure to check out the behavioral toolkits that include social stories and visuals to help your students. You can also grab the social stories free downloads for winter break and following teacher directions.  01:43 - What the research says about the effectiveness of social stories 03:54 - Examples of situations that social stories may work well for 05:08 - The four steps in implementing social stories 11:08 - The importance of the language used in the social story 15:20 - An example of how to create an effective social story 21:18 - Be sure to grab your social stories free downloads for winter break and following teacher directions. Show Notes: http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode194 Resources: Check out my Social Stories on TpTGrab Your Free Winter Break Social Story Join the Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library (Who's in Charge Social Story Inside!)Get more information about the Special Educator Academya href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/specialeducatorsconnection" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

We are in the midst of the holiday season, and chances are you are seeing more challenging behaviors than usual due to schedule changes and different events and activities. Luckily, there is a great tool that can be used to help students with all of these changes - social stories! You have likely used or been told to use social stories for behavior at some point, but there are ways to craft and implement these tools that can help make them more effective. It’s important to understand that using social stories for behavior is not a magic cure, but for some students, they can be very beneficial for various situations. In this episode, we are looking at what social stories are, examples of social stories, and what the research says about using social stories. 03:19 - When and why social stories were originally created 04:27 - What social stories are and what they consist of 08:03 - An example and explanation of an effective social story 09:34 - The research behind the effectiveness of social stories Show Notes: http://autismclassroomresources.com/episode193 Resources: Shop my Social Stories on TpTGrab the FREE Winter Break Social StoryResearch ReferencesJoin the Autism Classroom Resources' Free Resource Library Get more information about the Special Educator AcademyJoin the Free Facebook Group  If you're enjoying this podcast, could you please take a quick moment to leave your review on Apple Podcasts? It would mean the world to me and will help spread the word to other special educators. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️