Eight Tips For A Successful Start: Teaching Special Ed

I nervously stood outside the front door of the school and waited to greet my first class. A teacher brought a little girl over to me and said, “This is Olivia. Hold on tight—she runs.” I had tried to prepare myself for this instant, determined to make an impact on my new students. Despite my preparation, I was overwhelmed by the first day of school. These eight tips highlight what I wish I had known that first day as a Special Education teacher.

- Aimee Clavette

1. Get organized.

• Organization is key to a smooth operation in your classroom 

• Create individual work stations so students can focus without overstimulation.
• Set up individual work bins for students with data binders, token boards, and instructional materials (see image below). When it’s time to work, teach students to collect the work bin and bring it to the work station.

• Keep track of which activities are successful so you can repeat them the following year. Use Pinterest or Google Docs to organize your ideas.

2. Develop behavior management skills.

• A successful classroom requires strong behavior management skills. Use your actions to shape student behavior.
• Set clear rules. Students will test you at the beginning of the year to see what you will allow. I spent my first 2 months chasing Olivia down the hallway before she understood the rules and expectations.
• Remember there is a function for every behavior. For example, Joe doesn’t throw tantrums during math to annoy his teacher; he acts out to communicate his frustration that the math work is difficult for him.
• Create a “take a break” area where students can go to calm down safely.
• Use timers, visuals, and positive reinforcement.
• Maintain a calm, neutral voice when students exhibit challenging behaviors.

3. Develop and nourish professional relationships.