Nothing could have prepared me for the wide range of IEP goals, cognitive levels and learning styles I would have to accommodate, on top of the vast amount of organization needed to keep up with everything.  As a brand new intern teacher struggling to juggle a masters program, a full moderate/severe classroom, and what little time I had for a social life at home, I heavily relied on searching websites like Pinterest and Teachers Pay Teachers to get ideas and materials to start up my blank slate.  It was then that I discovered that my slate was still pretty blank even after months of searching the internet.

 

1.  Lack of teaching material

I created this blog as a place to share my ideas on a teaching subject that is fairly untouched in the special education world.  Adult Transition programs have been around for years, but with an ever evolving world, and an increase in the number and severity of disabilities, there is a dire need for more special education materials, especially in the subject of adult transition.  In my first classroom, the previous teacher left me with a room filled with unorganized, outdated, worksheets that were not even engaging to a typical mind.  So I took to the internet in hopes of finding some updated materials, but I was discovering materials that were not current, higher leveled, hard to read tiny font, and low quality, outdated, or lack of visuals.

 

2.  We are all on a budget

If there’s one thing I know we all have in common, it’s that we are all on a budget.  Many of the materials and ideas I share are free, if not, budget friendly.  I am a bargain shopper even when it comes to buying personal items, so I am always looking for the best deal!  I am also all about recycling and re-purposing things we use on the daily.  The best part about that is our children/students will be getting a hands on experience with real life materials, making it easier to transfer new knowledge to real life situations.

 

3.  Differentiated Learning

Materials that I was able to find that were relevant to moderate/severe special education adult transition were only offered in one level.  I ended up spending hours modifying materials I found to different learning styles and levels; that’s when I realized I needed to just start making my own materials.

 

4.  Age appropriate Material

For teachers, collaboration is key to a successful classroom.  There are TONS of teaching materials out there on the internet, but a lot of it has cutesy cartoons characters and writing that is super girly; you know, stuff that is engaging for little kids.  My job is to teach my students to become adults and do age appropriate things, so unfortunately using cute worksheets doesn’t really help my cause.

 

5.  Adulting is hard for everyone

Let’s be honest, “adulting” isn’t easy, and it’s only getting harder.  Between juggling a job, bills, eating/cooking, shopping for necessities, a social life, rec & leisure time, and those curve balls that life throws at you, imagine how much harder these tasks are for those with disabilities.  No matter if you are a parent, or what grade level you teach, many of the ideas and materials that I have created can be beneficial to preparing youth to become independent adults in the future.  Please spread the love and share knowledge. 🙂