Teaching Independence for Children with Special Needs

Center Time Savers
Situation: 

Help…all my students seem to arrive on different buses and times in the morning. What do I do with those early arrival kids while waiting for the later kids?

Visual Recipes: A Way to Increase Participation in Cooking Classes
Situation: 

I’m a Middle School FACS (Family and Consumer Sciences) teacher and I have a student with special needs in my class of 20 general education students.  She’s not disruptive, but she also doesn’t participate very much.  How can I help her get more out of my cooking classes?

Structured Choice Schedule to Improve Participation
Situation: 

I have a 3rd grade student in my Learning Support class who needs extra help with most academic subjects.  She becomes very resistant when I try to work with her on a one-to-one basis.  If I do get her to work with me, she only lasts a few minutes before she starts asking when we’ll be done or she refuses to work altogether.  How can I get her to focus and work cooperatively?

Strategies to Increase Self-Confidence
Situation: 

As a parent I would like to know some ideas or tips to help boost my children’s self esteem. It seems that they both struggle with not having much self confidence in what they are doing, mostly in school. They are very bright but doubt themselves in most things they do. Does anyone have any helpful ideas or tips that I can try? Thanks!

Addressing Shoe Challenges on the Bus
Situation: 

My 5 year old takes off her socks and shoes every 10 minutes when on her bus.  There is an aide on the bus, but the shoes aren’t always put back on. What can I do about it?

Visual Prompts: Homework & Book Bag Reminder
Situation: 

My child is always forgetting to bring home her homework, lunchbox, or other items. How can I help my child remember what needs to come home from school each day?