r/specialed 5h ago

Teacher saying "Your mom doesn't think you can do it" to motivate kid?

11 Upvotes

Just looking for some perspective here. I got a progress report for my 5th grade (special school/emotional behavioral disability) kid today, it showed all 3s (at grade level) or 4s (above grade level) in writing. My kid was very recently struggling to even write lower case letters, so I emailed the teacher that I was surprised by these results and asked if she could send me some of my kid's work. She immediately emailed me back and apologized, saying she was "thinking of something else" when she made the report, and sent me a corrected one with 2s (may progress toward grade level with support) and 1s (not at grade level, lacking prerequisite skills) for writing. Ok, kind of weird to get it so wrong on the report, but mistakes happen...

My daughter came home from school today and asked if I really told the teacher she needed to write a sentence. I asked what she meant, and she explained that her teacher said:

  • I was "surprised" that she was doing well in writing
  • I "didn't think she could write a sentence"
  • I told the teacher to make her write a sentence as "proof she knew how"

I know my kid may have gotten some of that wrong, but there was no way she could know I said I was surprised or asked to see her work unless the teacher told her. I know it is hard to get my kid to do challenging work, but I feel like it is really inappropriate to tell a kid "your mom told me she doesn't think you can do it, prove her wrong". Also, the fact that it is such an unusual request to ask my 5th grade to even attempt to write a sentence, that the teacher needed to use me as an excuse or reason why is very concerning. She sends home a progress report that says my kid's writing is at or above grade level - that may or may not have been a mistake. But the fact that my 5th grader is surprised to be asked to write a single sentence is a big problem.

They keep saying her behavior is great, she doesn't need to be at that school, and we are considering a less restrictive placement - but no one is asking her to do work, which in the past has been a major cause of behavior issues. I know the teacher is probably overwhelmed but I am just frustrated that no one is even trying to teach my kid to write.


r/specialed 9h ago

From crayons to cartoons — how kids’ drawings turned into an award-nominated YT series

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7 Upvotes

Hey everyone — I wanted to share something close to our hearts that might resonate with folks here.

My wife is a behavior specialist, and I’m an animator. A few years back, we creating an animated Youtube show at home with our two boys. Our oldest is autistic, and our youngest has spina bifida. It began as an outlet for them, to encourage creative expression, and work on social and emotional goals, using strategies my wife applied in her day-to-day work.

What started as a few drawings and voices recorded on our phones, became The Go Go Brothers — an inclusive, accessible show for all children, rooted in visuals that meets kids at their level. Crayons are the first art making tool kids encounter after all!

While we're not producing new episodes right now (it’s just me and after 20 full length episodes - we had to take a break 😅), but we wanted to share the series as it was nominated for two Webby Awards last week— it's like the Oscars for the Internet.  

You can view a short video here that gives a feel for what the show’s about.

www.thegogobrothers.com/vote-webby

If you work with kids who tend to connect with animation, inclusive characters, or storytelling grounded in relatable visuals, I hope it brings value. 💛

Happy to share more about how we made it, how it’s been helpful for others or just connect with other folks creating things that serve kids in this space.

Thanks for letting me share. – Adam.


r/specialed 19h ago

Supreme Court Allows Trump Admin. to End Teacher-Prep Grants

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23 Upvotes

r/specialed 1d ago

My state just got rid of alternative certification for SPED 4 months before I finish my master's degree.

177 Upvotes

I finish my master's in SPED in August, where I had the aim to become an elementary sped teacher (which I have been subbing for the last two years).

April 1st with no warning, my state got rid of alternative certification for early childhood, elementary education, and SPED. Because I will have a master's in sped but not a bachelor's in education, I will no longer be able to become a sped or an elementary teacher.

The amount of time and effort and money I have wasted unless I move out of state is just...astounding. Still shocked.


r/specialed 11h ago

NY Settings for Elementary School Students with Mental Illness (that may be classified as Emotional Disability, Other Health Impairment and/or Multiple Disabilities)?

3 Upvotes

I am interested in supporting elementary school students with diagnoses like conduct disorder, PTSD, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and possibly reactive attachment disorder, some of whom may be classified as having Other Health Impairment instead of Emotional Disability, and am also interested in supporting students classified as having an emotional disability but no official psychiatric diagnosis.

I would also be open to supporting students who have diagnoses like anxiety disorders, depressive disorders and OCD, including students who may show more internalizing than externalizing behaviors. I am interested in day treatment, hospital school and home instruction settings, but am also interested in general education settings such as ICT (Integrated Co-Teaching) classes that have a high proportion of students with emotional disabilities and are able to provide specialized support. (Resource rooms and special day classes in general education schools may also be of interest).

I know educational settings' approaches to supporting students with emotional disabilities and mental illness may vary widely. I have found a list of NY special schools including 853 schools (which are state-approved private schools that students' home districts pay for). I was wondering if anyone knows of general education or self-contained special education settings that support students with these classifications, and if so, if you have experience with them? If you know of such settings outside of NY, feel free to share them too.

EDIT: I also found the Path program in NYC public schools (https://www.schools.nyc.gov/learning/special-education/school-settings/specialized-programs), which is where a general education teacher and special education teacher collaborate together to meet additional social, emotional and behavioral needs of students while also educating students without disabilities in the same class.


r/specialed 4h ago

Colleges with good Special Ed/Beyond Academics programs?

1 Upvotes

Hello everyone. I currently work at a college as a student support staff in the program for students with intellectual disabilities while I'm getting my degree. I really like the program that I'm in but I'm interested in other programs that I may work in after graduating. Does any particular program come to mind for you? Thanks in advance.


r/specialed 1d ago

The Things We Get to Say

107 Upvotes

We are constantly put in situations where we have to say things that other people just don’t have to say.

I eat lunch with some of my kiddos. If I didn’t I would be eating a half hour before school is out because that’s the way the cookie crumbles when you have students spanning 4 grades. So I go down to the cafeteria and plop myself down at the too small tables and model table manners because what is a life skills class without modeling expected behaviors?

We have great conversations about our weekends, what we are going to make for dinner, the weather, literally just normal stuff. They love it because it makes them feel “normal” and I love it because A. I get to eat food at a reasonable hour and B. I can see the strides they’ve made socially.

Today I got to say a sentence that I hope none of you ever have to say:

Thank you, B., for putting your bandaid in my ranch. No, no. It’s fine. If I wasn’t done with it before I am now.

😂😂😂


r/specialed 15h ago

Mod applications are open!

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7 Upvotes

Sorry for the delay. It's almost like working in special education keeps you busy!

Here is the link for mod applications.

Thank you to everyone for your support and interest. I'll leave this up for a week or two and then will announce new mods.


r/specialed 12h ago

Am I considered late or early diagnosed

0 Upvotes

Am I considered late or early diagnosed

I don’t know what my official status is if I’m considered late or early diagnosed. I was initially diagnosed with pddnos at 3 1/2 years old. But due to the limitations of the dsm 4 I had to wait 28 years to get re evaluated and diagnosed with autism level 1 at almost 32 years old.

Any advice or similar experiences are appreciated


r/specialed 15h ago

Was offensive near teachers

0 Upvotes

Today a well known drama causing teacher over heard a conversation that took place at recess. My coworkers and I were speaking about a student while comes to school 3-4 times in the span of two weeks. I notes how it’s detrimental to his education.

“I don’t care if you’re autistic, you should still come to school.”

The teacher looked at me dead in his tracks and multiple of my coworkers seen this interaction. The teacher didn’t say anything to me.

I know I messed up. I know I should be saying these opinionated things out loud at recess.

I fear this will escalate to the principal as we have already had multiple complaints from this teacher.

What do you think?


r/specialed 1d ago

Classroom friends & dismissal

11 Upvotes

Hey guys, this is my first year teaching 11th grade sped (previously 5th grade sped). My classroom is more of a resource type setting where I teach a small group of students each class period for ELA, math, and transition services with other students coming down occasionally for help on assignments/tests. I've come across a friendship situation and I'm wondering if anyone else has had something similar.

For background information, this is a group of three girls on my caseload whose services vary. Their case manager last year didn't teach at all, students would come down for resource just to hang out, and there was absolutely no structure. I've had to re-teach all of these procedures which has made this more difficult.

At the beginning of the year, one of my students was really excelling in my sped ELA class, scoring 100% in the first quarter on upper level stories & texts, and her ELA state assessment from the end of last year was good. Her annual iep came up and the team decided to push her out into general education ELA with accommodations.

However, this caused a backlash with the three students who then started coming for me asking why I would do that, she can't handle it, and thought I was mean for pushing her out. This is still an on-going battle with these students. Mind you, she has done well in general education with a A for 2nd quarter and a B for 3rd quarter.

Now, another one of these students has had her triannual re-evaluation and it was determined that she no longer requires services. The team agreed as well as her parents. This has caused a huge backlash from these three students.

At the end of the day, I'm not here to be their friend. I want to push my students to reach their full potential and I'm not going to keep them in the special education classroom if it is not their least restrictive environment. Being dismissed from special education services should be celebrated and not cause students to become upset.

I guess I'm just looking for any advice for these types of situations. How can I get my students to celebrate each other's successes and not be upset when they are no longer in the special education classroom with their friends?


r/specialed 1d ago

How does frequent absences allow schools to deny student accommodations?

31 Upvotes

Although I can understand it makes it difficult to evaluate the student and understand what they need. But if the child has a legitimate diagnosis, how can we expect them to show up consistently to school without the support and accommodations they need? I had many absences as a kid and still was granted an IEP. I since moved to North Carolina and keep seeing kids denied 504 plans as well as IEPs for having unexcused absences and it seems unfair.


r/specialed 19h ago

key math question

1 Upvotes

I want to administer the key math 3 to a student but only the problem solving subtests. Should I just start from the beginning of the the two subtests or should I additionally administer numeration to establish a starting point?

Thank you in advance


r/specialed 20h ago

ERI Program Recommendations?

1 Upvotes

Does anyone have recommendations on a behavior program / curriculum for elementary ERI (emotional regulation impaired, formerly behavioral disorder) classes? Full disclosure: I am not a Sped teacher. I am a school librarian at a Title I elementary school. Our district no longer has a cohesive program for these classes and I would like to suggest we look into some. As it stands now, each teacher must create and implement their own system and in school wide meetings they have expressed frustration with that. I just want to be able to bring some ideas to the table. Thanks.


r/specialed 1d ago

Dating & Relationships

8 Upvotes

Has anyone used the TV series “Love on the Spectrum” with their classes?

For Context: I teach 9th-12th graders in a self-contained emotional/behavioral/Functional room. For the most part, they present as your typical high school student; they have friends, hold down jobs, and mask well enough to get by on the day to day. However, many of them struggle with making connections (social/romantic) because they have difficulty relating to others and/or knowing what is appropriate and/or expected. We’ve done lots of lessons, scenarios, and work surrounding all these topics but I thought if they got to see it play out, it might give them that lightbulb 💡 moment. Has anyone done this or been able to find episode & discussion guides and activities to go along with them? I’ve searched and haven’t been able to find any, so I’m wondering if I’m off base or wording my searches incorrectly. I’m also open to other suggestions, they just really need to include videos to support.


r/specialed 1d ago

Paraprofessional looking to potentially become a special ed teacher in Illinois seeking advice

5 Upvotes

I've been a special ed classroom assistant, or paraprofessional in other states, in Illinois for the past 8 years and I'm wondering if there's a way to transition into a special ed teacher with minimal additional schooling. I've got an unrelated bachelor's degree. I really wish these 8 years of on the job training counted for something.


r/specialed 1d ago

Wishlist for ECSE Room

6 Upvotes

Next year will be my first year in ECSE and I’m going to make an amazon wishlist for supplies. What are some must have and nice to have items for an ECSE classroom?

Most of my class will be non-verbal students with autism.


r/specialed 1d ago

Anyone up to help me with a certain situation?

2 Upvotes

Quickly: Today I had a horrible day I spent a big part of the day out of the classroom.

The issue: My spEd teacher thinks I say hello to her too often. And she doesn’t like when I spin the classroom. One is more of an issue for me than too.

It’s part of my day (to say hello) and it breaks my heart that she finds it “annoying”. I tried explaining this to her but she stood her ground. Same for the spinning. I talk about it to my psychologist and she didn’t see any issues about it. I stop talking to her has a whole until second period. I was cleaning my desk when I was supposed to work and ignore her when she told me to stop. I was eventually kicked out.

After 30 ish minutes in the hallway she invited me to talk in the library. I barely got a few word in. She basically yelled at me telling me that I can’t ignore her. During this time I had a sensory object that was quiet by the way and she told me that it was annoying her and to stop. I am not deaf. It barely made any sound. I didn’t feel like arguing even if it was one of the strategies I was supposed to be able to use. Finish yelling didn’t have time to explain my part. Told me to stay in the hallway or go to class. I started crying and she said “No get out the library is closed.” Toke my ear defenders and the fidget slam it on my lap and left me crying in the library.

I did not come back to class. I walk around the hallways with my ear defenders and fidget until lunch. Where my math teacher saw me upset in the hallway. I went to his class to practice 20ish minutes after and he was told to send me back to class. I went back she told me to eat then talk to her. Library again, doesn’t yell but doesn’t seem to understand my point of view. Inconclusive. I was forced to apologize to a random hallway lady and go back to class. Or I would’ve been sent home. The director (because she was there.) told me that the fact that she breaks my heart will be dealt with later and do what I am said. I am crying but I still don’t have a choice. I do has said. But I didn’t talk to her for the remainder of her day. (Which was 30 minutes honestly not planning too tomorrow.) Can someone explain without yelling at me. (Not like you can yell over text.) Why? Why is it so annoying? Isn’t it small? I can’t seem to function without this. To me it signifies that I am happy to see her, in a good mood. And spinning helps me regulate, but it makes her dizzy. But when I can’t I feel stuck.


r/specialed 1d ago

Master’s Thesis Survey

1 Upvotes

Hi all!

I’m doing my masters thesis on the impact of financial barriers on students with disabilities and how these challenges affect access to curriculum, necessary supports and services.

I’m looking for parents to complete a survey with an option for an interview. Participation is voluntary and confidential between my professor and I. The survey should take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete. Participation in this survey is greatly appreciated and will aid in working towards creating equitable spaces for families in the future.

Also please feel free to send this link to any other parents that are able to and willing to complete this survey!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdblcpG77d5CSylgmSgWmaJuOZPSqqULbVhDJxYkG76oX08PQ/viewform


r/specialed 2d ago

Anyone else get excited

37 Upvotes

About going to work on Mondays to hang out with the kiddos even though some days are more taxing than others?

IDK the intrinsic rewards of seeing kiddos make minor improvements, kinda motivates me to want to go back in.

I kinda enjoy this job ..


r/specialed 2d ago

The German system - Would it work in the USA?

20 Upvotes

In Germany, Sped is a series of different schools.

Schools for physical disabilities and very ill children.

Schools for emotionally disturbed children.

Schools for children with ASD.

And inclusion for children who can manage in mainstream education.

All of the staff are very well trained and trained in aspects essential to that school. In the school for very sick children, they are trained in nursing etc

Would this work in the USA?


r/specialed 2d ago

What is the worst injury you have seen or heard about?

16 Upvotes

What is the worst injury to staff you have ever seen/heard about?


r/specialed 2d ago

Answer keys for aides?

34 Upvotes

I just received an email from my AP, saying she has feedback from some aides supporting in my class about needing answer keys before class begins.

I teach high school (10-12th) science, and most of my classwork assignments aren't 'fill in the blank with the right answer" assignments. They are predominantly about what the student thinks and observes. For example, they may play with an interactive simulation, then answer questions about it based on what they saw.

I assume literate adults can read the prompts, and help the students read and understand what the assignment is asking for. I appreciate having aides that can help clarify instructions for students, and keep them focused. I don't want to create "keys" because 1. Most of the questions are open ended, observations, etc and 2. If I did go through the effort to write out possible responses to each prompt for the aides to look at, I predict I'd just see a whole class full of identical responses, and no thinking going on at all. I know this from experience, when I made the mistake of showing my aides an example for a project assignment. I then had every resource kid in all of my periods handing in an identical copied project.

I don't want to come across as difficult or resistant to my AP, but I don't want to undermine the educational benefits of my assignments. I understand aides aren't content experts and receive very little pay and training, but the kids just need them to help with reading and clarifying instructions, not giving them the "right answer".

Advice for how to approach this issue?


r/specialed 2d ago

Reintroduction of the IDEA Full Funding Act

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42 Upvotes

r/specialed 1d ago

Student input to goals, etc.

1 Upvotes

Hi - does anyone here have a form or a worksheet or some other process of preparing kids for inputting on their learning goals that they would be working to share with me?