Blog - Positively Learning

5 Test Prep Steps I Always Teach My Students

Please note that as I share what test prep steps look like, I'm speaking from my experience working with K-2 students. I have lots of feelings about even having to teach these skills topic, however testing was a non-negotiable for the district I taught in. As a result, I tried to make this engaging test prep include best practices for whenever we want to put our best foot forward! What Should Test Prep Include? Young students benefit from following a series of steps that don't ... continue reading...

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Better Data Collection

I'm so lucky to be in a position to talk with special educators every single week. These teachers have varied backgrounds, from multiple settings to a wide range of experience. One thing that they all have in common? They are looking for a better data collection system to capture student progress. Data Collection is the most common topic I'm asked about, so I chose to tackle it head on. I created an email series for my newsletter and boy, did it resonate! There was a lot of ... continue reading...

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What to Bring to an I.E.P. Meeting

Maybe it's your first I.E.P. meeting at a new school (or ever!) or maybe you just have SO many papers and you're wondering... What do I really need to bring to an I.E.P. meeting? As a proud attendee of literally hundreds of meetings, I've got this one! My experience and advice is coming from my role as a special educator and now instructional coach supporting special education teachers. Please refer to your school district guidelines to make sure any specific guidelines and ... continue reading...

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Digital Word Work for All Year

Have you tried digital word work centers in your classroom? Maybe you've found an activity that clicked for your students or maybe you're still looking. What if you could have an entire series of literacy word work that kept your students learning all year (and beyond)? There were as many levels as students in my Guided Reading and reading intervention groups! Sound familiar? We needed enough digital word work centers that could meet a wide varied of skills and levels and be ... continue reading...

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Setting Up a Sensory Walk Path

Have you been thinking of setting up a sensory walk path? Maybe you've seen some pretty cool movement ideas, but wasn't sure where to start. That's exactly how I felt before I implemented structured sensory and movement breaks in the resource classroom setting. Now I'm sharing what we learned! What is a Sensory Walk Path? Although there are many variations, a sensory walk path usually consists of visuals or cards that are set up in a classroom, hallway, or home. A ... continue reading...

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Phonemic Awareness Activities

I'm sharing my secret for making sure phonemic awareness activities take place every single day in my small reading groups. Okay, so it's not exactly a secret, BUT it did take me an extraordinarily long time to figure out! A little detective work revealed that my students needed some more support with phonemic awareness skills. These are the key areas that we focused on in the early stages of reading instruction: Daily Phonemic Awareness Practice There are quite a few skills ... continue reading...

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Google Forms for Data Collection

Have you tried using Google Forms for data collection in your classroom? I feel like I may be the last one to figure this out and now I want EVERYONE to see how easy it is! Google Forms isn't exactly new. You may have had a form shared with you for a survey or other data tracking. It's incredibly useful because it's easy to collaborate with other team members. Now it's time to bring this magic to your own classroom with your students! Google Form Quizzes are ... continue reading...

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Test Prep in the Resource Room

How does test prep look and feel in the resource room setting? Test preparation is non-negotiable in many classrooms and the resource room setting is no exception. Often it can feel like "testing season" takes over in the spring and learning comes to a screeching halt. Intentional organization and planning can help conquer this so that test prep and learning can continue in all special education settings. Test Prep Organization Let's get organized with test preparation ... continue reading...

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