While there are many different elements that go into setting up a special education program, there are 5 main areas that should be a priority. Here are the 5 areas that take I work on first….
Physical Layout
The first thing to focus on is the physical set up of the classroom. Consider these 3 things when figuring out the physical lay out:
1. The flow of the day… Do you want students to go from center to center? Then make sure that the furniture is arranged in a way that make that easy to do.
2. Arrange furniture so that you can see students easily. For example, don’t have students working alone at a table behind a tall divider or bookshelf. Instead, use a shorter bookshelf to give the area a boundary without interfering with line of sight.
3. What areas of the classroom will be distracting for students? Plan for a way to prevent distractions before they happen. For example, have students seated with their backs to the computer center or window to the playground.
Click the picture below to read more tips for setting up the physical space:
Training Staff
Visual Supports
Study your students’ IEPs before working on this element. Use the PLEPs and modifications sections of the IEPs to determine which visual supports your students need in order to be successful in school. Next, think about how and where to add those visual supports.
Visual supports aren’t just for students! Be sure to use visual supports for the staff in your classroom. Click the picture below for more details on adding visual supports for paras:
Specialized Curriculum
Age Appropriate Materials/Setting
