Say what?! You read the title correctly! It is important to set your classroom up so that it can run well even when you are not in the room.
Set up systems and routines
As you can see, my lesson plans are pretty straight forward and easy. My system for making sure you can find all of the materials you need for every lesson is even easier!!
Click {HERE} to read more about the easiest lesson planning system ever!
Another great way to ward of questions and interruptions and to plan ahead and post information staff need. Make sure you post it in a place they see regularly and can freely get to. Examples of things to plan & post are when are breaks and lunches for paras, before and after school duties for paras, times that therapists can’t pull students, etc. If you aren’t sure what else to plan for, start making a list of the reasons why someone or something interrupted your lessons. As soon as possible, make a plan for those items, train others on the plan and post the plan if possible.
It is challenging to be a teacher…especially a special ed. teacher! Our students need more intense and direct instruction. My students are HIGHLY distractable, and can’t regain attention easily after there is an interruption. We must plan ahead and design a program that meets their needs just like our instruction does.
Do you have a way to reduce interruptions or an easy system? Please SHARE in the comments!!!
Yes!!! Completely agree!! Our classrooms need to run smoothly and it is all about our setup and organization! Great post!
Thanks! It's so important for people to understand for the classroom and their own sanity!!
I completely agree, but at the same time find this nearly impossible to accomplish! At my school, the related service providers and therapists schedule my students dead-last — after they've already scheduled all the other non-self-contained students in the building. Their theory is that my students can be pulled whenever because they don't have to follow the same regimented schedule as the rest of the building…so I have almost no instructional time where I actually have the students I need. It is really frustrating and sad to be last on the totem pole 🙁
Yes! Our classrooms have to be able to be run by any paraprofessional at any given moment. I train my paras not only on my schedule, but also on filler and alternative activities, just in case. I also teach flexibility in task changing from day one (for both students and adults). Of course this is a goal most of my students work on through the year, but we can avoid breakdowns and issues by purposefully interrupting class for good reasons and rewarding students for responding well to unavoidable changes. This one thing has been my saving grace!
Teaching flexibility and change is a biggie in my classroom, too! So important!!!!
I switched to a self-directed classroom about 4 years ago… Transformative. Finally able to teach as I'd always envisioned… I teach 7th & 8th grade science so pretty different–but even at that age they're happy to let you do all the work if you choose. It takes some prep to set up your classroom like this, but I thoroughly applaud and cheer on those who do 😉
Self-directed classroom- love that!! Love hearing how it's worked in regular ed classrooms, too!
Pam