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Hi! I am Allison. I am an Intervention Specialist and Certified Autism Specialist with nearly 20 years of experience working with students with autism and low-incidence disabilities.

I taught in an elementary special education classroom where I created countless individualized supports, organizational tools, and differentiated activities for my students before transitioning to my current position on an autism and low-incidence coaching team where I have had the pleasure of meeting and helping teachers in hundreds of classrooms in the Dayton, Ohio area. I am passionate about special education and helping teachers!

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Do your students love learning about animals? ๐Ÿฆ๐Ÿง๐Ÿป

Hi Reader! Animals are a common special interest in my classroom so I have taken full advantage over the years of using animals to teach a variety of skills. I have created over 70 different activities for reading, math, cooking, science, communication, games, writing, and more! For my TPT store, I divided all of my animal activities into thematic units by narrowing down the topic because I know not everyone can cover all 70 activities each year. I created units for Animals & Habitats, Animal...

Hi Reader! The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats is one of my absolute favorite picture books. I love it so much that when I was pregnant I insisted my husband stop by Kohl's to grab a little stuffed Peter doll for our baby boy. It was his very first doll! I love the pictures, the sequence of the story, the mystery of the missing snowball, and all of the great vocabulary I can teach my students as we read. This was actually the very first Communication and Comprehension set I made for my TPT...

Hi Reader! Do you cook in your classroom? I do!๐Ÿ˜‹ Cooking time each week is one of my students' absolute favorite ๐Ÿฅฐactivities! I loved the real-world functional application of math skills and manners. And the kids loved the yummy treats! ๐Ÿช To learn more about what cooking looks like in my classroom, check out my blog post: Cooking in the Special Education Classroom Unsure where to start? I have a classroom cookbook with Visual Recipes for the Entire Year that is full of seasonal cooking...

Hi Reader! I admit it. Winter is my LEAST favorite season. I hate cold weather and driving in snow and ice. But it is actually one of my favorite seasons to teach in the classroom! I love giving my students the chance to explore the snow and we read some of my favorite picture books each year. To learn more about what Winter looks like in my classroom, check out my blog post: What to Teach in January in the Special Education Classroom Are you excited to teach about Winter in your classroom...

Hi Reader! Do your students struggle to apply sensory strategies in order to calm down in the moment? Have you discovered there are certain times of day when everyone seems a bit dysregulated? Do you have students who struggle with engagement because they are overwhelmed? In my blog post featured below, I highlight several resources that I used to help students proactively learn and practice strategies so they were more successful calming in the moment and give ideas for class-wide and...

Hi Reader! Are you looking for an inclusive, effective way to support literacy in your classroom? Predictable chart writing is a research-backed strategy that benefits all students, including those with complex learning needs, by fostering confidence, engagement, and language connections. This approach is particularly effective for students with disabilities because it: Provides structure and repetition, reducing cognitive load. Supports differentiated instruction and multisensory learning....

Hi Reader! Does the busy holiday season have you struggling to get your lesson plans organized? I have been there! Planning around holiday parties, special concerts, and festive surprises can be exhausting. I have two thematic units in my TPT store that can help ease that anxiety! You can grab my Christmas unit or my Holiday Traditions unit featuring Kwanzaa, Hannukah, and Christmas traditions. Or grab one of my December bundles and save! Want to see more ideas on how I incorporated these...

Hi Reader! Were you too busy snagging deals yesterday to head to TPT? That's alright because the Cyber Sale doesn't end until 11:59pm ET on Tuesday, December 3rd so you still have time! Not sure what you want to get? Find everything you need for this holiday season below: Gingerbread Thematic Unit: I always start December off with teaching about gingerbread. These 12 fun activities are the perfect start to the holiday season. Christmas Thematic Unit: These 12 thematic activites are hands-on...

Hi Reader! The holiday season is here! Are you making your list and checking it twice? ๐ŸŽ… Make sure you add โ€œSHOP TPT SALEโ€ to the top of your list! ๐Ÿ“ƒ Starting today, every single resource in my store is 25% off! Just use the TPT promo code: CYBER24 to save 25% on all my resources, including my favorite bundles. Donโ€™t procrastinate! This sale starts TODAY Monday, December 2nd and ends Tuesday, December 3rd at 11:59 PM EST. Not sure where to start saving? โœ…Check out my best sellers below and...

Hi Reader! The Science of Reading is an important focus of the education world. But for many special education teachers, it can be hard to know how it applies to our learners with the most complex and significant needs. Last year I did a deep dive into Comprehensive Literacy for All by Karen Erickson Ph.D and David Koppenhaver Ph.D. and I assure you this is a MUST-READ for teachers in the self-contained classroom! It provides Science of Reading research specific to our students with...