Life Skills Thinker

★ Current Transition Teacher for self-contained special education programs in a high school -- I coordinate job training sites, teach transition skills and travel training, and work with families to prepare their students for adult life. ★ Taught for 9 years in a self-contained special education program for students with moderate to severe intellectual disabilities -- functional math, life skills, vocational training, and travel training.

★ Instruction should ALWAYS be relevant and age-appropriate. Vocabulary should be explicitly taught. Equip every student with what they need. Check for understanding, always. ★ I believe that teaching academics are important, but I will drop those in a heartbeat for an opportunity to teach kindness, tolerance, and respect. Teachable moments are the best moments! ★ Teach students to work hard and play equally hard - just at the appropriate times!

There was that one time when I managed to keep my hands off of my emergency chocolate stash for the entire school day... if that's not a shining teacher moment, then I don't know what is.

B.S./M.Ed. Special Education; Certifications in special education 6th-Adult, severely/profoundly disabled K-12, elementary education 1-6, mathematics 7-12; B.A. Studio Art

Yet to be added