reinforcement surveys

Every student is motivated by something different. Some love extra computer time, others light up with praise, and some are happiest earning a small reward. In special education, understanding what truly motivates each student can make a big difference—and that’s where reinforcement surveys come in.

Students receiving special education services often have diverse needs, learning styles, and motivators. What works for one student may not work for another. Reinforcement surveys help by:

Individualizing support – Ensuring reinforcement is tailored to each student’s interests
Increasing engagement – Motivators aligned with student preferences improve participation
Supporting behavior plans – Effective reinforcement strengthens positive behaviors

Reinforcement surveys aren’t complicated or time-consuming, but they can have a big impact. By focusing on what students enjoy, we can make learning more fun, positive, and empowering for everyone.  Check out this short, Sped Fundamentals Video about Reinforcement Surveys!

Here is the link to the Reinforcement Surveys I made on TPT!

transition iep goal examples #5

 

Goals are in the YouTube description box for your convenience to copy and paste! 

Check out these examples:  Employment and Career Awareness for students with moderate to severe disabilities or extensive support needs (ESN)

By (date), when shown a video of a person doing a specific career or job, and asked comprehension questions about the job (multiple choice, yes/no questions, picture/symbol supported answer choices), (student name) will correctly answer comprehension questions with at least (#%) accuracy in # out of # trials as measured by work samples or teacher observation and data collection.

By (date), given a visual task schedule and a job at school (e.g. data entry, sorting/organizing, delivery, counter clerk, office aide, attendance clerk, etc.), (student name) will check-off each step of the task performed using a job-specific visual task schedule within (#) minutes from when job activity session begins, with no more than (#) prompt(s) (e.g. staff member points to a step of the job that has been missed) for (4 out of 5) job completion activities as measured by teacher or staff observation and data collection.

easy adapted books using boardmaker

Need a SUPER EASY way to adapt books QUICKLY?  Use Boardmaker to “Symbolate,”

the text.

  

There are many ways to adapt books using Boardmaker.  This way is super fast and easy.  Check out this video on how to do it using the text symbolate option as well as copying and pasting images from the book directly from the Web!

free transition activities - free little libraries

As a Transition Teacher, I am always on the lookout for FREE community based activities.  

I turned visiting Free Little Libraries into a lesson.  In our classroom, we would use the computers to look up Free Little Libraries. Here is the website: littlefreelibrary.org

We practiced searching for them by zip code.  We would then map out our walk or bus route (travel training, safety, community based instruction, etc.) 

I went to Home Depot and Lowes and got some FREE paint sample cards.  We used them to make bookmarks (Using stamps and decorative punches).  

We would leave our bookmarks in a cute, decorated shoebox, old Amazon box, or cup in or near the Free Little Library.    

We are still working on rebuilding our job and volunteer activities, so this has been a fun, educational activity to help fill in some gaps in our daily schedule.  

Check out this step-by-step video!

free online transition resources - learn to become

The, “Learn How to Become,” website has a ton of content for career exploration.  You can explore career families and choose any career imaginable.  

First, you can review the basics and in-depth details about the career you are exploring.

Next, there are details on job outlook and salary.  You can select the specific State you live in. You can learn step-by-step paths to becoming a chef. 

I love how there are many options depending upon what level you want to achieve in the career - culinary school, community college, trade school, or 4 year university options. 

Next, you can read TIPS on how to become a Chef from an interview of someone currently working in that field.

Finally, there are links to Culinary School and Chef Career Resources.  Check out my video walk through of this website to get you up to speed and start using this in your classroom right away!

ESY summer 2021!

Now back to our regularly scheduled program...

Summer 2021! Time for Extended School Year with my Community Based Transition Adult Program.  Here in California, we are just now, “opening.” We have been one of the most restricted States in the U.S. during the Covid Pandemic.  Now we are finally getting back to our in-person program (THANK GOODNESS!!!). 

Many of our student jobs were lost during the shutdown. Volunteering stopped and is still extremely limited.  So this summer, I decided to focus on Recreation and Leisure and Daily Living Skills!

The days are a little harder to fill without our jobs, but we will persevere and get back working as soon as we can.  Here are some TIPS on how to stay cool while you are out an about with your class this summer:

Need help getting organized for ESY?  I have 2 FREE ESY ORGANIZERS AND LESSON PLANNERS FOR YOU!

Tropical ESY Organizer:

Ice Cream Treats ESY Planner:

Here's to an awesome summer! :)

itp step-by-step: post secondary goal statement examples

You have completed the top portion of the ITP checkboxes. Invited the appropriate Transition Services Agencies, AND completed formal or informal transition assessments (like my Interest Inventory or Visual Supports Interest Inventory).

Now it’s time to fill out the Individual Transition Plan, Post Secondary Goal Statements. Oftentimes, I see general statements in this section, but the statements should be more specific and based on your assessment results. 

Let’s look at a few examples...

Here is one for Employment...

To help get you started, I created a template with sample statements for you to use to help you write this section of the ITP.

Download this FREE resource from my Murphy Marketplace TPT Store (PDF and Google Doc editable version).

And here is a video step-by-step: