I'll Organize This... Maybe

Organization is probably one of the hardest parts of a special educator's job. Between the curriculum, IEPs, Data and everything else... one can feel like they are completely drowning in paperwork!

While I am not the most organized, I do have a few tricks that help me to keep my sanity and not lose my mind each and every day. My go to organizational method COLOR CODING. I color code absolutely everything, not only does each class/subject have its own color, but each grade level has it's own color. 

Let me explain that further and provide visuals for all my visual learner peeps out there! Currently, I teach health, US history, and World history. Each class has binders and binders full of curriculum (one per unit). My health binders are all yellow, my US history binders are green, World history binders blue.

Here are the current binders that I am using for each class and I swap them out when I start my next unit. 

I am such a visual person and so often I am in a rush and just randomly grabbing things, so the colors really help me make sure that the correct binder is being grabbed. Each morning I put the handouts and lesson plan for that day in a corresponding colored folder and place it in the top part of this wonderful organizer from Costco! My materials are ready for the day that way and I have nothing to worry about. I also have colored tubs (also from costco) and I put any larger manipulatives or materials those the week that I plan on using them. 

I moved some folders around just so you could see how color coded I am, even in my data files I color coordinate! If I have goals I am collecting on certain standards, or I need work samples for certain students, examples for future classes, etc. I keep those in my file cabinet and again the colors match the binders, folders, HW section of my board, etc! 

But how do I organize those pesky IEP forms?! I use a similar technique! Each grade has its own color that they are assigned, parents love when you pull out a fun colored folder to present their child's IEP, it just shows a little extra care. Within each file I use post-its to separate information (goal progress sheets, behavior data, work samples, IEP forms, Parent contact logs, etc) I want to be able to find what I need as easily and as quickly as possible! I organize the files by IEP due date, helps me recognize what student is coming up next (I used to do alphabetical order, but found that this was much more helpful).  

Here are some other organization tools that I use in the classroom.

 
My para knows that if she is looking for things to copy she can always look inside the copy drawer and find items to copy with instructions.  The other two are usually empty because my TA is able to grade things in third block each day, but he also knows to look here for assignments and a key that goes with each one.

What are your organizational tips and tricks!?
I am ALWAYS looking for more so please share in the comment section!

Happy Monday fellow educators of the world.

Currently

It is time for October currently! Thank you Farley for these awesome linkies! Holy cow how is it already October?! I'm not complaining I love the fall! Just hate how long October can feel for a teacher and with three HUGE IEPs this month... I am not sure if I will survive! 

Listening: My SF GIANTS have done it! They are on to the next round of the playoffs and will be taking on the Washington Nationals. So of course I am listening to the post game show while my sleepy pup is curled up next to me. 

Loving: Ok, it is finally starting to feel just a bit like fall. The nights are getting cooler and the days, well they are slowly moving towards crisp fall temperatures. 

I had my very favorite lettuce wraps for dinner tonight and I just can't get enough! What are you favorite lettuce wrap recipes? PLEASE SHARE!

And mustard yellow? well fall is in the air and I feel like mustard yellow is everywhere!!!!! I need some in my life, like now!

Thinking: Please be good to me IEPs, they are so time consuming and they take away from my beloved prep time! 

Wanting: I am desperately needing to do some fall shopping, and nap-time... just yes! 

Needing: Who else is in need of a break?! Is it thanksgiving yet? Sweets are a must right now, and a document camera is also on my list of major needs! 

Trick or Treat: My fall calendar number cards will be free for the month of fall! Grab them now! 

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Fall-Calendar-Number-Cards-1463223

What are you currently up to? Link up with us! You can find the blank currently template for October at http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/.

Happy October! 

I've Got Spirit How About You?!

Oh spirit week! How I have missed the excitement leading up to homecoming, the dressing up, the skits, the decorated hallways, and of course the big game! 
This week we are celebrating spirit week at school and I could not be more thrilled! My outfits were picked out a week before hand and I have just been waiting for the chance to rock my fashionable twists on the themes. It wasn't too long ago that I was in high school with my face painted blue, dancing around the gym as the genie in our Aladdin themed spirit skit (just over 5 years ago to be exact). I have always had big school spirit. I don't think I ever missed an "orange Friday" in high school, so how have I incorporated school spirit into my classroom?
Well since it is spirit week I have cut back on the homework (good for them and me!) and given my students a chance to interact with their community and get more involved. With the removal of homework for the week I expect them to be getting dressed up, helping with their class skit, and enjoying the homecoming activities that make high school so special. Students with special needs are not always included in these activities and I want to ensure that they are getting the full high school experience, as well as feeling more comfortable in their school! 
With the stress of the quarter ending (yes our first quarter has ended already!), unit tests being taken, and the plethora of IEPs in recent weeks has created a group of grumpy and stressed out teenagers, oh and how could I forget the icky cold going around!? So it's about time that these kids had some fun and took a deep breath. Throughout this week I have seen the smiles creep back across their faces, their posture straighten up a bit, and the room feels a bit lighter again, having a student dressed as an oompa loompa may have greatly helped this too! 
I have such a great appreciation for what homecoming brings to the school setting. October is the longest month of the school year for practically every teacher (besides the ones lucky enough to have a fall break), so homecoming breaks up this long trek and brings some good energy to the classroom. 
So here is to spirit week! My favorite week of school, thank you for bringing joy to the students, making high school a bit more enjoyable, and thank you for letting me relive some of my favorite memories! 

Below are some of my outfit choices for this years spirit week! Let me know what you think!

 Sophomores and the Chocolate Factory

Indiana Juniors

Want to see more pictures of my spirit week ensembles? follow me on INSTAGRAM!

It's all about the little things

Those of you following me on Instagram have seen the reservations I have had toward teaching high school. Not only did I teach elementary special education last year, but my entire undergrad and credential program focused on teaching at an Elementary level. So making the transition from elementary to high school has been a lot to digest. My brain ran wild the days leading up to school and the first week I kept thinking "How am I going to do this?", "What if they think I am treating them like babies?", "What will I be able to use from last year?". So far I haven't had much of an issue finding use for things, of course my Read Naturally curriculum isn't getting much use since I am teaching history (although I have thought about piecing through it and picking out the passages on historical figures). But the majority of my elementary classroom has made an appearance in my high school classroom. My decor has already been stated to be the cutest by many of my colleagues and I am A-okay with that! 

But what has really helped this rocky transition is the students. Don't get me wrong, I have had lots of support from my fellow staff members and the administration team, but the people who are with me the majority of the day are my students and I am grateful to have the group that I do. One of the aspects I have been enjoying most about high school is the amount of focus on their futures. College and career choices are conversations we have almost daily. And because I just finished college (my undergrad was finished a little less than 2 years ago) my students have really enjoyed asking me their questions and sharing their concerns and getting answers from someone with recent experience. 

I have students who think that college isn't an option for them and I have many parents under the same impression. But 3 weeks into the school year these students are the ones asking the majority of the college questions and they are starting to see that it most definitely is an option for them! 

I am realizing how much support these high schoolers are lacking, so they accept my support with open arms. It is really rewarding to see how happy my students get when I talk to them about the positive characteristics that they possess and how they can be successful after high school. It saddens me to think about how many people have just focussed on the negatives and not seen or shared the positives with these kids and their parents. 

I am excited to see what the rest of the year holds for us, I am so thrilled that I can mold and change the minds of these students who have been focussing on the negatives for far too long. 

So, high school is really growing on me, and believe me when I say that getting a sweet note from a "cool" high schooler is far more rewarding than the thousands of pictures and drawings I got from my elementary school kiddos (although those were totally cute). 

Why Special Ed?

When people ask me the question "Why special education?" I can never answer it simply, but I am pretty sure that if you ask anyone passionate about their job it isn't an easy task to explain why. But for any of you wondering, maybe I can give it a shot and keep this under 500 words.... maybe.

When I was in high school I began to volunteer in the classroom my mom worked (still works) in. It is a classroom for students with moderate to severe special needs, with disabilities ranging from autism to down syndrome and a number of other disabilities. I loved watching the kids grow and seeing their excitement for life and learning. When I looked at them I recognized some of the challenges they would face in their futures. I thought about how many times they would hear that they COULD NOT do something, and hear that something was just TOO DIFFICULT for them to do.

Growing up I heard these same things a number of times, I had teachers speak their minds and call me stupid right in front of me, and I really struggled with being confident in school. Sure I had some fantastic teachers, but I had quite a few "duds" along the way. It was not until college that I found out that I have and auditory processing disorder, so basically I struggle with listening and comprehending audio.

All of these factors have led me to teaching and have led me to making a difference in as many children's lives as humanly possible. I can honestly say that I care about each of my students, it doesn't matter how much they annoy me at times or how rude they may be to me. I understand that it's tough living with a disability, knowing you are different, and knowing that there is nothing you can do about it. But these negative thoughts are poison and NOT true! They can change it, they can make a difference in their lives, and with a little help they can embrace being different.

So I make it known to my students (especially my high schoolers) that I am there to advocate for them, that I will prove to them that they can discover ways to learn things they never thought were possible, and in other people's eyes I may be working way too hard, but these kids deserve it! It pains me to hear how many people have just let them pass through without giving them the tools they need to be successful. I'm talking about tools for ADVOCATING for themselves. When a student knows how they learn they can feel confident walking into a general ed classroom, approaching the teacher and saying "Hi, I do have special needs but I learn best when activities are visual rather than auditory", for example. These are skills that EVERY child should possess, special ed or general ed! Being able to advocate for yourself is powerful and a gift that many of us take for granted.

So to wrap this up, I teach special ed to bring a voice to children who usually don't have one and to be the voice for them until they are confident enough to speak for themselves. Teaching special education is my passion and I truly believe that it is my purpose in life.

Happy hump day ya'll!

Hey Everyone!

Well I caved and finally started a blog! I am a total newbie and have no idea what I am doing so please go easy on me for the first few months until I get the hang of all this. 

Let me introduce myself a bit.
My name is Erin Carscadden Castillo and I am a newly married special education teacher in the Bay Area! I teach wonderful students with mild to moderate disabilities. I teach US history, World History, and Freshmen Health. It has been a rough transition to high school so far, but I believe I am starting to see light! Last year was my first year teaching and I taught 3rd through 5th graders with special needs. I love teaching and am really beginning to love creating my own products and making interactive activities that reach each of my special learners. 

If there is one thing you should know about me it should be that I loveeeeeee my puppy, Kyla. She is the sweetest little 16 pound beagle girl. I love taking her for walks, adventuring through stores (she is the best shopping partner), and taking her to meet other dogs. 

I am so excited to see where my passion for teaching takes me and can't wait to connect with more educators through this blog! 

Happy Blogging,