Special educators need a pretty large toolbox of strategies and resources to support our learners. So often, our students can have significantly diverse needs and levels. On any given day, special education teachers might need to take student reading data, modify a math assessment, teach science with hands-on experiments, collaborate with regular educators, meet with parents in an IEP meeting, and so much more. While it’s true that special educators are basically superheroes, even superheroes could use a few extra tools here and there!
Here are several helpful websites that special educators, and even regular educators, can use to help provide extra supports for their learners in need.
Intervention Central
A huge assortment of response to intervention (RTI) tools that focus on both academic and behavioral supports.
Favorite Links:
- Reading Fluency Passage Generator
- MAZE Passage Generator
- Dolch Word List Builder
- Self-Check Behavior Checklist Maker
Easy CBM
A free and simple way to measure data for reading and math. While the LITE version is free and simple to start up with right away. My favorite links are the reading fluency assessments and the student charts. You have to log in to see both but can use them for free!
ADDitude
A magazine and website focused on strategies and information about ADHD. I love this site because it has great information for both educators and parents. Often a misunderstood disability, ADDitude gives the tools to support the needs of kids with ADHD, including strategies for best practices and even free printables to use with other educators.
Favorite Links:
Understood
A site with lots of information on various needs, including dyslexia, executive functioning skills, dyscalculia, ADHD, and more. This source is loaded with information, whether you need to know the difference between IEPs and 504 plans or train regular educators about a day in the life of a teen with dyslexia. Spend a few minutes on this site and you will get lost in a wealth of information!
Favorite Links:
Pathway 2 Success
Blog posts, free resources, strategies, and more put together by a special educator turned curriculum specialist (yes, that’s me!).
Favorite Links:
- 100 Coping Strategies for Managing Emotions
- 50+ Free SEL Resources
- Games to Improve Executive Functioning Skills
- How to Teach Positive Self-Talk
Wrightslaw
Legal information in the special education realm for educators, parents, advocates, and administrators.
Favorite Links:
NewsELA
Articles, activities, and assessments that can be modified for various grade-levels. Helpful site for reading comprehension activities aligned with current events, science, social studies, and more.
Favorite Links:
Reading Rockets
A website filled with researched-based strategies for educators, parents, and more. It includes everything from basic background knowledge and education about teaching reading to activities you can start in your classroom tomorrow.
Favorite Links:
Teachers Pay Teachers
A huge assortment of materials made for educators by educators. Since I have a TpT store, I’ve listed some of my favorite links below, but you can use for much more. Just search any topic to find free and paid resources for topics you need.
Favorite Links:
- Pathway 2 Success
- Executive Functioning Resources
- Social Emotional Learning Resources
- Free Resources
BrainPOP
A website filled with lots of informational kids on tons of different topics. Kids love the fun and silly videos while they are learning content that matters. I’ve used these videos to align with grade-level topics, like plate tectonics or elections. I just noticed that they recently added SEL topics, as well!
Do 2 Learn
Access to several free pages, activities, and videos for academic and social support.
Favorite Links:
RAZ Kids
An award-winning website with hundreds of leveled books for students to read online. This site is a paid service (a little over $100/yr for your whole classroom), but you can get free samples or start a free trial to check it out.
Khan Academy
A free website filled with courses on a variety of topics from 1st-grade level math to AP Chemistry.
TED Ed
Many free video lessons on a variety of topics. Some videos are even separated into themes. Great for visual learners, provide additional interventions, or just to supplement your curriculum.
ReadWriteThink
Classroom resources and lesson plans for language arts instruction from the primary to high school grades.
Kahoot
Make your own trivia games to play in the classroom. Kids will love to learn and play at the same time.
Do you have a favorite website? Let me know! I’d love to add them to the list!
It’s amazing and useful
This work is a continuous improvement and exchange of experience. All the time you teach, you learn and try something new. There will never be a period when you absolutely know everything.
Yes, I agree, additional resources are needed! And it certainly helps teachers to be the best assistants for children.
ADDitude mag, Reading rockets, and recently your site are my indispensable assistants. I also want to share an additional list of educational links: https://www.3dlearner.com/other-resources/. This is a collection of resources that are also useful. And I think it’s a good addition to your information.