Toad-ally Exceptional Learners

One thing I want to do a better job at is building reading fluency. One of my favorite are my 1 page 30 second reads. I love how it helps inform my next steps with a group.

Today’s the perfect excuse to slow down, grab a good book, and get lost in a story. Whether you’re diving into a brand-new adventure, revisiting an old favorite, or sharing storytime with your students or kids—reading opens doors to imagination, knowledge, and connection. 💡💖

Teacher tip: Let your students see you reading! Modeling the joy of reading is one of the most powerful ways to inspire lifelong readers.

What’s on your current reading list? Drop your recs below ⬇️

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I always start my year off with building expectations and habits.

These are a couple my student’s have loved.

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Make Learning Visible in Seconds!

The Marzano Scale to Check for Understanding gives students a quick, student-friendly way to show what they know—while giving YOU instant feedback to adjust instruction.

Why it works (and why research says it’s powerful):
✔️ Formative evaluation (Hattie d = 0.90) → one of the highest-impact strategies for boosting achievement
✔️ Teacher clarity (Hattie d = 0.75) → students succeed when they know the learning target
✔️ Setting objectives & feedback (Marzano, d ≈ 0.61) → clear goals + feedback drive progress

Low-prep, high-impact, and ready to use from day one.

Grab your copy today and make every check for understanding count!

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I have zero storage in my office.

If I don’t need it or use it at least once a week, it doesn’t stay.

So, keeping track of materials can be something of a problem.

Back in May I realized I needed to figure out a way to keep track of and each organized all the activities and independent tasks so I didn’t end up with 6 copies I don’t need -taking up space and wasting paper.

If you have followed me of a while, all my lesson plans are electronic.

So, I put the activities in zipper pouches, created a sheet, gave the bin a QR code and now hoping I have more time in my plan time to do all the other paperwork that comes with my job.

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It’s hitting 90 here in Colorado. We are mid-way through Summer vacation and the last thing we really want to do is think about Back to School.

But we need to start thinking about August.

Here are 3 of my go to tips for special education teachers.

Do you have a favorite tip? Share it below.

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📚✨ What is Tier 2 in iMTSS — and Why Does It Matter?
Tier 2 is more than “extra help.” It’s targeted, research-based intervention that catches students before they fall too far behind.

🎯 Tier 2 in a nutshell:
🔹 Small-group support
🔹 Data-driven instruction
🔹 Rooted in the science of reading
🔹 Not just “more of the same”
🔹 NOT special ed

🧠 According to research (National Reading Panel, Stanovich, Fuchs & Fuchs), early, explicit, and systematic support in phonemic awareness, phonics, and fluency can change a child’s learning path.

🚫 Don’t confuse Tier 2 with…
⚠️ Waiting to fail
⚠️ A path to an IEP
⚠️ Reteaching in the same way that didn’t work

✅ Do look for…
✔️ Explicit instruction
✔️ Progress monitoring
✔️ Multisensory approaches
✔️ Family involvement

Let’s catch reading challenges early and close gaps before they widen. 💪📖

👀 Want to know more? Dive into the full blog post [link in bio] for research, strategies, and classroom-tested solutions.



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East side at about 14,000 ft of Uncompahgre Peak.