Special Education Teacher Resources

From resources for the special education classroom to accommodations for mainstreamed students with special needs, explore Lesson Planet’s reviewed and rated teaching strategies, assessment tools, apps, lesson plans, videos, resource collections, and activities designed to make learning come alive across disciplines!

Whether new to special education or an experienced veteran, starting out the year can be difficult. Here is a model you could use when developing your own weeklong schedule. There are apps to help instructors write IEP goals and objectives for all kids in your caseload. Check out this video review of one such app.

Lesson Planet has resources, lessons, and apps designed for learners on the autism spectrum, sample lessons provided by an ADHD specialist, lessons for children with moderate disabilities and/or Down syndrome, and activities for other students with profound needs. The resources in our collection are designed to make your job just a little bit easier.

Showing 3,424 resources
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Curated OER

Promoting Disability Awareness and Acceptance in Childhood

For Teachers K - 12th
Create a safe and respectful school environment with the help of this special education teaching guide. Offering dozens of instructional ideas and activities for raising awareness and acceptance of children with disabilities, this is a...
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Instructional Video3:16
Lesson Planet

EdTech Tuesdays: Signed Stories

For Teachers Pre-K - 5th
A tablet can be a great visual tool for the classroom, and this American sign language tool could be just what you're looking for. Rich and Jennifer provide an overview of the app and point out the features that would be great for...
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Instructional Video4:32
Lesson Planet

EdTech Tuesday: Choiceworks

For Teachers K - 9th
Support learners with special needs with an app designed to help pupils make choices and follow routines. Jennifer and Rich walk you through how to create a profile and use the main features of this customizable app.
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Instructional Video11:26
Teaching Channel

Algebra Skills: Support at Every Step

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
"My biggest challenge in class is to get some students to put a pen to paper, because they don't want to make a mistake." Discover how two teachers are working to help special education students develop the skills they will need in an...
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Activity
Possibilities

Disability Awareness Activity Packet

For Teachers Pre-K - 5th Standards
Bring awareness to disabilities with a packet consisting of a variety of activities designed to inform scholars about disabilities—autism, hearing impairments, physical disabilities, and more! Learners test their communication skills,...
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Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

A Historical and Educational Perspective on American Sign Language

For Teachers Pre-K - Higher Ed
Using Sign Language to Communicate with Your Special-Needs Students in the Classroom
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding the Body: Day 2, Puberty

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Everyone needs to know what to expect when going through puberty. Intended for a special education class, this well developed and developmentaly appropriate resource provides a full days instruction on teaching teens with special needs...
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Lesson Plan
Mary Pope Osborne, Classroom Adventures Program

Dinosaurs Before Dark

For Teachers 1st - 5th Standards
Young readers travel back to the time of the dinosaurs in this literature unit based on the story Dinosaurs Before Dark. Intended for use with upper-elementary special education students, this resource provides reading comprehension,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

F.L.A.S.H. Introduction

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
F.L.A.S.H stands for Family Life and Sexual Health, it's a program specifically focused on providing special needs learners with vital information regarding personal and sexual health. This is an overview of the program, complete with...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Game template

For Students K - 6th
Playing games can be a fun way to learn social engagement skills. This is nothing more that a 11 block game template, but it can be used with special needs or Autistic children to foster social skills. They will need to follow...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding the Body, Day 3: Sexual Health & Hygiene

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Ideal for secondary moderately disabled special ed high schoolers, this lesson focuses on personal hygiene and self-care. They discuss a case study and role-play to introduce the importance of good hygiene then discuss current...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Resources & Review, Day 1: Resources

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Prepare your secondary special ed class for a life of independence. Part of independent living is knowing how to ask for help and where to go. They review the times they need help, the type of community resources available, and practice...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Communication, Day 3: Asking What You Want

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Mild to moderately disabled secondary students practice asking for what they want. They discuss a scenario, list things they want, then practice asking for those things. Our special needs students need to know how to communicate...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding the Body, Day 1: Anatomy

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Intended for moderate to severely disabled students, this lesson focuses on building an understanding of human anatomy. A secondary special education class reviews, identifies, and labels parts of the body. Including the internal and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reproduction, Day 1: Reproductive System

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Engage Secondary Special Education students in a developmentally appropriate lesson on human reproduction. They review genital anatomy and 5 key components that comprise the reproductive cycle. Perfect for a mild to moderately disabled...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reproduction, Day 3: Parenthood

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Reproduction can result in parenthood. Discuss the pros and cons, responsibility, and possible results of sexual intercourse. Intended for a secondary special education class, this lesson is developmentally appropriate for mild to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Relationships, Day 5: Acquaintances & Strangers

For Teachers 9th - 12th
It is important for special needs high schoolers to know the differences between acquaintances and strangers. They define the world helper, acquaintance, and stranger then discuss a scenario based case study.They talk about touch and no...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Relationships, Day 1: Self-Esteem

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Expose your secondary special education class to the importance of belonging and feeling accepted. They define self-esteem, pride, and appreciation. Then create a self collage and share what they like about themselves with the class. A...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Relationships, Day 4: Friendships & Dating

For Teachers 9th - 12th
It is so important to help special needs individuals know the difference between dating and friendship. They define friendship, differentiate between friends and strangers, role-play, practice greetings, then talk about dating. This...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Communication, Day 2: Assertiveness

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Having social skills and being able to assert yourself in a positive way is so important. Students with mild to moderate disabilities engage in a series of activities to practice assertive communication and social skills. Perfect for a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding the Body, Day 2: Puberty

For Teachers 9th - 12th
What is puberty? Get your secondary special needs students on the right track with this develpmentally appropriate lesson. They define and describe the differences between men, women, boys, and girls, discuss major events that mark...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

HIV/AIDS & Other STDs, Day 1: Germs & Risk

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Assist your secondary special education class for understanding risky behavior, hygiene, and STDs. The class discusses how germs spread, how people get sick, and what needs to be done to prevent the spread of communicable diseases. They...
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Printables
Including Samuel.com

Agenda/Minutes for Instructional Planning Meeting

For Teachers K - 12th
When it comes to the education of children with special needs, it's vital for there to be regular and open communication between all parties involved. This agenda nicely outlines key topics to discuss in weekly meetings including an...
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Printables
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Danya International, Inc.

Life Journey Through Autism: An Educator’s Guide

For Teachers K - 8th
A clear, straightforward guide to autism is a great introduction to educational strategies and resources for educators and parents. With background information about autism, an explanation to educational approaches, resources for...