Teaching Autism and Special Education by Nikki

• Bringing Board Games into the Special Ed Classroom

  Hey friend! In this episode, I’m sharing one of my favorite classroom hacks that brings joy, engagement, and so much hidden learning into the day - board games! 🎲 If you’re thinking, “Wait, board games… in my special ed classroom?” - I get it! But trust me, these games can be a total game-changer (pun 100% intended). In this episode, I walk you through how I use board games to build social skills, academic knowledge, language, regulation, and more - and how I adapt them for all learners in my classroom. I’m also sharing budget-friendly ways to build your own classroom game stash without breaking the bank-— and some of my best repurposing hacks for when games come with missing pieces (because… yep, it happens!). 🎯 What You’ll Hear in This Episode: 💛 Why Board Games Belong in Special Ed Board games are so much more than just fun - they help build: Social skills (turn-taking, sharing, teamwork) Language development (vocabulary, directions, conversations) Executive functioning (planning, focus, problem-solving) Fine + gross motor skills (spinners, dice, movement) Academic reinforcement (colors, numbers, literacy) Emotional regulation (learning to win/lose gracefully) Sensory engagement (textures, movement, visual supports) I even share a story about how Chutes and Ladders helped one of my students learn turn-taking with patience and joy! 🔧 How I Adapt Board Games for All Learners Board games don’t always come classroom-ready — so here are my favorite ways to tweak them: Simplify the rules Add visual supports and picture cues Swap tiny pieces for larger, sensory-friendly ones Use cooperative play instead of competition Add AAC or sentence starters for communication Shorten wait times and offer role choices Modify boards or enlarge components We even created a custom Guess Who? board with pictures of our classmates — it was a HUGE hit and helped with social language, peer recognition, and descriptive vocabulary. 💸 Where to Find Board Games on a Budget You don’t need to spend a fortune to build a great classroom game stash: Ask friends/family (a simple Facebook post can work wonders!) Thrift stores, yard sales, Facebook Marketplace Buy Nothing groups and library sales Dollar stores + clearance aisles Parent donations (even games with missing pieces have value!) Apply for grants like DonorsChoose I’ve repurposed Scrabble tiles for spelling, Monopoly money for money skills, and even Jenga blocks for fine motor fun — nothing goes to waste! 🆓 Grab My FREE Visual Turn-Taking Support! If turn-taking is a challenge in your classroom (been there!), grab my free visual turn-taking tool from the Free Resource Library! It includes editable cards you can personalize with student or staff photos — so students know exactly whose turn it is, with a clear visual cue. 👉 Access the Free Resource Library - over 200 free special ed resources waiting for you! 🎲 Final Thoughts Board games are such a powerful way to build learning and connection in the special ed classroom - and they don’t have to be overwhelming or expensive. So here’s my challenge for you: Pick one board game - new or old - and try it out with your students this week. Start small, make it fun, and adapt as needed. You’ll be amazed at the engagement and progress that comes from something as simple as playing a game together. Let me know what you’re playing in your classroom - tag me @teachingautism, send me a DM, or email me your favorite board game hacks! P.S. Don't forget to head over and leave your Amazon wish list as a comment for us to help clear your list too! Thanks for listening — and until next time, happy gaming! 🎉 — Nikki

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  9:48
• Using Task Boxes for Calm-Down Time and Regulation

  Hey friend! In this episode, I’m sharing one of the most underrated (but totally magical) ways I use task boxes in my classroom - to support calm-down time and emotional regulation. When most people hear “task boxes,” they think academics - letter matching, counting, sorting colors… and yes, I love them for that too. But today, I’m showing you how these little boxes can become absolute lifesavers during meltdowns, transitions, and emotionally wobbly moments. From sensory supports to quiet fine motor tasks, I’m walking you through my go-to calm-down box ideas, how I organize and rotate them, and how I make it all work without adding stress. And yes - I’ll share how my Task Box Library makes setting this up so much easier. Let’s jump in! 🧠 What You’ll Hear in This Episode: 💬 What Regulation Really Means in SPED It’s not just about calming down after a meltdown - it’s: Transition support Brain breaks Emotional reset Building independence with self-regulation And let’s be honest - some days I need a calm-down box too. 😂 💡 Why Task Boxes Work So Well for Regulation The best regulation tools are: Predictable Visual Low demand Hands-on Easy to use independently And that’s exactly what task boxes are. 🙌 🎯 When I Use Calm-Down Boxes: After emotional overwhelm As a soft start to the school day During transitions from high-demand activities On rainy/stormy days when everyone’s a little dysregulated In our calm-down space or at a quiet table 🧺 What Makes a Great Calm-Down Task Box? I look for: Repetitive motions Simple, visual setups Quiet or soothing sensory input Tasks that feel like wins - no pressure, no failure 🧩 My Favorite Types of Calm-Down Task Boxes: ✂️ Fine motor: threading, play dough poking, tweezers, cutting strips 🔶 Matching/sorting: colors, shapes, emotions, photos 🍦 Sensory-friendly: water beads, Velcro, fabric swatches, rice bins Everything is visual, hands-on, and calming - perfect for those high-emotion moments. 🎒 How I Store & Rotate Them: I use rainbow photo cases (shocking, I know 😉) Labeled by skill, sensory level, or theme I keep a drawer labeled Calm Choices that students can choose from using a visual menu I rotate them every few weeks to keep them fresh and engaging 📋 Do I Track Calm-Down Box Use? Kind of! If a student is using the same one regularly — or it’s part of their IEP or regulation plan — I’ll jot down what works. This helps me: Tailor supports Communicate with families Build stronger routines 💾 Task Box Library = Your Calm-Down Box Shortcut Everything I’ve talked about today is inside my Task Box Library, including: Sensory and regulation-friendly boxes Matching, threading, fine motor, and play dough tasks Visual labels + instructions 1,100+ academic, life skills, and SEL task boxes Training + assessment tools 👉 Check it out here 💛 Final Thoughts If you’ve ever had a moment where a student was overwhelmed and you weren’t sure what to offer - calm-down task boxes can change everything. They’re: Quiet Engaging Low-prep And they give your students the tools to feel successful and safe. You don’t need a full sensory room or a fancy setup - you just need a few visual, structured supports your students can access when they need them most. 👉 Grab the Task Box Library and start building your calm-down collection today. 📲 Let’s Connect! Already using task boxes in your calm-down corner? I’d love to see! Tag me on Instagram @teachingautism or DM me your favorite setup. Thanks for listening.. Until next time, breathe deep, keep it visual, and let your students squish the play dough. 💛Nikki

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  10:44
• Using Task Boxes to Support IEP Goals (Without Worksheets!)

  Hey friend! In this episode, I’m breaking down one of my favorite ways to support IEP goals — and the best part? No worksheets required. 🙌 If you’re feeling overwhelmed with paperwork, struggling to keep things engaging, or just want a low-prep, hands-on way to meet student goals - this one’s for you. I’m walking you through exactly how I use task boxes to target fine motor, academic, life skills, and even social-emotional goals - without burning out, and without spending hours laminating. I’ll also be sharing how my Task Box Library makes this whole process 100x easier, and how I track progress in a simple, realistic way (no massive binders here). Let’s dive in! 🧠 Inside the Episode, I Talk About: 💬 Why I Use Task Boxes Over Worksheets Worksheets have their place - but for my students, task boxes offer: Visual, tactile learning Reusability and flexibility Higher engagement and independence Easy ways to level and differentiate Real progress toward IEPs without stress 🎯 How I Use Task Boxes to Target Specific IEP Goals Here’s how I break it down: ✏️ Fine Motor Goals: Hole punches, tweezers, cutting strips, play dough shapes — all fun, all goal-based. 🔤 Literacy Goals: Letter matching, CVC puzzles, sight word visuals, beginning sound clips. 🔢 Math Goals: Counting bears, ten frames, shape matching, quantity tasks like “candles on the cake.” 🧠 Life Skills Goals: Clean vs dirty sorting, grocery bags, community roles, money skills. 😌 Social-Emotional Goals: Emotion matching, safe vs unsafe, regulation strategies, scenario sorters. Everything is hands-on, clear, and adaptable - without the daily worksheet shuffle. 📦 Where I Get All These Boxes Spoiler alert: I don’t make them from scratch every time. I created my Task Box Library to save my sanity and give myself (and you!) a go-to toolkit for every goal, theme, and season. Inside the library: 1,100+ pre-made task boxes Organized by skill, theme, and month Visual covers + storage labels Staff training modules Assessment tools + tracking sheets 👉 Check it out here 📋 How I Track Progress (Without Losing My Mind) I keep it super simple: Use a tracking sheet Record level of independence + accuracy Add quick notes for next steps Keep it consistent - that’s the key 💡 Tips for Getting Started with Task Boxes Start with 5–10 per student Match them to actual IEP goals, not just curriculum Use rainbow photo cases for storage Rotate boxes regularly during routines Reuse and level up instead of always making new ones 🛍️ Resources I Mention: 🧩 The Task Box Library My done-for-you library of 1,100+ task boxes, organized and ready to go. 👉 Join here 🎒 End of Year Google Drive Bundle Perfect for finishing strong with themed activities, crafts, and more. 👉 Grab it here 📚 Back to School Google Drive Bundle Plan ahead and walk into September feeling totally prepped. 👉 Grab it here 🏁 Final Thoughts Task boxes are such a powerful way to make progress on IEPs - in a way that’s doable, repeatable, and meaningful. They save time. They support student independence. And they let us ditch the worksheets without sacrificing goals. If you’re ready to streamline your support - the Task Box Library is the easiest way to start. 👉 Join the Task Box Library 👉 Find all my task boxes on TpT here. 📲 Let’s Connect! Let me know what skills you’re targeting - tag me on Instagram @teachingautism or send me a DM. I love seeing your classroom magic in action! Thanks for hanging out with me today - Until next time, stay caffeinated, trust your gut, and go crush those IEP goals. 💛Nikki

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  10:17
• How I Organize My Task Boxes Without Losing My Mind

  Hey friend! In this episode, I’m diving into one of the most requested topics from teachers like you - how I organize my task boxes without turning into a stressed-out mess surrounded by stray Velcro and mystery pieces. 😂 If you’re a special ed teacher, you know how powerful task boxes can be - for IEP goals, independence, calm-down time, assessment… they’re basically magic. But let’s be honest - once you hit 10, 50, or 1,100 of them (hi, me), keeping them organized can start to feel impossible. So I’m sharing exactly how I store, label, rotate, and manage my massive collection of task boxes - and how I keep them functional, accessible, and totally doable. I’m even giving you a peek into my digital Task Box Library, which is the heart of my classroom organization. Let’s get into it! 🧩 In This Episode, I Share: 💬 Why I Love Task Boxes Task boxes are: Visual, hands-on, reusable Perfect for literacy, math, fine motor, life skills, sub plans, independent work… basically everything Low-prep once they’re made — and they save me all year long 🌈 How I Store Them (Without Losing My Sanity) I’m obsessed with rainbow photo cases — you know the ones with the mini boxes inside? I organize mine by: Theme (like weather, bugs, Christmas) Skill set (fine motor, CVC, counting) Month/season (September boxes, Spring theme, etc.) Each mini box inside has: A visual of the task A title + skill label A little code that matches my inventory list (yep, I have one) It’s easy to grab what I need fast - even if a student just spilled glue across the table. 😅 📦 Where I Keep It All All of my rainbow photo cases live in my classroom closet - sorted, stacked, and labelled like a cozy little library. I rotate them seasonally and keep the most-used ones at arm’s reach. Think: “Fall CVC Words” “Back to School Counting” “Holiday Life Skills” 💾 A Peek Inside My Task Box Library My Task Box Library is a digital bundle that includes: 1,100+ task boxes Organized by theme, skill, and month Training modules on how to organize, assess, and introduce task boxes Plus student assessment tools to track progress If you’re already a member — go log in and grab your seasonal boxes and start rotating them! Not a member yet? 👉 Join the Task Box Library 🧠 My Top Task Box Organization Tips: 1. Label Everything Use clear covers with a visual, title, and skill label. Your future self will cry happy tears. 2. Keep an Inventory I use a Google Sheet to track every task box — name, skill, storage spot. Doesn’t have to be fancy, just functional. 3. Use a Weekly Drawer Cart I keep a “Task Boxes for This Week” drawer and switch it out every Friday. No more morning panic. 4. Reuse + Rotate Don’t reinvent the wheel each year. Reuse boxes, rotate them, and just sprinkle in a few new ones when needed. 💛 Why It’s Worth the Effort Once you’ve got a good system in place, you’ll: Save time every single week Support student goals on the fly Have sub plans prepped without lifting a finger Never wonder “where did that counting activity go?” again It’s hands-down one of the best systems I’ve ever implemented. 🛍️ Mentioned in This Episode: 📦 The Task Box Library Everything is printable, leveled, visual, and ready for you. 👉 Join the Library Here 🎒 End of Year Google Drive Bundle Finish the year strong with themed activities, crafts, adapted books, and more. 👉 Grab it here 📚 Back to School Google Drive Bundle Get yourself organized for next year before summer even starts. 👉 Grab it here 🌈 Rainbow Storage BoxesThese are what I use for storing all of my task boxes!🇺🇸 USA Link Here.🇬🇧 UK Link Here.These links are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase through one of these links. One tip that I always give educators, is to add things to your Amazon wish list. Then be sure to share it on social media throughout the year and definitely go and share it on this blog post. Let's help to clear your list! 🏁 Final Thoughts If your task boxes are currently living in a pile of random tubs and ziplock bags - I see you. Start small. Label one rainbow case this week. It will feel worth it. Let me know how you’re organizing yours - tag me @teachingautism or send me your best storage hack. Bonus points if it includes rainbow boxes, Velcro rolls, or a wildly satisfying label maker moment. 🤓 Thanks for hanging out with me today - Until next time, keep things visual, stay caffeinated, and label everything! 💛Nikki

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  12:09
• My Favourite End-of-Year Theme Days (and How I Make Them Work Every Year!)

  Hey friend! In this episode, I’m spilling all the details on one of my favourite ways to wrap up the school year: theme days! If you’ve been around here a while, you already know I live for a good theme - especially at the end of the year when routines go a little wonky, energy is through the roof, and we’re all counting down the days to summer. I’ve been doing theme days for years now, and I’ve finally nailed down a system that makes them feel magical, manageable, and totally reusable. In this episode, I’m sharing five of my go-to end-of-year themes, how I set them up, what activities I use, how I decorate (without going broke), and why I keep coming back to them every single year. 🎪 Inside the Episode, I Talk About: 1. Circus Theme Day Red and white stripes, silly hats, and sensory-friendly carnival games make this one a total hit. I share my favourite activities like ring toss, cutting clown hair (hello, fine motor!), and fake popcorn snacks — plus how I keep the vibe magical but calm. 2. Pizza Theme Day This one is always a class favourite! I talk about how I turn my classroom into a mini pizzeria with matching visuals, dramatic play, and play dough pizzas. It’s perfect for sequencing, communication, and even sneaking in a little math. 3. Lemonade Theme Day A calm, refreshing theme that’s perfect for those warmer days. I go all in with yellow decor, lemon-themed math games, and a tasting station with different flavours. We keep it visual and communication-friendly — and yes, there’s a “lemon squad” group photo. 4. Ice Cream Theme Day No school year ends without Ice Cream Day! I reuse pastel decorations, pull out my adapted books and matching activities, and we top it all off with a tasting session (or a fruit and cream option). I also share my go-to ice cream themed crafts and counting tasks. 5. Camping Theme Day This is my go-to for a chill, cozy final week. I talk about how I set up the “campfire,” decorate with fairy lights, and run the whole day by flashlight. You’ll hear about the literacy, math, and sensory activities I use — plus some sweet snack ideas to finish it off. 💛 You’ll Also Hear: How I store and reuse everything from year to year in labeled boxes Where I get low-cost (or free!) decorations and props My tips for keeping theme days low-prep but high-impact Why they’re perfect for time fillers, sub days, or when plans change last minute How these themed days still support structure, visuals, and calm for my students 🛍️ Resources I Mention: 🎡 End-of-Year Theme Day Bundle on TpT Get access to all five of the theme days I mentioned, including visuals, printables, and activities that are ready to go. 👉 Grab the bundle here 📁 End-of-Year Google Drive Bundle Packed with crafts, sensory supports, scavenger hunts, and more — everything digital and printable to finish the year strong. 👉 Grab it here 📝 Final Thoughts Theme days don’t have to be Pinterest-perfect to be special. I’ve found that keeping things visual, structured, and fun is the sweet spot — especially for our special education classrooms. My students love these days, and I love how simple they are to run once they’re prepped. If you try one of these theme days, tag me @teachingautism so I can cheer you on and see the magic you’re making! Thanks for tuning in - and don’t forget, it’s not about doing more, it’s about doing what works for you and your students. Talk soon, 💛 Nikki

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  13:26

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About Teaching Autism and Special Education by Nikki