Social Cipher

Learning doesn’t have to stop over the holiday! ?? Check out this free Conversation Journal Lesson Plan to send home with students to complete over the break: https://buff.ly/3UZ9de6 The lesson encourages them to have a conversation with their loved ones as a way to practice active listening and social awareness! #neurodivergent #neurodiversity #inclusion #autism #specialeducation #socialskills #listeningskills

??Stay current on the latest SpEd and SEL news! (plus get a free lesson plan and activity) This month's All Kinds of Minds newsletter goes out tomorrow, so join the mailing list today: https://buff.ly/3ANds5R #neurodiversity #autism #inclusion #specialeducation

Our SEL curriculum and online game Ava is a high-quality, cost-effective solution that helps teachers ensure neurodivergent students meet their social and emotional IEP goals. #neurodiversity #autism #adhdawareness #inclusion #specialeducation #problemsolvingskills

??Did you know you can try our online SEL game Ava for FREE? ??We’ve unlocked the “Trying New Things” game module and curriculum, so more educators can explore Ava and try it out with one student. In the “Trying New Things” module, students learn how to: - Identify stressors - Use coping skills - Ask for help - Handle setbacks Create your free account here: https://buff.ly/3BdUJQJ #neurodiversity #inclusion #autism #specialeducation #classroommanagement #school

Take a listen to Mark Pfaff discussing mindset shifts with Vanessa Casta?eda Gill. Watch the full video on YouTube: https://buff.ly/4fcVkkI You can also listen on Spotify, Apple, or Pocket Cast! #neurodiversity #autism #autismawareness #autismacceptance #inclusion #specialeducation

Episode 2 of the All Kinds of Minds Podcast is now out! In this episode, we interview Mark Pfaff ( Director of Special Education and CAPTAIN Regional Implementation Lead in Tehama County, California) about barriers to inclusion. Take a listen: https://buff.ly/3CccY9C #neurodiversity #education #inclusion #specialeducation

Today’s a big day in the U.S. as millions of people vote for the next president. ?? While we can’t always protect students from hearing heated disagreements, we CAN teach them how to have healthy debates where everyone feels respected. Check out our Healthy Debates lesson plan: https://buff.ly/3UCweUb #neurodiversity #autism #inclusion #specialeducation #healthydebates #socialawareness #relationshipskills

Wishing all who celebrate a happy and safe Halloween! May it be filled with the same excitement and fun as it was when you were a kid. ?? #halloween #halloween2024

Here are 3 ways to motivate autistic students: - Leverage Special Interests Connect academic tasks to special interests to make learning more engaging. Aligning assignments with their passions or interests helps them see the connection the real world and what they’re learning in school. - Provide Choices Autistic students feel more empowered when given two or three different options to meet their learning goals. Providing choices fosters ownership of their learning, reduces anxiety, and increases engagement. - Focus on Strengths Celebrate your students’ skills and abilities and find ways to align them with the content they learn. For specific examples of how you can implement these ideas in your classroom, please visit our blog post: https://buff.ly/4hiM93x #neurodiversity #inclusion #autism #autismawareness #autismacceptance #specialeducation

Motivating students is not a one-size-fits-all concept; what works for neurotypical students doesn’t always work for autistic students. Even among autistic students, what works for one might not work for another. Autistic students do not typically respond well to traditional extrinsic motivators such as public praise, or rewards and consequences. Here’s why: - Sensory Sensitivities Bright lights or loud sounds can make it difficult for autistic students to focus and complete tasks. Extrinsic rewards, even ones that the students like, don’t address the root cause. - Social Understanding Many autistic students do not seek social approval like their neurotypical peers, so public praise or recognition may not motivate them. Read our blog post to learn ways that you can motivate autistic students (link in comments). #neurodivergent #neurodiversity #autism #inclusion #specialeducation