Easy Wins: Start the Year with These Tools

Back-to-school season: that magical time when your classroom smells like Clorox wipes, your email inbox is giving anxiety in 4K, and you’re just trying to remember how to function before 10 a.m. without iced coffee and a morning nap.

Let’s be real… no one is looking to reinvent the wheel in August. You need easy wins. Tools that actually work. Things that help you survive (and dare I say thrive?) in those first few chaotic weeks. Whether you’re wrangling eighth graders like me, navigating IEPs, or just trying to remember your computer password, I got you.

Here are my go-to tools to start the school year strong — with your sanity (mostly) intact.

🧠 1. Reference Sheets = Instant Independence

Special ed teachers, you know the drill: we teach multi-step math processes 73 times and still get blank stares by October. That’s why math reference sheets are the MVP of my classroom. These little cheat sheets live in student notebooks, folders, desks — basically anywhere they’ll remember to actually use them.

They reduce anxiety, promote independence, and make you look like a genius who differentiates like a boss.

💡 Pro tip: Laminate them or slide them into page protectors so they last longer than your back-to-school energy.

📦 2. Bins, Bins, and More Bins (Yes, That’s the Tool)

I know it sounds basic, but hear me out: clear, labeled storage bins will change your life. When you teach multiple grade levels, co-teach, or run pull-out groups, your materials need to be grab-and-go. No more digging through a filing cabinet like you’re on a game show.

✨ Bonus points if the labels are color-coded. Extra bonus points if you convince yourself color-coding is self-care. (It is.)

🧘 3. Calm Corners that Actually Work

No, you don’t need a zen waterfall and fairy lights (unless you’re into that, no judgment). But a designated calm-down space with a few regulation tools can do wonders. Think noise-canceling headphones, fidget tools, visual calm-down steps, and maybe a timer.

It doesn’t have to be fancy. Just predictable and functional.

Because let’s be honest, sometimes we want to sit in the calm-down corner too.

🖥️ 4. Digital Tools That Don’t Suck

I said what I said. There are a lot of flashy platforms out there, but these are the ones I actually use:

• ClassroomScreen – Great for timers, visual cues, and noise levels

• Read&Write for Google Chrome – Amazing for accessibility

• Boom Cards – Self-checking and perfect for centers or independent work

Keep it simple. Don’t overwhelm yourself with a million logins. Pick 2–3 solid ones and stick with them. Your future self will thank you.

📝 5. IEP-Friendly Templates

You know what’s not cute? Spending 45 minutes writing the same IEP accommodation 15 different ways. Make yourself some plug-and-play templates for things like:

• Behavior data tracking

• Parent communication logs

• Weekly check-ins

Use them, reuse them, tweak as needed. Work smarter, not later-until-9pm-er.

💬 6. Your Teacher Besties (a.k.a. Your Realest Tool)

Okay, cheesy moment incoming: your colleagues are a tool too. (The good kind.) The ones who share resources, laugh with you when everything goes sideways, and send you memes during faculty meetings? Keep them close. You’ll need them. I especially prefer my teacher bestie group that is always ready to get a cocktail so we can debrief on a Friday, or the ones that you can vent to in the group chat.

Win Easy, Win Early

You don’t have to have it all together, just a few solid tools that give you a head start and a breather. Think of these as your survival kit for the first month of school.

Whether you’re teaching decimals, decoding behavior plans, or just trying to drink your coffee while it’s hot, these tools will help you feel a little more in control.

And honestly? That’s the real win.

Let’s make this year a good one — or at least one where we don’t cry in the supply closet before Labor Day. 💪

Also, check out:

Everything You Need for Back to School!

Using Assistive Technology to Support Your Students