139. What I Wished I Had Prepped Before the New School Year

Back-to-school prep doesn’t have to mean laminating late into the night. In this episode, I’m breaking down what I really wish I had prepped before the school year began—things that made a lasting impact on student independence and classroom flow (and saved my sanity). Spoiler: it's not about perfection, it's about purpose.

We’ll walk through the four key areas I focus on now: evergreen task boxes, visuals that teach routines from day one, a flexible planning framework based on skills (not the calendar), and teacher-facing tools that keep you grounded when the chaos hits. Whether you’re prepping for August or mid-year troubleshooting, these are the systems that will support you all year long.

Want to add low prep tasks to your independent work systems? Check out the Complete Independent Work Club

If you're a busy special education teacher looking for tips, tricks, and resources to save you precious time, I've got you covered! I'm here to help you regain your confidence in the classroom and feel calm and collected as a special educator.

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