Social Cipher

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

As an autistic person, Dr. Lucas Harrington shares what he wishes his teachers understood about him. #neurodiversity #autism #autismawareness #autismacceptance #inclusion #education #specialeducation #adhdawareness

What do you do if a student is stimming (repetitive behaviors)? In general, the answer is “nothing”! Stimming is a common way that autistic students self-soothe and regulate their emotions. Common stims include hand flapping, rocking, and repeating sounds or phrases. While stimming may seem unusual to people who aren’t familiar, it’s not something to “fix.” In fact, educators can foster inclusivity in their classrooms by recognizing stimming as a natural behavior and educating students and staff about the purpose. If a stim is potentially harmful, collaborate with family and other professionals to identify alternatives that provide the same sensory or emotional support. In our “Guide to Addressing Challenging Behaviors in Special Education,” we discuss neurodiversity-affirming proactive and reactive strategies for common behaviors such as: - Meltdowns, outbursts, and shutdowns - Stimming - Difficulty transitioning between activities - Difficulty with social interactions - Task avoidance and procrastination - Covering ears or withdrawing from group activities Visit the link in the comments to download the full guide! #neurodivergent #neurodiversity #autism #autismawareness #inclusion #specialeducation #adhdawareness

📢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! (link in comments) #adhdawareness #autism #autismawareness #autismacceptance #inclusion #neurodivergent #specialeducation #specialeducationteachers

These activities for ADHD learners help them strengthen SEL skills, such as problem-solving and self-awareness, while keeping them engaged through interactive and hands-on tasks. ⭐Pros and Cons List This activity teaches students a decision-making tool they can use forever. Provide scenarios where all options are desirable. Have the students create a list of pros and cons for each option and then guide them to make their final decision. ⭐Ava by Social Cipher As students play *Ava,* they learn and practice valuable SEL skills to help them navigate challenging situations, often resulting in an improvement in behavior, academic performance, and overall well-being ⭐Emotions Bingo Help students recognize and articulate different emotions by adding a twist to the classic bingo game. Instead of numbers, use emotions on the cards. Read scenarios aloud, and have students mark the emotions that align with each scenario. For more activities visit our blog post (link in comments). #neurodiversity #education #autism #adhdawareness #inclusion #specialeducation

We love to empower and support neurodivergent students AND the professionals who work with them. Today, we’re focusing on self-care tips for educators and therapists! 1. Build mental breaks into the daily routine. While students take their break, give yourself a mental break and time to practice mindful breathing. 2. Set boundaries to create work-life balance. If you use a communication app, set regular hours. Allow yourself to be off from work when you’re off, and don’t feel guilty about it! 3. Decompress at the end of the day by writing in a journal. Focus on what you’re thankful for and what went well that day. #neurodiversity #inclusion #specialeducation #mentalhealth #mentalhealthmatters #mentalhealthawareness #worldmentalhealthday

Supporting ADHD learners means creating opportunities where they can thrive, and SEL activities play a key role in this. Here are three engaging activities that not only build SEL skills but also allows students to display their unique strengths! 💪 Strengths collages This activity allows students to explore and share their strengths in a creative, hands-on way. 🤝Team building activities Activities, such as building a tower using spaghetti and marshmallows, can help students strengthen their relationship, communication, and problem-solving skills. 🏝 Desert island game What would you take if you were going to be stuck on a desert island? This activity encourages students to think critically and strengthen their decision-making skills in a fun way. Check out the SEL Resources tab on our website for lesson plans and activities! Link is in the comments. #neurodivergent #neurodiversity #adhdawareness #adhdawarenessmonth #inclusion #specialeducation

Here are 4 ways to support learners with ADHD: - Incorporate SEL learning into the school day - Take sensory breaks - Add structure to the environment - Leverage technology to keep students engaged Read more about these in our blog post! (link in comments) #adhdawareness #education #specialeducation #neurodiversity #inclusion

This month we’ll be sharing tons of resources to help you support your ADHD learners. First, let’s address some myths and facts! Link to our blog post is in the comments. #neurodivergent #neurodiversity #inclusion #adhd #adhdawareness #adhdawarenessmonth #specialeducation