10 Critical Components for Success in the Special Education Classroom

"10 Critical Components for Success in the Special Education Classroom is a must have resource for experienced as well as new special education teachers as well as school administration. The book offers easy to use and practical ideas for organizing your physical classroom space, materials, student and staff schedules. Readers will also receive well thought out strategies that will definitely aid in the ultimate end result; student success!"

"Finally, the book that should be consulted when new ESE classrooms are created!  This book provides the blueprint to setting up a successful self-contained classroom for both beginning teachers and experienced teachers."

"The path to success for students with autism and intellectual disabilities starts here, when their teachers implement the essential critical components outlined in 10 Critical Components for Success in the Special Education Classroom."

"Raising expectations is what the 10 Critical Components is all about!  Not only does this system provide a 'map' for teachers to provide appropriate instruction with high expectations for students, it also gives a systematic and clear method for administrators to evaluate teachers in the Special Education classrooms. Put it all together, and you have a system that will ensure students are receiving structured and meaningful instruction that will prepare them for the future."

"I have had the pleasure of working with Marcia and Nannette in two school districts.  I first met them while working as Dean of Instruction at a high school campus.  These two ladies were hired by our Special Education Director to come in and 're-haul' our Life Skills programs.  I sat back and watched in amazement as they worked their 'magic.'  The classrooms transformed into learning environments right before my eyes.  As the 10 Critical Components were taught to the teachers, a significant impact was made not only on the staff, but most importantly, the students and their parents.  The 10 Critical Components encompass the needs of the whole child from the necessary physical arrangement of the classroom to individualized IEP's as well as parent communication.  After leaving that district and becoming a Special Education Director in a neighboring district, I realized my Life Skills classes were in need of a "makeover," not only in classroom arrangements, but also in instruction, communication, individualized behavior plans, and curriculum.  I immediately called upon Marcia and Nannette, and they began the process.  I am currently in year two of the 10 Critical Components.  The teachers who have begun this process are amazed at the progress of their students along with the simplicity of the components.  Once the components are in place in the classroom, everything comes together, and the students thrive.  We still have a lot of work to do to fully implement the 10 Critical Components in my district, but with Marcia and Nannette by my side, the classrooms will be instructional learning environments where all students in this district will experience success and reach their full potential.  I cannot begin to thank Marcia and Nannette for all of their hard work in working with my district."

"Our teachers have been very happy with the training on the Ten Critical Components and feel that it has assisted them in being better prepared to meet the needs of their students.  In fact, the question I get most often from teachers is, 'When can they come back?'"

"I will never forget my first year as a Life Skills Special Education teacher!  I had two brand new empty classrooms and absolutely no idea how to set them up for success when the students arrived.  Thank goodness my director sent Marcia and Nannette and their 10 Components!  They taught me how color coding makes the classroom structure come together.  Now each year the first thing I do is choose a color and appropriate icon/picture for each student.  I label everything 'theirs'- desks, work boxes, place in line, picture schedule, etc. with that color and icon.  It makes the first days and lessons so much easier!  Students identify what’s theirs, and learn to respect what belongs to others.   Excellent and 'essential' for the Special Education Classroom."

"I was excited to attend Marcia and Nannette's workshop on the 10 critical components when I found out who the presenters were. They both have so much to offer teachers and parents of ALL students with learning differences. My first year as a self-contained special education teacher would have ended very differently, and much sooner, had they not been there to 'reorganize' the way the classroom was set up, as well as the way I approached teaching. That was an extremely difficult year, but they got better. I do believe I learned from the best."

"This is a formal thank you for introducing me to the 10 Components.  Before I was introduced to Marcia and Nannette's methodology, my self-contained classroom, in my opinion, was running smoothly, as I was receiving excellent appraisals from my principal.  Although it was taking me 10 to 11 hours a day, I was 'juggling' my classroom pretty successfully one would say. My initial introduction to the 10 components was not readily accepted.  In fact you might say I resisted change.  One day I received a new student with behavioral issues, and consequently the behaviors of my current students changed as well and not for the better. Marcia and Nannette revisited my classroom and refocused me on the methodology of the 10 components. That refocusing literally saved my school year, and everyone reaped the benefits.  My students were totally happy to have a dependable schedule, my paraprofessionals were more at ease and comfortable, and of course the classroom ran more smoothly.  Various other aspects of the 10 components were equally as important, but the one mentioned above was very key to my classroom situation at the time.  I am happy to report that I ended the year working from 8 to 9 hours per day including getting administrative tasks completed as well. You made me a believer in the 10 Components."

"Marcia Rohrer and Nannette Samson have provided the Special Services department with outstanding services through the years. The training they provide on the 10 Critical Components enable teachers to structure their classrooms in such a way that behavioral concerns are minimized and time on task is increased. This outstanding training is then coupled with individualized assistance with classroom arrangement, staff and student scheduling, behavioral management, and delivery of instruction to maximize student progress.  These specialists have also provided our parents with thorough and in depth evaluations and targeted goals for in-home and parent training. These comprehensive services enable staff to increase their positive energy and productivity so that students attain maximum educational benefit."