Back-to-School Survival Guide for Special Education Teachers: Tools, Tips, and Must-Have Resources

Back-to-school season is here! For special education teachers, it’s a whirlwind of IEPs, schedules, student needs, and a classroom that somehow has to run smoothly on day one. The key to starting strong isn’t just hard work - it’s having the right tools and systems in place.

In this guide, I’m sharing my ultimate back-to-school toolkit for special education teachers. These are the resources I personally rely on to save time, stay organized, and start the year confident. Plus, I’ll share classroom essentials from Amazon that make teaching easier and help you create a functional, stress-free space.

Whether you’re a first-year teacher or a seasoned pro, these tips and resources will set you up for your smoothest school year yet.

1. Start with a Back-to-School To-Do List

When everything feels urgent, it’s hard to know where to start. The best thing you can do is focus on what actually matters.

Grab my Beginning-of-the-Year To-Do List for Special Education Teachers to see exactly where to focus your energy during those first critical weeks. This guide helps you:

Prioritize high-impact tasks
Set up systems you’ll actually use
Avoid busywork that wastes your time

Amazon Essential:

Color-Coded Hanging File Folders for organizing IEPs, student paperwork, and data collection sheets.

2. Make a Memorable First Impression with Families

Your first contact with families sets the tone for the year. A professional, welcoming introduction builds trust and encourages collaboration.

Use my Meet the Special Education Teacher Editable Welcome Letter (Freebie) to introduce yourself without starting from scratch. Parents feel reassured, and you look polished and prepared.

Amazon Essential:

HP Color Printer for printing welcome letters and parent handouts in color.

3. Engage Students with Back-to-School Activities

Generic icebreakers rarely work in small-group SPED settings. Instead, use activities that build connection, confidence, and baseline data.

Try Back-to-School Small Group Activities for All Content Areas to:

Learn student strengths and challenges
Build community in small groups
Ease into academics without pressure

Amazon Essential:

Dry-Erase Pocket Sleeves – Slide in your activity sheets for reusable practice and instant engagement.

4. Get Organized with IEP Systems

IEPs are the backbone of your year. If your system is disorganized, stress skyrockets. Start with these must-haves:

IEP at a Glance Freebie for a quick overview of student needs.
IEP Meeting Forms and Checklists to simplify meeting prep.
The Best Special Education Teacher Binder to keep all documentation in one organized spot.
IEP Goal Bank (K-2 Reading & Executive Functioning) to save hours writing goals.

Amazon Essentials:

3-Inch Heavy-Duty Binders – Perfect for your IEP binder system.
Sticky Tabs and Page Flags – Color-code IEP goals, accommodations, and meeting notes for fast access.

5. Empower Students from Day One

Student ownership starts early. I begin each year with:

Student Goal-Setting Forms for IEPs – Students get to take part in their learning journey.
Editable Crisis Prevention Plans – Keep everyone safe and informed when behavior plans are needed.

Amazon Essential:

Clipboards with Storage – Take your goal-setting and behavior plans anywhere in the building without losing papers.

6. Support Every Learner with Accommodations and Tools

The start of the year is the perfect time to refresh your accommodation toolkit:

Signs of Dyslexia Checklist – Identify students who need additional support early.
50+ Classroom Accommodations for Dyslexia – Implement effective, evidence-based supports.
Cognitive Processes Toolkit – Address executive functioning needs.
Short Vowel Decodable Readers & Activities Bundle – Build foundational reading skills.
How Do Students Qualify for Special Education? – Understand eligibility and support new referrals confidently.

Amazon Essential:

Fluency Phones – Simple, affordable tools for improving reading fluency in small groups.

7. Build a Positive Classroom Culture from Day One

Behavior systems and routines are the backbone of a productive SPED classroom. I use the Complete Classroom Behavior Management Bundle to:

Reinforce positive behaviors
Track and document incidents easily
Reduce reactive stress with proactive systems

Amazon Essential:

Desktop 3-Drawer Organizer – Keep behavior charts, reward coupons, and data collection sheets at your fingertips.

The Key to a Smooth Special Education School Year

Starting the school year strong is all about preparation and the right tools. From ready-to-go IEP systems to student goal-setting forms and behavior supports, these resources save you hours and reduce overwhelm. Pair them with simple Amazon classroom upgrades, and you’ll spend less time managing chaos and more time making an impact.

Your next steps:

Download the free IEP and welcome letter resources above.
Grab a few key TPT bundles to organize your year.
Set up your classroom with the Amazon essentials to make daily routines effortless.

The smoother your start, the better your year - AND your students will feel that confidence too.

Happy Teaching!

Miss Rae

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