Back-to-school season is officially here—and whether it's your first year or your fifteenth, setting up a functional, organized, and calm classroom can feel like a lot. In this episode, I'm walking you through practical classroom setup tips specifically designed for self-contained special education classrooms. You'll learn how to create student-centered zones that actually work, set up visuals and systems that support independence, and avoid the common setup traps that lead to chaos instead of calm. I'll also share some of my favorite go-to tools and organization hacks that have saved me hours (and my sanity) every school year. Plus, don't miss the free Classroom Setup Webinar—packed with examples, walkthroughs, and a printable checklist to help you set up your space without the stress. 🧩 In This Episode, You'll Learn: Why classroom setup can make or break your first month back How to define and structure classroom "zones" that work for your students' needs What visuals, tools, and furniture actually help (and what to skip) How to set up your teacher space to avoid burnout midweek Ways to organize your materials for smooth daily routines The mindset shift from Pinterest-perfect to functionally fabulous   Links and Resources 🎁 Free Classroom Setup Webinar:  Get my exact framework, zone examples, and printable setup checklist. 🛍 Back-to-School Bundle for Special Education: Includes classroom labels, visual schedules, checklists, and more. 📋 Special Education Case Manager Bundle: Organize your caseload, notes, and parent communication all in one place.   Connect with Dawn   Find me on IG Find me on Tik Tok Etsy Shop TpT Store The Exceptional Collective Subscribe Are you subscribed to my podcast? Trust me, you definitely want to do that so you don't miss a thing! Click here to subscribe in iTunes! Leave a Review If you are loving the podcast, I would be really grateful if you left me a review over on iTunes, too. Those reviews help other teachers find my podcast and I love hearing what you think about the podcast as well. Just click here to review, select "Ratings and Reviews" and "Write a Review" and let me know what part of the podcast you found to be the most helpful!

Ver todos los episodios