Kristen O'Brien

In this quick 15-minute lesson, students will learn simple strategies to pay attention and stay still during class activities. This skill-building session helps our Grade 5 learners—especially those with autism, intellectual or health impairments, and communication disorders—develop self-regulation that boosts learning and classroom comfort.

This ongoing lesson is designed for an autistic student with intellectual impairment, focusing on making healthy eating choices and self-advocating for food preferences. The lesson is crucial for promoting independence and confidence in food-related decisions, addressing specific needs such as communication disorders, anxiety, and weight issues. Each session is 15 minutes long, providing consistent support and reinforcement.

This lesson is designed for intellectually impaired grade 7 students to help them understand and express their feelings. By learning to share their emotions, students will improve their communication skills and emotional intelligence, which are crucial for personal and social development. The session will last 20 minutes and includes a lesson plan and worksheet, considering IEPs, low intellectual functioning, and multilingual needs.

This lesson aims to raise mental health awareness among parents of middle school students, coinciding with Mental Health Awareness Month in May 2025. It provides essential knowledge and strategies to support their children's mental well-being in a 10-minute session, including a lesson plan and a parent handout.

This lesson focuses on teaching intellectually impaired middle school students about internet safety in a single 15-minute session. It is crucial for students to understand how to navigate the internet safely, recognize potential dangers, and know how to protect their personal information. The lesson will include a lesson plan and a worksheet, with considerations for IEP and ML students to ensure accessibility and understanding.

This lesson focuses on teaching students in grades 5-8 the importance of kindness and how it impacts themselves and others. In a 10-minute session, students will engage in a discussion to explore the value of kindness in everyday life, fostering a positive classroom environment. This lesson is particularly supportive for students with ADHD, IEPs, 504 plans, communication disorders, autism, and low self-esteem, as it encourages empathy and social connection.

Students in grades 5-8 will explore the importance of community and how it impacts their lives. This 10-minute lesson encourages empathy and collaboration, designed to be inclusive for students with IEPs, 504 plans, ADHD, communication disorders, and autism.

This lesson explores the concept of respect, its importance in everyday interactions, and how it can positively impact relationships. Designed for Grades 5-8, this 10-minute session will engage students in understanding and practicing respect, with considerations for students with IEPs, 504s, autism, communication disorders, and ADHD.

In this 10-minute session designed for grades 5-8, students will explore the concept of positivity and its impact on self-esteem. The lesson aims to empower students by helping them recognize the importance of a positive mindset in their daily lives, while accommodating diverse learning needs, including multilingual students and those with IEPs, 504s, ADHD, communication disorders, and autism.

This lesson aims to teach students in grades 5-8 about the importance of maintaining a positive mindset and how it can impact their lives. In just one 10-minute session, students will engage in a fun and interactive game that highlights the benefits of positivity, making it accessible for multilingual students and those with IEPs, 504s, communication disorders, low self-esteem, and ADHD.

This lesson focuses on teaching middle school students with autism, communication disorders, and intellectual impairments how to be kinder classmates. Through engaging activities, students will learn empathy, understanding, and effective communication skills, which are crucial for building positive relationships and a supportive classroom environment. This lesson is designed for a small group of 6 students and will be conducted in one 20-minute session.

This lesson focuses on teaching a small group of middle school students, particularly those with autism and other learning disabilities, how to be kinder classmates. Through engaging activities and games, students will learn empathy, communication, and social skills, which are crucial for building positive relationships and a supportive classroom environment. The lesson is designed for one 20-minute session.

This lesson introduces middle school students (grades 5-8) to mindfulness practices, focusing on simple techniques to enhance focus and emotional regulation. It's designed for a 15-minute session, providing group support (Tier 2) with simple language to accommodate IEP needs.

Introduce 8th graders on an IEP to mindfulness through interactive discussions and activities, emphasizing its importance in everyday life. This lesson fosters a supportive and empathetic classroom environment.

This lesson focuses on teaching middle school students, including those with intellectual impairments, the essential skills of self-advocacy. In just 10 minutes, students will learn how to express their needs and rights effectively, which is crucial for their personal development and empowerment. The lesson will be translated into Haitian Creole to ensure accessibility for all students.

This lesson is designed for adults, particularly educators, to reflect on the social-emotional skills students should possess by the end of each grade level. It will help teachers better support their students' development in these areas. The session will last 30 minutes and is suitable for a Tier 1 classroom-wide approach.

This engaging lesson for grade 5 students focuses on enhancing fact fluency in mathematics through fun and interactive activities. It's designed to build confidence and speed in basic arithmetic, which is essential for more advanced math concepts. The lesson is structured for one 20-minute session and includes accommodations for students with IEPs, such as larger font sizes and support for communication disorders.

This lesson is designed for special education middle school students in grades 5-7 to help them decrease test anxiety. In just one short session of 5-7 minutes, students will learn strategies to manage their anxiety, empowering them to approach tests with confidence. This lesson is crucial as it addresses the emotional and psychological barriers that can hinder academic performance, especially for students with IEPs, 504s, social-emotional impairments, and communication disorders.

In this engaging 15-minute lesson for Grade 6 students, we'll explore the differences between effective and ineffective communication. This lesson is crucial as it helps students develop essential life skills, enabling them to express themselves clearly and understand others better. The lesson is designed to be inclusive, considering students with IEPs, specific learning disabilities, ADHD, and communication disorders.

This lesson is designed for special education students in grade 6 to help them decrease test anxiety. Through engaging activities and games, students will learn strategies to manage their stress and approach tests with confidence. This 20-minute session aims to empower students with tools to conquer their fears and perform better in test situations.

This lesson helps 6th-grade special education students manage test anxiety through fun activities and a game, boosting their confidence and reducing stress for a better test-taking experience.

In this special education lesson, students will explore communication disorders, learning about their characteristics and how they impact individuals. This 20-minute activity is designed to foster empathy and understanding, equipping students with strategies to support peers with communication challenges.

This lesson is designed for special education and general education teachers to understand the impact of negative versus positive reinforcement on student behavior. In a 20-minute session, teachers will explore strategies to effectively use reinforcement to encourage positive behavior in students. This lesson is crucial for creating a supportive and motivating classroom environment.

In this engaging 30-minute session, Grade 5 students will learn to plot and simplify algebraic expressions, tailored for special education needs. This lesson is crucial for building foundational math skills and confidence in handling algebraic concepts.

This lesson is designed for 6th-grade students with communication and specific learning disorders, focusing on reducing test anxiety. In a 20-minute session, students will engage in activities that help them identify anxiety triggers and learn coping strategies. This lesson is crucial for empowering students to approach tests with confidence and calmness, ultimately improving their academic performance and well-being.

This lesson is designed for special education middle school students with communication disorders, specific learning disabilities, and autism. The goal is to help students learn how to engage in conversations appropriately and independently. This 20-minute session will focus on practical strategies and role-playing to enhance communication skills, making it an essential life skill lesson.

This lesson is designed to help middle school special education students ease test anxiety by equipping them with practical strategies and a positive mindset. In just 15 minutes, students will engage in a warm-up activity, a guided discussion, and learn techniques to manage stress and boost confidence during tests. This lesson is crucial as it empowers students to approach tests with a calm and focused mindset, enhancing their academic performance and overall well-being.

Explore how visual supports can enhance learning and communication in the classroom. This lesson will help students understand the power of images and how they can aid in comprehension and memory retention. Designed for a 5th Grade class, this 45-minute session will engage students in discovering the impact of visuals in everyday learning.

Students will embark on a journey of self-discovery and relaxation through guided visualization exercises. This lesson will help them harness the power of imagination to find peace, focus, and resilience amidst the hustle of daily routines. Objective: To promote relaxation and mental focus using visualization techniques. Approach: Engage students in a series of guided journeys to explore inner landscapes and enhance their ability to self-soothe during stressful times.

Help a small group of students find calmness in chaotic situations through mindfulness techniques. This lesson aims to provide tools for emotional regulation during stressful times, specifically designed for a 6th-grade group over a 10-session period. This lesson is important as it equips students with valuable skills for managing stress and emotions, promoting overall well-being.

This lesson aims to teach autistic grade 5 students the importance of being respectful and kind through engaging activities and discussions. In a 20-minute session, students will explore how kindness can positively impact their relationships and create a more inclusive environment. This lesson is crucial for fostering empathy and understanding, especially for students with IEPs focusing on autism and communication disorders.

This lesson is designed to help students with ADHD and neurodiversity learn effective strategies for communicating their needs. Through engaging activities and discussions, students will gain confidence in expressing themselves, which is crucial for their personal and academic success. The lesson is tailored for a 25-minute session and includes a lesson plan, worksheet, activity, and discussion.

This lesson is designed to help students with communication disorders, ADHD, and specific learning disabilities learn how to effectively communicate their needs. Through engaging activities and discussions, students will gain confidence and skills in expressing themselves clearly. This single 25-minute session is crucial for empowering students to advocate for themselves in various settings.

This lesson focuses on enhancing self-esteem in students with communication disorders through an engaging game-based activity. By addressing bullying in a supportive environment, students will learn to recognize their strengths and build confidence. This lesson is important as it empowers students to feel valued and respected, fostering a positive self-image.

This lesson introduces 5th-grade students to multiplication with double digits through engaging, game-based learning activities. By using active learning strategies, students will practice and reinforce their multiplication skills in a fun and interactive way. This approach not only helps in understanding the concept but also caters to diverse learning needs, making it accessible for students with communication disorders, autism, ADHD, and intellectual impairments.

This lesson introduces 5th-grade students to the concept of personal space, helping them understand its importance and how to respect it in social interactions. Through a combination of video content, interactive activities, and guided discussions, students will learn to recognize personal boundaries and practice maintaining them. This lesson is crucial for fostering respectful and empathetic social interactions, which are essential skills for personal and academic success.

This lesson helps autistic grade 5 students understand the concept of personal space through a video and an interactive game. Understanding personal space is crucial for social interactions and helps students navigate their environment more comfortably. This lesson uses engaging, game-based learning to make the concept accessible and enjoyable.

This lesson teaches students the importance of being flexible and respectful. Through a video and discussion, students will learn how flexibility can improve social interactions, fostering empathy and understanding.

This lesson helps students understand and practice techniques to manage overstimulation. By learning grounding techniques, students can develop skills to calm themselves in overwhelming situations. This lesson is crucial for fostering self-regulation and emotional well-being, especially for students with autism.

This lesson teaches Grade 5 students the importance of respecting personal space and understanding appropriate boundaries. It includes visual aids and role-playing activities to support students with high-functioning autism and communication disorders. By learning these skills, students will be better equipped to navigate social interactions and build healthy relationships.

This lesson helps 5th-grade students learn about setting and respecting boundaries with friends and adults. Using a video, social stories, and discussion, students will understand how to have healthy friendships. This lesson is important for building social skills and creating a respectful environment.

This lesson introduces middle school students to the concept of personal boundaries, helping them understand what boundaries are and why they are important in relationships. Through a video and guided discussion, students will explore how to set and respect boundaries, fostering healthier interactions with peers. This lesson is crucial for developing social-emotional skills and promoting respectful communication.

This lesson uses simple games and activities to help students understand personal space. Students will learn to recognize and respect the boundaries of others, which is important for creating a safe and respectful environment. This lesson is especially helpful for students with communication disorders, as it provides clear and structured ways to practice social skills.

This lesson uses a simplified game-based approach to teach lower-functioning autistic middle school students about personal boundaries. Through visual aids and interactive activities, students will learn to recognize and respect personal space and boundaries, which is crucial for their social development and interpersonal relationships.

In this lesson, students will explore empathy through simplified storytelling and role-playing activities, supported by visual aids. They will learn to recognize and respect different emotions and perspectives, enhancing their social interactions. This lesson is important as it helps students develop social-emotional skills, fostering a more inclusive and understanding classroom environment.

This lesson introduces middle school students to the concept of personal boundaries, helping them understand their own boundaries and respect others'. Through engaging discussions and role-playing activities, students will practice setting and respecting boundaries. This lesson is important as it fosters self-awareness and empathy, essential skills for healthy interpersonal relationships.