About: Mary McLaughlin

Mary has always loved learning, but was a struggling learner who couldn’t read until one day, the right teacher came along with the right methodology, and everything clicked for Mary. Understanding the struggles of children who just “don’t get it,” Mary has spent her career supporting children with learning difficulties and finding ways to excite them about education. Over her career, Mary has taught Second Grade, Third Grade, and served as a Middle School Administrator in Michigan, most often in the urban setting. In 2015, Mary relocated to Arkansas in search of new opportunities and is excited at all that has been placed before her. She currently teaches Special Education in a self-contained setting for children in grades 2-4.

Recent Posts by Mary McLaughlin

Helpful, Watchful Eyes Keep Us All In Check: An IEP Annual Review Checklist

black and white spiral op-art illustration of a single watchful eye at the center
A solid IEP annual review checklist covers three phases: gather current data and update the PLAAFP before the meeting, walk through goals and services with the team during it, and confirm signatures and next steps after. A second reviewer catching gaps in that paperwork before the meeting can help head off compliance problems before they…
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Teacher Fears: What Teachers Say They’re Really Afraid Of

Man in a shirt and tie holding a briefcase, head in hand, facing a large monster-shaped shadow on the wall
Teacher fears run well past first-day nerves. In one teacher’s informal social-media thread, respondents named job loss, contract non-renewal, abuse from students and parents, medical episodes without breaks, and a retirement they can’t afford. Those replies are an unrepresentative sample, not a survey. This is her account of them. [xyz_feat_school] This piece explores what’s really…
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Causes of Behavior Problems in the Classroom: A Teacher’s View

White pill bottle tipped on its side spilling red-brown tablets beside a red crocheted heart on grey wood
The causes of behavior problems in the classroom are usually multiple and overlapping. Learning differences, mental health, academic frustration, peer conflict, the classroom environment itself, and circumstances at home can all interact in one student. No teacher can address every factor, but clear routines and explicitly taught expectations help. [xyz_feat_school] I have three dogs—Homer, Scruffy,…
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Why Do Teachers Leave the Profession? What Actually Helps Retention

acher calling on students with raised hands in a classroom
Working conditions, including workload, autonomy, administrative support, and pay, are among the factors research links to teacher turnover. About 8% of public-school teachers left teaching between the 2020-21 and 2021-22 school years, according to NCES. Early-career teachers show relatively high turnover, particularly movement between schools. The fixes schools already know: real mentoring, fewer duties stacked…
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Working with Paraprofessionals in Special Education: A Teacher’s Guide

young girl wearing a toy crown, arms crossed, sticking out her tongue in a defiant "bossy" pose
Working with paraprofessionals in special education starts with clear, written role expectations, not assumptions. Set expectations early, communicate directly rather than through gossip, and remember that the classroom's final call is yours. A veteran special education teacher shares what she learned managing a team of aides across three different roles in public education. [xyz_feat_school] I…
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Teacher Cliques: How One Veteran Survived a New School

four teachers of different ages sitting together on outdoor school steps
Teacher cliques are real, and being frozen out by one is not something you can fix by being nice enough. The line that matters is whether the exclusion is social or professional: if you're losing information you need to do your job, document it and take it to an administrator. [xyz_feat_school] My good friend Marti…
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Why Are There So Many Special Needs Children Today?

Teacher standing with her classroom of kids
Why are there so many special needs children today? It's rarely one cause. Diagnostic criteria for autism and related conditions have broadened significantly, screening starts earlier, families have better access to services and insurance coverage, and public health issues like the opioid epidemic have left more children with lasting developmental needs. [xyz_feat_school] Fair question, right?…
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Special Education Labels: The 13 IDEA Disability Categories

Elementary student holding a chalkboard reading Special Education, seated at a table beside a stack of books
Special education labels are the IDEA disability categories that schools use when identifying students who need services, and federal regulation defines thirteen of them. An eligibility category is part of determining whether a student qualifies for IDEA services. The student's individual needs then drive the IEP. [xyz_feat_school] We live in a post-modern society where labels…
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When a Student Dies: A Teacher’s Reflection on Grief

Chalkboard with 'GRIEF' circled and sticky notes for Denial, Anger, Depression, Bargaining, and Acceptance linked by arrows
There's no single right way to grieve when a student dies. Teachers may experience many common grief reactions, including denial, anger, sadness, bargaining, and eventual acceptance, but grief doesn't follow a fixed set of stages or sequence. Talk to your class honestly, using the words "death" and "died" rather than euphemisms, and lean on colleagues…
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When Special Education Teachers Get Married

Man in a dark pinstripe suit holding out an open red velvet box with a diamond engagement ring inside
Step parenting a child with special needs means joining a family mid-story, learning a diagnosis you didn't grow up with, and giving up the just-us time you expected. This is one special education teacher's honest account of marrying into it, including what helped and what nobody warned her about. [xyz_feat_school] Last Saturday was a glorious…
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