Michelle, a teacher of autistic students for nearly 20 years, managed her classroom from home while recovering from knee surgery using daily schedules, twice-weekly Zoom calls, and check-ins with her paraprofessionals. She credits the routines and systems she built with letting her students thrive without her physical presence, and says her students taught her patience, flexibility, and how to communicate without words.
Hi friends, I'm Michelle and I've been teaching autistic students first as a paraprofessional and now as a teacher for almost 20 years. Right now I'm in a very different season. I'm home recovering from knee surgery and honestly it has been a challenge. I miss my classroom, I miss my students, I miss their smiles, their routines, and the rhythm of our days together. But even though I'm not physically in the room, I'm still connected in all the ways I can be. From home, I'm still prepping my daily schedule, and I reset technology from home as I can. I also check in with my paras every day, and twice a week I get to see my students' sweet faces on Zoom, which absolutely fills my heart and keeps me going. Being away has reminded me of something powerful. My students continue to teach me every single day. Even when I'm not there in person. They teach me patience, real deep patience that grows through tiny steps and small victories. They teach me flexibility because sometimes the plan has to change, and that's okay. And they teach me that communication isn't always about words. Sometimes it's about connection, presence, and trust. And maybe the biggest lesson of all, that growth doesn't only happen for our students, it happens for us too, especially in the seasons where we have to slow down. Thankfully, I was able to spend the first couple weeks of the brand new school year in my classroom before I got placed off of work. But one of the most encouraging things during this time has been seeing how my classroom continues to thrive even without me physically there. Because of the systems, visuals, and consistency we've built, my students know exactly what to expect. They know their routines, they understand what to do next, and they have visuals to guide them and a team that believes in them. That kind of independence, though, doesn't happen overnight. It's the result of structure, collaboration, and trust. And I'm so proud to say that even now, while I'm home recovering, my classroom continues to run smoothly. In fact, we're still having observers and visitors come by to see the classroom in action because it's such a strong example of how systems and visuals empower students to succeed no matter who's leading the lesson that day. That's the power of preparation and consistency, and that's what gives our students security and confidence and gives our teams the tools they need to If you're watching this and you're a teacher going through a tough season, maybe you're out on medical leave like me, or you're struggling balancing life and school, or you're just plain exhausted, I want you to hear this: You are still making a difference. Even when you're working from home, even when you're sending in lesson plans from your couch, and even when your energy feels low and your heart feels heavy, The care, structure, and consistency you've built in your classroom, those don't stop working when you step away. They keep supporting your students because you built them. So please don't underestimate your impact even if you're not standing at the front of the room right now. Your influence is still there in every routine, every visual, every moment of calm your students experience. This time away from my classroom has also reminded me that healing is progress. It's okay to rest and it's okay to take time. I tell my students this all the time, that it's okay to wait, it's okay to take a breath, try again. And now I'm reminding myself of that too. Every Zoom call, every updated schedule, every message to my paras, it all matters because it's connection, it's consistency, and it's a reminder that teaching doesn't just happen inside four walls. It happens wherever your heart is invested. So to all the teachers watching this, thank you for showing up, for believing in your students, and for holding on to hope even when it's hard. Our students notice that. They feel that, and it makes all the difference. If you'd like to dive deeper into building strong systems and routines in your classroom, I highly encourage you to watch 6 Must-Know Tips for your autism classroom. It's one of my favorites from the Autism Helper channel, and it goes perfectly with what I talked about today. It will give you even more ideas for creating consistency and independence in your classroom.
