Adapted books have become my go to for introducing and reinforcing skills in my special education class! Many books come written at different levels so I can use them across abilities. Below are why I love adapted books in my classroom.

Versatile

Adapted books are SO versatile! You can find books on virtually any concept or skill. Social skills, functional skills, hygiene, social studies, science, math, English Language Arts, religion, holidays, and more! Learning about a religious holiday? Use an adapted book. Teaching about Black History Month? There is an adpated book for that! Learning about a Saint or other famous person? You can bet there is an adapted book for that too! Not only will your student practice that specific skill or conecpt, but they will also work on comprehension, picture to picture matching, vocabulary, and fine motor skills.

One Time Use or Reuse Over and Over

Do you have an adapted book that needs practiced over and over? Laminate, bind and use hook and loop pieces to make the book reusable. The books that I do laminate are put into center baskets that students can read if they finish a task early or are needing a break from instruction but need to work on something productive.

Don’t have time to prep books? No worries! Just print and go! I stopped stressing over laminating everything and found that I could print and have my students put the book together. Not only did it save me prep time, but it gave my students more fine motor and following a process practice. They cut the book out, put it together, then practice stapling the book together. Then I have them cut out the pieces and glue them in while we read.

High Engagement

I have found that my students love using adapted books to learn new concepts and vocabulary over a textbook or video. They get a sense of ownership over their learning by having access to appropriate resources that meet their needs. There isn’t any complaining when I pull out adapted books!

Easy To Use

My favorite part about adapted books? They are SO easy to use! They teach the concept you want to cover without being complicated. No scripted lesson plan to follow, no teacher guide to keep track of, and no “fluff” from a curriculum. These are my favorite to leave for a substitute because they are straight forward.

My Favorite Places to Find Adapted Books

• Teachers Pay Teachers
  • Free and Paid books
• Adapted Book Club by Mrs. D
  • Subscription Based – TOTALLY worth it
  • New books added monthly!
  • Books can also be found on TPT
• My Own Creations (In my TPT store)
  • Check out HERE

How are you using adapted books in your classroom? What other tips and tricks do you have?