Halloween Adapted Binder for Special Education

Halloween is such an exciting time in the classroom – but let’s be real, it can also be a bit overwhelming! That’s exactly why I love pulling out my Halloween Adapted Binder this time of year. It’s packed with hands-on, low-prep activities that keep my students engaged, calm, and learning during all the spooky-season excitement.

In today’s post, I’m going to walk you through exactly what’s inside this resource – and how I use it to target a variety of skills (without adding stress to my planning!).

Why I LOVE Using Adapted Work Folders

Adapted work folders are an absolute lifesaver in my classroom. Here’s why:

• Low prep once assembled – just pull and go!
• Builds independence and confidence
• Provides visual structure that supports neurodivergent learners
• Targets multiple academic and life skills in one resource
• Great for independent work systems or centers
• Easy to differentiate across ability levels

And when I can add a fun seasonal theme – like Halloween – my students are extra motivated to dive in!

What’s Inside the Halloween Adapted Binder?

This Halloween adapted binder is absolutely PACKED with activities – you get 42 different tasks included. It also comes in both spelling options – color/colour – so it’s perfect for UK/CAN/AUS or US classrooms.

Here’s a closer look at some of the fun and functional skills included:

Matching Identical Images

We start simple with identical image matching – a great visual discrimination and attention-to-task activity. Students match cute Halloween characters (think: pumpkins, ghosts, witches, monsters) to identical images on the board.

I love using this as a warm-up or for students just beginning their independent work routines.

Matching Black & White to Color Images

Next, we up the challenge slightly – students match black & white images to their colored counterparts.

This supports:

• Visual discrimination
• Generalization across different visual formats
• Attention to detail

Matching Words to Pictures & Symbols to Pictures

Here’s where we bring in some literacy! Students match written words or symbols to corresponding images.

For example:

• Matching the word bat to a bat image
• Matching a symbol for witch to a witch picture

These activities build:

• Vocabulary
• Word-picture association
• Symbol recognition
• Pre-reading and reading comprehension

Matching Numbers & Counting Candy in a Jar

Of course, no adapted work folder is complete without some math skills!

Students get to:

• Match numbers
• Count Halloween candy in a jar and match the number

Not only does this target counting and number recognition, but it’s also highly motivating – because who doesn’t love Halloween candy?!

Emotions & Feelings Matching

One of my favorite parts of this resource is the built-in SEL (social-emotional learning) support.

Students practice:

• Matching feeling faces
• Matching symbols to feelings
• Matching emotion words to feelings

Such a wonderful way to build emotional vocabulary – especially for my students with communication needs or autism.

Matching Color Frankensteins & Color Pumpkins

We bring in some color recognition fun with:

• Matching colored Frankenstein characters
• Matching colored pumpkins

You can also have students match them to color splats – an added level of challenge and a great visual discrimination task!

Sequence Matching & Visual Discrimination

To build those all-important executive functioning skills, we have:

• Sequence matching
• Visual discrimination matching (different directions)

Students must pay close attention to order and orientation – which helps with memory, attention, and flexible thinking.

Point to Vocabulary (“Point to the Witch”)

Receptive language is another key skill – and this folder includes “point to” tasks (e.g. “Point to the witch”) to build listening and comprehension skills.

These are GREAT for:

• 1:1 sessions
• Speech/language therapy
• Partner work

Shopping List: Shop for Halloween Items

One of my absolute FAVORITE activities in this pack! Students get to “go shopping” by using a Halloween shopping list and matching the correct items to the cart. There are two levels provided – so it’s easy to differentiate!

Skills targeted:

• Reading/listening comprehension
• Vocabulary
• Following multi-step directions
• Life skills

2D Shapes Matching

Of course, no adapted binder is complete without shapes practice!

Students get to:

• Match basic 2D shape outlines to fun pumpkin shapes
• Match 2D shape names to pumpkin shapes

Such a great way to practice geometry in a high-interest, seasonal context!

The Full List of Activities

The full list of 42 activities included in this binder are;

• Matching identical images
• Matching b/w to colour images
• Matching words to pictures
• Matching symbols to pictures
• Matching numbers
• Counting candy in a jar and matching numbers
• Matching feelings
• Matching symbols to feelings
• Matching words (emotion names) to feelings
• Matching color Frankensteins
• Matching color pumpkins
• Match color Frankensteins to color splats
• Match color pumpkins to color splats
• Sequence matching
• Visual discrimination matching – different directions
• Point to vocabulary (“point to the witch” etc.)
• Shopping list – shop for Halloween items – 2 different levels
• Match basic 2d shape outlines to pumpkin shapes
• Match 2d shape names to pumpkin shapes

Built-In Data Collection & Progress Monitoring

Another thing I LOVE about this resource? It comes with a recording sheet so you can track student progress across the different activities!

I use this to:

• Monitor growth
• Plan next steps for instruction
• Communicate progress to families and support staff

How I Use the Halloween Adapted Work Folder in My Classroom

Here are some of my favorite ways to use this resource:

Independent Work Systems (TEACCH-style)

This pack works perfectly in structured independent work systems.

I assign students 1-3 folder tasks at a time – which helps them:

• Build independent work stamina
• Follow start to finish routines
• Increase on-task behavior

Literacy & Math Centers

I also use this pack to stock my literacy and math centers in October!

It’s great for:

• Themed centers
• Early finisher work
• Morning tubs
• Task box rotations

1:1 and Small Group Instruction

For students who need more support, I pull these activities into 1:1 sessions with paras, SLPs, or myself.

They’re wonderful for:

• Practicing turn-taking
• Building academic skills
• Modeling language and social interaction

Take-Home Work

Want to involve families? I often send a few select pages home for students to share with caregivers – a great way to bridge school/home learning!

Why My Students LOVE This Folder

Here’s the truth: my students LOVE this Halloween folder because it’s

• Visual
• Fun
• Themed

And it gives them a clear sense of success.

I love it because:

• It’s low-prep once built
• It supports a wide range of learners
• It’s highly flexible across settings

Final Thoughts: Why You Need This in Your October Plans

If you’re looking for an easy, ready-to-go way to bring Halloween learning fun into your special education or autism classroom – this Halloween Adapted Work Folder is a total must-have.

It’s packed with:

• 42 engaging activities
• Built-in academic AND life skills practice
• Differentiation options
• Data tracking tools
• Tons of student-approved Halloween fun.

You can grab it here: Halloween Adapted Work Folder.

Bonus: Ideas for Pairing With Other Halloween Activities

Want to build a whole Halloween theme week? Pair this folder with:

• Halloween Errorless File Folders
• Bat Fact Flip Books
• Halloween Task Boxes
• Pumpkin Life Cycle Units
• A Halloween Classroom Crime Scene
• Sensory Bins with Halloween Themes
• Halloween Adapted Books

Ready to bring spooky learning fun to YOUR classroom?

I hope this gave you some fun ideas – and if you’ve used adapted work folders in your classroom, I’d love to hear about your favorites!

If you found this blog post helpful, please consider sharing it with your friends and colleagues on social media, it helps more teachers find support, and it means the world to me and my little family too.

And if you haven’t already, be sure to check out my Free Resource Library for tons of classroom tools, visuals, and printables to make your teaching life easier (and a whole lot more fun!).

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Nikki